The Michael G. DeGroote Initiative for Innovation in Healthcare was established to enhance innovation within the Faculty of Health Sciences and support activities which otherwise would not have occurred. The first initiative was the Health Leadership Academy (HLA), a joint program between the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) and the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business, led by Dr. Michael Hartmann. The Health Leadership Academy (HLA) strives to have a transformative impact on global healthcare by nurturing a community of future leaders. These leaders will be prepared to succeed in a number of fields – from informing government policy to developing and supporting health innovations. The next initiative was the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR). This activity, led by Dr. James MacKillop, is making a national and international impact. Specifically, CMCR curates Evidence-Based Medicine  (EBM) data concerning the use and misuse of cannabis, including its use in the management of pain.

Over the past four years, our major focus has been the Michael G. DeGroote Initiative for Health Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship (MGD Health ICE). This is a pan-faculty initiative but much of its initial activity has occurred within the DEI, in the Department of Medicine. MGD Health ICE is intended to support faculty, students and staff who aspire to create innovative approaches, or products, to benefit and change health care. Both formal programming (degree-granting) and professional development (micro-credentials and certificates) educational content come together in a physical space called The Clinic @ Mac. The first educational activity developed was termed the Health Venture Program (HVP) and is led by Sarrah Lal, a member of the division of education and innovation. This program helps senior students, faculty and staff acquire the skills needed to be an entrepreneur. The Health Venture Program (HVP) is complemented by a pre-existing undergraduate degree program termed Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed), which includes a specialization in entrepreneurship called Health, Engineering Science Entrepreneurship (HESE). Dr. Anna Korol, also a member of the DEI, is a lead educator within HESE.

These two streams of entrepreneurial education are complemented by a hospital-based, applied learning program called Innovators in Scrubs. The Innovators in Scrubs program is comprised of teams of senior students, who address important clinical problems under the leadership of a clinician-innovator. Some of the more successful Innovators in Scrubs teams progress to project development where they can access innovation coaches, mentors and content experts within The Clinic @ Mac. The Clinic @ Mac, which opened in the summer of 2020, is located on the ground floor of the FHS library. It is comprised of a large event/meeting space, several breakout rooms, a board room and offices. This space will support HESE, HVP, Innovators and Scrubs and will serve as a hub for faculty, staff, students and clinicians with an interest in innovation and entrepreneurship.