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Why Choose St. Joseph’s?

Welcome to one of Canada’s leading Academic Health Sciences Centres, where we combine innovation and excellence to fulfill our commitment to “Educating the World’s Best.” Our mission is to prepare learners to excel in their healthcare careers by providing world-class education, leveraging cutting-edge technology, and fostering strong academic partnerships. 

  • Excellence in Education: St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton offers a dynamic environment that prioritizes excellence in education and training.
  • A Welcoming Community: Learners are respected members of our team, supported and guided throughout their journey.
  • Experienced Preceptors: Our expert preceptors help learners develop critical thinking, clinical judgment, and essential skills.
  • Career Opportunities: We recognize the vital connection between exceptional placements and future recruitment, paving the way for meaningful careers. 

Among our many teaching contributions are: 

  • The internationally renowned Centre for Minimal Access Surgery and the Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, both leaders in healthcare innovation.
  • The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton, focused on improving patient outcomes locally, provincially, and globally. 

Our commitment to education goes beyond traditional learning methods. We embrace innovation to enhance the learner experience.

Highlights:

  • Simulation-based education, including virtual reality (VR) platforms, to replicate real-world healthcare scenarios.
  • Hands-on exposure to Dovetale, our customized version of the EPIC electronic medical record (EMR) system, to prepare learners for real-world healthcare environments.
  • Interprofessional learning opportunities that mirror collaborative healthcare practices.

Our Promise:

By leveraging the latest advancements, we ensure you are not only prepared for today's healthcare challenges but also ready to lead in the healthcare of tomorrow.

At St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, placement opportunities connect you with expert clinicians and teachers who are leaders in their fields. Our commitment to education ensures that learners are guided by professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and innovation to healthcare. 

What You’ll Gain: 

  • Preceptorship Opportunities: Work directly with skilled professionals who provide hands-on teaching and mentorship.
  • Project-Based Learning: Collaborate on impactful initiatives that contribute to real-world healthcare advancements.
  • Job Shadowing: Observe world-class educators in action, gaining insights into specialized practices.
  • Expert Guidance: Access professionals who are at the forefront of integrating education, research, and clinical care. 

Every placement at St. Joseph’s opens the door to exceptional learning experiences and the opportunity to be mentored by some of the best in healthcare education.

Your success is our priority. St. Joseph’s provides a range of resources to support your journey: 

  • Learner Lounges: Collaborative spaces designed for study and networking.
  • Wellness Support: Access counseling and stress management resources.
  • Mentorship Programs: Opportunities to engage with experienced clinicians and leaders. 

Make the most of your time here by utilizing the resources designed to help you thrive. 

  • Charlton Campus: A tertiary care teaching centre offering kidney transplants, oncologic surgery, and comprehensive acute care services.
  • King Campus: A state-of-the-art facility renowned for pioneering ambulatory care models, cataract surgeries, and a 39-bed Satellite Dialysis Centre.
  • West 5th Campus: A leading provider of specialized mental health services, offering inpatient care and advanced ambulatory and community services. 

Placements

Discover the wide range of placement experiences available to learners from various disciplines: 

  • For Nursing Learners: Hands-on clinical experiences in diverse settings like acute care, mental health, and post-acute care.
  • For Health Professional Learners: Immersive learning in areas such as physiotherapy, respiratory therapy, and more.
  • For Medical Learners: Rotations that connect clinical practice with cutting-edge research and innovation.
  • For Non-Clinical Learners: Opportunities to gain practical skills in administration, IT, education, and research. 

How to Arrange a Placement:

Placements must be coordinated through your academic institution. Follow these steps: 

  1. Contact Your School’s Placement Coordinator: Share your interest in completing a placement at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.
  2. Submit a Placement Request to Your School: Your Placement Coordinator will work with our Department of Education & Learning to match you with an appropriate opportunity.
  3. Your School Will Confirm Your Placement: Once approved, you will receive access to NirvSystem, where you’ll complete all onboarding steps, including submitting required documents, completing e-modules, and signing agreements. 

For additional information or assistance, please reach out to your school’s placement office or contact the Department of Education & Learning at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning and offers a variety of placement opportunities for high school co-operative education students throughout the year. 

