Medical Physiology

Our Program

Within a vibrant learning atmosphere, the Department of Physiology offers the Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Medical Physiology. This program is designed to address the rapidly emerging need for professionals who can interpret near-infinite amounts of data generated by clinicians at the bedside, researchers at the bench, and emergent health technologies every single day. Students successfully complete this program in one year.

Led by world-class faculty, the unique combination of coursework and hands-on experience ensures our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills sought in today’s competitive health-related workforce. The program culminates with a work placement in an industry, hospital, or government setting. A professional development component runs throughout the program to ensure our students succeed and help them find a career they love.

Curriculum

Students in this program complete 6.0 FCE*

PSL4000Y, Seminars and Graduate Professional Development (1.0 FCE)
PSL4010Y Mentored Literature Review Project in Physiology (1.0 FCE)
PSL4020Y Medical Physiology Practicum (1.0 FCE)
PSL4030H Clinical Physiology (0.5 FCE)
PSL4040H Big Data and Health (0.5 FCE)
PSL4050H Collaboration and Commercialization in Physiology (0.5 FCE)
1.5 FCE elective courses

Typically, successful students complete this program in 12 months.

About Summer Work Placement

The work placement is a unique chance to integrate work and learning in a field that interests you.
Spend the summer term applying knowledge gained from your course-work in a business, clinical, research, or other relevant setting.
Develop your practical and professional skills and attain valuable work experience.
Guidance is offered throughout the program to find a placement that suits your interests and strengths.

Alumni Profile

Elly Zhou, MHSc

As a student in the MHSc in Medical Physiology program, I loved learning about Big Data, especially the machine learning aspect.

After I graduated, I was hired full-time as a research assistant in UHN’s Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Lab, where I did my summer placement during the program.

At work, I’m trying to improve AI-based diagnostics in lung transplants. It feels meaningful and we can hopefully help more patients as we develop the algorithm. I am able to apply a lot of the concepts from my MHSc to this current project. My advice to prospective students is to work hard, stay open minded, and follow your heart!

Potential Career Paths

Job-Ready Skills

Graduates will obtain a knowledge and skill set that enables them to:

Project manage multi-investigator research teams
Bring new scientific discoveries to market
Develop technology skills for commercial success
Usefully interpret big data sets produced by products like wearable devices
Attain transferable skills in core competencies and professionalism to complement further training
50% of our graduates have been hired by their placement organization upon graduation. Others have gone on to MD, Dentistry, & PhD programs.

By the Numbers

24

Number of current students.

12

Number of months to complete the program.

50%

Percentage of graduates hired by their placement organization.

*Full course equivalent. A typical 0.5 FCE is over one term (13 weeks), meeting 1-2 times per week. A typical 1.0 FCE is over two terms (26 weeks), meeting 1-2 times per week.