Education
Medical Education & Training
How physicians learn to speak with — and truly listen to — older patients is as important as any clinical skill.
Teaching at the University of Toronto
As an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Dr. Berger teaches communication and professionalism skills to doctors in training and in practice.
Her academic interest as a clinician teacher lies in developing the teaching of professionalism and humanism, particularly in postgraduate medical education (PGME) — content that is missing from many formal curricula, yet critical to the long-term wellbeing of residents and the patients they serve.
Professionalism & Humanism in PGME
Residents are at high risk of burnout and professionalism lapses that, if left unaddressed, can lead to longstanding professional challenges. Dr. Berger has undertaken the following initiatives to address this gap:
Systematic Review — Academic Medicine, 2019
Publication of a systematic review of professionalism curricula in postgraduate medical education, published in Academic Medicine — one of the leading medical education journals.
Teaching Professionalism in Postgraduate Medical Education: A Systematic Review →Professionalism Plus Curriculum
Development of the Professionalism Plus curriculum in the University of Toronto geriatric medicine subspecialty residency program. A formal program evaluation was completed in 2021–2022 and the findings were published in the Canadian Medical Education Journal in 2025. Dr. Berger continues to teach this longitudinal curriculum.
Enhancing professionalism in post-graduate medical education: the initial implementation and evaluation of a longitudinal curriculum for geriatrics residents in Toronto, Canada →VitalTalk Faculty Certification, 2022
Certified as faculty for VitalTalk — one of North America's leading organizations teaching healthcare professionals to have effective, compassionate, person-centred conversations with patients and care partners. Dr. Berger has since taught countless residents, nurses, and other healthcare staff at University of Toronto affiliated hospitals.
For medical schools, residency programs, and healthcare institutions
Interested in a collaboration?
Dr. Berger welcomes inquiries from medical schools, residency programs, and healthcare institutions seeking to deepen their approach to geriatric care.