How It Works:

The Volunteer Resources Department, located at the Charlton Campus, manages the High School Co-Op Education Program. All placements are coordinated through the Central Placement Process, which ensures consistency and fairness. Students from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) must apply through their respective Board Representative. Direct applications from students or teachers are not accepted. 

Placement Details: 

  • Co-op placements are available during the fall, winter, and summer terms. 
  • Students must submit their application through their co-op teacher at school by the specified deadlines. 
  • Interviews, applications, and pre-placement requirements are managed by school board representatives. 

Pre-Placement Requirements:

Once accepted, students will receive instructions to register on NirvSystem, our Learner Onboarding System. Through NirvSystem, students will: 

  • Complete a mandatory health screening.
  • Finish required e-learning modules.
  • Access important onboarding details and agreements. 

Contact for More Information: 

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton offers observational job shadowing experiences to provide learners and professionals with a deeper understanding of specific healthcare roles. While not considered an educational or accredited placement, job shadowing serves as a valuable opportunity to explore potential career paths, gain exposure to healthcare environments, and enhance professional knowledge. 

Purpose of Job Shadowing: 

  • Career Exploration: Assist individuals in making informed decisions about future career paths by observing professionals in action. 
  • Professional Development: Enable registered health professionals to broaden their knowledge through observation. 
  • Program Preparation: Fulfill prerequisites for entrance into recognized educational programs. 
  • Canadian Healthcare Exposure: Provide foreign-trained healthcare professionals insight into the Canadian healthcare system. 

Details About the Experience: 

  • Job shadowing is strictly observational, with no hands-on patient care or activities. 
  • Experiences may last up to a maximum of 40 hours. 
  • Non-nursing health professionals must pre-arrange their job shadowing experience with an SJHH staff member prior to applying. 
  • Explicit patient consent is required to observe care-related activities, and patients reserve the right to decline observation. 

How to Apply:

Complete the Job Shadow Application(PDF) and submit it to the appropriate individual outlined in the application. 

Once your placement is confirmed by your educational institution, you will receive access to NirvSystem, our comprehensive onboarding platform. 

In NirvSystem, You Will: 

  • Submit required documents, such as health screening records. 
  • Complete mandatory e-learning modules. 
  • Register for any in-person training sessions. 
  • Review and sign placement agreements and policies. 
  • Review our Learner Health and Safety Manual, which includes risk assessments for all learner types and placement locations. 

Need assistance or have questions?

Reach out to the Department of Education & Learning: 

Centre for Education & Innovation
Centre for Education & Innovation
Juravinski Tower T2302, Charlton Campus
Email Centre for Education & Innovation

Medical Learners

Medical Student placements at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton are coordinated through McMaster University.  

If you are interested in a clerkship elective placement at SJHH and are not a McMaster University medical student, please review the information available at Undergraduate Medical Education and contact the UGME team at mdelectvisiting@mcmaster.ca. 

If you are interested in a visiting elective placement at SJHH and are not a McMaster University resident, please visit Core and Visiting Electives at McMaster - Postgraduate Medical Education. 

Professional Association of Residents of Ontario (PARO): myparo.ca  

Medical Learner - FAQ 

  • Annual orientation is held for first year residents every June in collaboration with St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University.
  • Contact the CTU Director or Chief Resident for your area regarding program specific orientation. 

Contact the Office of VP Education, at VPEducation@stjoes.ca

  • Clinical Clerks and Residents on rotation at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton will require access to Provider Portal and the Picture Archiving & Communications System (PACS).  Accounts are based on information sent from the undergraduate and Postgrad Medical Education Offices.  In order to pick up account information, you are required to bring your McMaster name badge. 
  • Clinical Browser - Accounts picked up in G220   Contact Cynthia Martin  905-522-1155 ext.33912  or cymartin@stjoes.ca
  • PACS Imaging System - Accounts are created to match Provider Portal. Pick up in the computer room G220.  PACS support Mark O'Connor 905-522-1155 ext.34353 
    moconnor@stjoes.ca

Contact the Office of VP Education, at VPEducation@stjoes.ca