Catharine Walsh

Research Synopsis

Dr. Walsh’s research focuses on examining factors that influence the acquisition of complex clinical skills, behaviours and attitudes, including methods of optimizing learning within simulation-based environments.  Dr. Walsh also conducts educational measurement research focused on the assessment of competence and performance of health professionals.  Her program of research aims to advance our understanding of:

1. how healthcare professionals, from novice to expert, develop and maintain clinical skills necessary for their practice; 
2. how to improve education delivery and skills acquisition using technology-enhanced learning modalities such as simulation;
3. how best to assess learners’ competence.

Taken together, these lines of inquiry inform the ways in which we can enhance the training and assessment of healthcare professionals and ultimately improve patient- and family-centered care.