The Hat Rack cover art

The Hat Rack

The Hat Rack

Written by: Continuing Professional Development
Listen for free

About this listen

Find Something to Hang Your Hat On! Listen to The Hat Rack podcast where physicians in practice gain access to the strategies that Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Continuing Professional Development (CPD) experts and influencers use to effectively plan CME to implement change in their professional practice. The Hat Rack guests draw from their extensive experience as developers, contributors and promoters of CME/CPD, providing insights at local, provincial, national and international levels. Hosted by Dr. Bill McCauley, CPD Associate Dean & Leslie McAdam, CPD Program Administrator of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Continuing Professional Development, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. Questions, Comments & Suggestions can be directed to thehatrack@uwo.ca The Hat Rack Website: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/continuingprofessionaldevelopment//continuing_medical_education/the_hat_rack.html Continuing Professional Development Website: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/continuingprofessionaldevelopment//index.html@2023 Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Safety, Humility and Compassion: Patient Communication in a Multicultural World
    Jan 9 2026

    S3:E3

    Safety, Humility and Compassion: Patient Communication in a Multicultural World


    In this episode, Dr. Bill McCauley explores the complexities of cultural communication in healthcare. Joined by Dr. Tehseen Ladha and Jannelle Yoon, the discussion delves into the challenges and strategies for effective communication with diverse patient populations. From understanding high and low context cultures to practicing cultural humility and safety, this episode offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals aiming to improve patient interactions and outcomes. Tune in to learn how empathy, curiosity, and cultural awareness can transform healthcare experiences.

    Find Something to Hang Your Hat On! Listen to The Hat Rack podcast, where physicians gain access to the strategies and insights that CPD experts use to plan, deliver, and measure meaningful continuing education. Guests draw from extensive local, national, and international experience, providing practical takeaways for physicians and educators alike. Hosted by Dr. Bill McCauley, CPD Associate Dean at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. 📧 Questions, Comments, & Suggestions: thehatrack@uwo.ca
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • What Patients Really Want: Communication, Trust, and the Future of Physician Learning
    Nov 7 2025
    S03 E02: In this episode of The Hat Rack, host Dr. Bill McCauley sits down with three guests—Brandon Fonseca, a Toronto-based software engineer; Ann DeBono, a London, Ontario realtor; and Ken Anderson, a retired Anglican priest—to hear directly from patients. For the first time on the podcast, the conversation explores how patients think physicians learn, stay current, and evolve in their practice. From assumptions about recertification to expectations around conferences and ongoing learning, this discussion reveals how the public perceives physician education. The guests also explore how online medical information—including "Dr. Google"—can be both empowering and risky, shaping how patients approach conversations with their physicians. Patients describe how empathy, clarity, listening, and simple human connection—pulling up a chair, making eye contact, explaining next steps—can deeply impact their experience of care. The episode includes real stories of navigating menopause, specialist referrals, and a frightening hospital admission for sepsis, revealing how communication can calm fear, build trust, and help patients feel safe. Referenced Resources:
    • AI Clinical Scribes (e.g., ambient documentation tools) Technology that captures physician–patient dialogue and generates clinical notes, improving presence and connection.
      • Ontario MD
      • CPSO
    • Sepsis Information – Sepsis Alliance Patient-friendly education on recognizing sepsis early.
    • Women's Health & Menopause Research – Women's College Hospital (Toronto) A leading Canadian institution advancing research on menopause and women's health.
    • Shared Decision-Making & Patient Communication – Choosing Wisely Canada Supports conversations around testing, treatments, and evidence-informed care.
    Find Something to Hang Your Hat On! Listen to The Hat Rack podcast, where physicians gain access to the strategies and insights that CPD experts use to plan, deliver, and measure meaningful continuing education. Guests draw from extensive local, national, and international experience, providing practical takeaways for physicians and educators alike. Hosted by Dr. Bill McCauley, CPD Associate Dean at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. 📧 Questions, Comments, & Suggestions: thehatrack@uwo.ca
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Scholarship in Action: Research, Innovation, and the Future of Physician Learning
    Sep 5 2025

    S03 E01:

    In this episode of The Hat Rack, host Dr. Bill McCauley sits down with Dr. Eleftherios Soleas(Terry) and Dr. Adam Gavarkovs (adam.g@ubc.ca), two leading Canadian scholars in health professions education, to explore the often-invisible world of research in Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Together, they uncover how scholarship drives change in medical education—shaping how physicians learn, practice, and sustain their careers.

    From the evolution of CPD beyond conferences to the rise of assessment-based learning, interprofessional teamwork, and workplace-embedded education, this conversation highlights how evidence is reshaping practice. The guests also discuss the transformative potential of artificial intelligence—from AI-powered simulated patients to personalized learning through EMRs—and the challenges of ensuring ethical, safe, and effective use.

    Listeners will gain fresh insight into the past, present, and future of CPD research, including its role in promoting physician well-being, fostering professional collaboration, and creating meaningful, agile learning experiences.

    Referenced Resources:

    • Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions (JCEHP) – A leading peer-reviewed journal publishing scholarship on CPD, learning, and health professions education. Explore at JCEHP.
    • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) – Accreditor and standard-setter for CPD activities in Canada, including recognition of assessment-based and team-learning models. Visit royalcollege.ca.
    • Amy Edmondson's Work on Psychological Safety – Foundational research on how safe, supportive team environments foster deeper learning and collaboration. See The Fearless Organization.

    Find Something to Hang Your Hat On!

    Listen to The Hat Rack podcast, where physicians gain access to the strategies and insights that CPD experts use to plan, deliver, and measure meaningful continuing education. Guests draw from extensive local, national, and international experience, providing practical takeaways for physicians and educators alike.

    Hosted by Dr. Bill McCauley, CPD Associate Dean at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.

    📧 Questions, Comments, & Suggestions: thehatrack@uwo.ca

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
No reviews yet