Faculty profile

Heather Armson

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Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct)Family MedicineMcMaster University

Research

Dr. Heather Armson is the Research Director and Executive Director of The Foundation for Medical Practice Education, a McMaster University program offering continuing professional development (CPD) for Family Physicians and other primary care practitioners (https://fmpe.org/).  Under Dr. Armson's leadership, the research program has run a variety of studies exaining how physicians learn in small groups, with several research studies ongoing.  Research studies include topics as diverse as how communities of practice form in small learning groups, stategies for facilitation of virtual small groups, and change talk in small group learning.  Dr. Armson won the 2020 JCEHP Award for Excellence in Research. Dr. Armson is also a Professor at University of Calgary, where she teaches in the Department of Family Medicine, and she served as Assistant Dean of Personalized Learning, Continuing Medical Education and Professional development (2017-2024) and Assistant Dean of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Develpment (2011-7).  Dr. Armson has nearly 30 years of exerience in teaching in the Department of Family Medicine, and has supervised both Masters and PhD students. Dr. Armson's research interests include continuing professional development, small group learning, knowledge translation and implementation science in health, educational assessment and evaluation, and more recently, the use of AI in medical education.

Research areas, by share of publications

Research areas are derived from OpenAlex topics of their publications.

40 publications.

01

Could the R2C2 Feedback and Coaching Model Enhance Feedback Literacy Behaviors: A Qualitative Study Exploring Learner-Preceptor Feedback Conversations

Ramani S, Armson H, Hanmore T, Lee-Krueger R, Könings KD, Ordons ARD, Zetkulic M, Sargeant J, Lockyer JM

Tijdschrift voor Medisch Onderwijs20257 citations
02

Application of the R2C2 Model to In-the-Moment Feedback and Coaching

Lockyer J, Lee-Krueger R, Armson H, Hanmore T, Koltz E, Könings K, Mahalik A, Ramani S, Ordons ARD, Trier J

Academic Medicine202311 citations
03

‘Change talk’ among physicians in small group learning communities: An ethnographic study

Armson H, Moncrieff K, Lofft M, Roder S

Medical Education20232 citationsFirst authorOpen Access
04

Only When They Seek: Exploring Supervisor and Resident Perspectives and Positions on Upward Feedback

Ramani S, Lee-Krueger RCW, Ordons ARD, Trier J, Armson H, Könings KD, Lockyer JM

Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions20227 citations
05

Effectiveness of an eHealth self-management tool for older adults with multimorbidity (KeepWell): protocol for a hybrid effectiveness–implementation randomised controlled trial

Kastner M, Makarski J, Hayden L, Hamid JS, Holroyd-Leduc J, Twohig M, Macfarlane C, Hynes MT, Prasaud L, Sklar B

BMJ Open202114 citations
06

Physician engagement in regularly scheduled rounds

Bass A, Armson H, McLaughlin K, Lockyer J

Canadian Medical Education Journal20213 citations
07

Exploring continuity of supervision in the context of coaching

Armson H

Medical Education2021First author
08

In-the-Moment Feedback and Coaching: Improving R2C2 for a New Context

Lockyer J, Armson H, Könings KD, Lee-Krueger RCW, des Ordons AR, Ramani S, Trier J, Zetkulic MG, Sargeant J

Journal of Graduate Medical Education202052 citations
09

Assessing Unperceived Learning Needs in Continuing Medical Education for Primary Care Physicians: A Scoping Review.

Armson H, Perrier L, Roder S, Shommu NS, Wakefield J, Shaw E, Zahorka S, Elmslie T, Lofft M

Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions202024 citationsFirst author
10

Academic Half-Days: Facilitated Small Groups to Promote Interactive Learning.

Armson H, Wycliffe-Jones K, Mackay MP, Roder S

Family Medicine20207 citationsFirst authorOpen Access

Roles and appointments

  • Research Director, The Foundation for Medical Practice Education / McMaster University
  • Executive Director, The Foundation for Medical Practice Education / McMaster University
  • Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary
  • Assistant Dean, Personalized Learning, Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development, Faculty of Medicin, University of Calgary (2017 - 2024)
  • Assistant Dean, Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary (2011 - 2017)
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Subject: Prospective PhD student: Innovations in Medical Education Dear Professor Armson, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Could the R2C2 Feedback and Coaching Model Enhance Feedback Literacy Behaviors: A Qualitative Study Exploring Learner-Preceptor Feedback Conversations" (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]
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