Pediatrics and Child Health, Ph.D.
Pediatrics and Child Health
Head: Dr. P. Birk
Director: Dr. J. Protudjer
Campus Address/General Office: 501B -715 McDermot Ave, John Buhler Research Centre (JBRC)
Telephone: 204-789-3251
Fax: 204-789-3915
Email Address: pgpadmin@umanitoba.ca
Website: https://umanitoba.ca/medicine/department-pediatrics-and-child-health
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Pediatrics and Child Health website for Faculty information.
Pediatrics and Child Health Program Information
The department offers graduate programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Pediatric Research. The Pediatric graduate programs offer students opportunities for cutting edge, multidisciplinary, collaborative and rigorous scientific training that emphasizes translational impact of their findings for the children for whom they care.
Admission Information
Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.
Admission requirements for doctoral students are found in the Doctor of Philosophy General Regulations section of the Guide.
Pediatrics and Child Health Ph.D. Admission Requirements
Applicants will normally possess a research-based Master’s degree in a discipline or profession consistent with pediatrics and health, with a minimum GPA of 3.25 in the last 2 full years (60 credit hours) of study. Applicants who do not possess a research-based Master’s degree, but who have some research experience will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, as will those with professional Master’s degrees.
Students admitted to the PhD program without a research-based Master’s degree will be required to complete two additional 3 credit hour courses, PEDS 7010 Pediatric Biostatistics; and, PEDS 7020 Introduction to Research Methods, in the first two terms of their program.
Application Information
Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the Pediatrics and Child Health Ph.D. program of study page.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 15 credit hours plus a thesis is required.
The following courses are required for all students:
- PEDS 7050 Ethics and Equity in Child Health Research (3 CH)
- PEDS 7030: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Professionals (0 CH)
- PEDS 7080: Indigenous Child Health (0 CH)
- GRAD 7500: Academic Integrity Tutorial (0 CH)
- GRAD 7300: Research Integrity Tutorial (0 CH)
Where a student has already completed similar courses to the Pediatric Graduate Program core courses, the student may, with the recommendation of their Advisory Committee and with the approval of the Chair of the Pediatric Graduate program, or their delegate, be exempted from taking the equivalent core courses and allowed to fulfill the 3 credit hours of core courses with 3 credit hours of other courses taken at the 7000-8000 level from any college or department in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Students must select two of the following four courses, representing the three pillars which are not their home pillar:
- PEDS 7130: Multidisciplinary Immersion in Clinical Research (1.5 CH)
- PEDS 7150: Multidisciplinary Immersion in Basic Sciences (1.5 CH)
- PEDS 7160: Multidisciplinary Immersion in Population Health (1.5 CH)
- PEDS 7170: Multidisciplinary Immersion in Practice & Policy (1.5 CH)
The following courses are offered as electives, usually to be taken during the second year of study:
- PEDS 7110: Directed Readings in Pediatric Literature (3 CH)
- PEDS 7140: Practical Epidemiology (6 CH)
- PEDS 7120: Foundations in Bioinformatics (3 CH):
- PEDS 7180: Practical Qualitative and Mixed Methods (3 CH)
- PEDS 7190: Medical Education, Ethics and Engagement (3 CH)
Expected Time to Graduate: 4 years
Progression Chart
| Year 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PEDS 7030 | Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Professionals | 0 |
| PEDS 7040 or PEDS 7060 |
Introduction to a Clinical Environment 1 or Considerations in the Delivery of Virtual Care in Pediatrics |
0 |
| PEDS 7050 | Ethics and Equity in Child Health Research | 3 |
| PEDS 7080 | Indigenous Child Health | 0 |
| GRAD 7300 | Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 | Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| Ethics submission | ||
| Research proposal | ||
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of electives: | 9 | |
| Directed Readings in Pediatric Literature | ||
| Foundations in Bioinformatics | ||
| Practical Epidemiology | ||
| Practical Qualitative and Mixed Methods | ||
| Medical Education, Ethics, and Engagement | ||
| Students must select two of the following four courses, representing the three pillars which are not their home pillar: | 3 | |
| Multidisciplinary Immersion in Clinical Research | ||
| Multidisciplinary Immersion in Basic Sciences | ||
| Multidisciplinary Immersion in Population Health | ||
| Multidisciplinary Immersion in Policy and Practice | ||
| Hours | 12 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Research project | ||
| GRAD 8010 | Doctoral Candidacy Examination (written and oral) | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| GRAD 8000 | Doctoral Thesis | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 1
PEDS 7040 is required for students not having clinical training or background
PEDS 7060 is required for clinically-oriented students
Registration Information
Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.
