At the core of this workshop lied an inspiring Design Challenge that helped participants design and create better solutions for people by learning and embracing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) to shape the future of design and innovation. 

The mission was to cultivate a culture that values inclusivity and well-being within the engineering community. Through the Design Challenge, participants were co-designers in an interactive workshop at the start of the school year. This workshop not only created awareness of the value of your unique identities but also showcased the benefits of diversity in applying equity-driven approaches, such as design thinking, to engineering work. 

This Design Challenge wasn’t just an event; it was a catalyst for your growth as a creative leader who values equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. 

View the project summary report.

The “Indigenous Moccasin Making Workshop” project is dedicated to enhancing the spiritual and emotional well-being of self-identified Indigenous students at McMaster University. By collaborating with the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge (IHLL) and Indigenous Student Services (ISS), the project aspires to create a nurturing environment that fosters cultural engagement and community-building. The core objective is to offer participants an immersive experience, guided by a local Indigenous facilitator, in crafting their own moccasins over a comprehensive full-day workshop. This endeavor not only emphasizes cultural preservation but also includes the provision of nourishing meals, recognizing the interplay between spiritual and physical well-being.

In essence, the “Indigenous Moccasin Making Workshop” project is a platform for Indigenous students to connect with their heritage, enrich their well-being, and forge bonds within their community. By intertwining cultural practices with a holistic approach to health, the project echoes the importance of self-care in a supportive environment. Through collaboration, craftsmanship, and cultural exploration, the project’s vision is to empower students with a deeper sense of identity and belonging.

The “World Restart a Heart CPR-A-Thon” project equipped members of the McMaster University community with essential CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) skills, coinciding with the global “World Restart a Heart Day” in October. With support from the Okanagan Special Project Funding, the initiative established McMaster’s active involvement in this international event. Through a multi-faceted approach, the project enhanced CPR training accessibility and awareness within the student body. This involved hosting widespread training sessions in high-traffic areas and partnering with varsity sports teams to cater to specific needs. By prioritizing practical knowledge over certification, participants gained confidence in intervening during emergencies. Moreover, the project fostered a deeper understanding of cardiac arrest research by collaborating with experts in the field. Insights and findings were shared through various mediums, contributing to a more informed and prepared McMaster community.

The “World Restart a Heart CPR-A-Thon” project provided McMaster University’s community with essential CPR skills through comprehensive training initiatives aligned with “World Restart a Heart Day.” With a focus on practical training and collaboration with experts, the project empowered individuals to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies while raising awareness about the importance of CPR and AED usage.

View the project summary report.

The Well-being of Residents and Partners (WRaP) in Medicine Toolkit and Workshop is an initiative aimed at addressing the burnout crisis faced by postgraduate medical trainees (residents & fellows) and their partners. Despite the professional growth and fulfillment that medical training offers, it can have a negative impact on trainees’ well-being, mental health, and personal relationships. The WRaP project seeks to better address the challenges facing this population and promote flourishing by enhancing and protecting trainees’ social support and personal relationships, which are novel and under-explored targets for intervention.

The WRaP project involves co-designing a practical toolkit and workshop with residents, fellows, partners, educators, leaders, and relationship experts. Insights will be used from emerging quantitative and qualitative research conducted at McMaster University, including in-depth interviews. The WRaP workshop will engage medical learners, educators, practicing physicians, and other healthcare professionals to raise awareness about medical training’s impact on trainees, staff, partners, and patients. Through these initiatives, the WRaP project aspires to promote and provoke change at the individual, couple, and educational levels, as well as the broader healthcare system’s practices, policies, and culture.

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