Regulations
Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.
Supplementary Regulations
Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.
All students must successfully complete:
- GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
- GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;
unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.
Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.
General Regulations
All students must:
- maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).
Courses
In this 3-week intensive course, students will be introduced to biostatistical theory and examples from pediatrics. Mornings will be spent in didactic lectures. In the afternoons, students will have the opportunity to practice biostatistical analyses in a lab setting. Required acceptance to the Pediatric Graduate Program and PHIA (both Shared Health and U of M).
Students will learn from methods experts in qualitative and quantitative methods, systematic reviews and bioinformatics, and who lead cutting edge pediatric research in Manitoba. Assignments are designed to be of practical use. There will be one cumulative final take home exam.
In this half day course, students learn about the importance of promoting and supporting a community that embraces equity and inclusion for all, and builds upon the strengths of diversity. Students will also be encouraged to consider their own biases. Course graded pass/fail.
In this half day course, non-clinical students will be introduced to a real or simulated clinical learning environment that align with their areas of study. Pre-requisites include completion of TCPS and PHIA, and approval of advisor. Course graded pass/fail.
Students will learn that children are not small adults, but have unique considerations and conditions. Students will also develop an appreciation for social disparities that exist within pediatric populations in Manitoba, and learn from experts who work with these communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic propelled virtual healthcare delivery forward. This course covers hands-on practical and ethical issues of virtual pediatric healthcare delivery. Approval of instructor required. Course graded pass/fail.
Students will discuss project patient engagement activities that will inform their thesis writing and knowledge translation.
In many Indigenous cultures around the globe, children are considered sacred and spiritual. This is true for First Nation people in Manitoba. Indigenous Knowledge Keepers will share how cultural losses have impacted the health of Indigenous children This required course is pass/fail.
In this individualized directed readings course, the student and instructor will work together to identify areas of interest directly relevant to the student's thesis, in order to advance the student's knowledge of the topic.
This course is intended to familiarize students with the field of bioinformatics. A broad overview of the ‘omic fields, such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics and common technologies, such as next generation sequencing, mass spectrometry, and NMR will be provided. Additionally, there will be discussion of the computational challenges of algorithm development, automation, and statistical analysis, particularly as it applies to the data consumer and an introduction to the Python programming language.
Students not in the clinical pillar will spend 3 weeks in a clinical environment during which they will learn about clinically-relevant topics and concerns related to their area of study. The course follows an individual program of study. Required if not in clinical pillar.
In this online course, students will use data from the CHILD cohort to develop a manuscript from idea to submission. Students will analyse their own data.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: PEDS 7010 or equivalent and permission of instructor.
Students not in the basic sciences pillar will spend 3 weeks in a basic sciences lab during which they will learn about techniques, methods and analyses related to their area of study. Required for students outside the basic sciences pillar.
Students not in the population health pillar will spend 3 weeks with a population health group, during which they will learn about methods and analyses and related topics. Required for students outside population health pillar.
Students not in the policy and practice pillar will learn about healthcare policy as it relates to ethics, government, and medical education.
Students will learn and actively practice qualitative data collection and analysis, and compare qualitative and mixed methods research.
Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge in medical education and ethics, as well as discuss practical ways to engage with policy makers and the popular press. Emphasis will include application of medical education methods. The course will be taught using team-based learning.