Lyn Sonnenberg, HonBSc, MSc, MD, MEd, EMBA, FRCPC (Peds, Dev Peds)

Area of Study / Keywords

Artificial Intelligence Professionalism Wellbeing Educational Technology Professional Identity Roles and Competencies EDI equity diversity inclusivity Assessment

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About

One of my guiding principles is encapsulated in my own words: "For it is in transforming the learner, that we transform care." I am deeply passionate about driving change in education and healthcare, and I’ve dedicated my career to bridging clinical practice with academic leadership. As the inaugural Director of Learning Transformation at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, I led the charge in developing forward-thinking learning strategies that prioritized digital transformation and health-promoting environments. My commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusivity has been a constant, as I’ve championed anti-racism initiatives to create a more equitable healthcare landscape.

As a clinician leader, I combine strategic vision, empathy, and collaboration to inspire and empower those I work with. With a background rich in educational, clinical, and academic leadership, I excel at building relationships and fostering collaboration. My approach is rooted in innovative systems-thinking and political awareness, allowing me to navigate complex challenges with a fresh perspective.

Nationally and internationally, I am recognized for my passionate commitment to medical education and am frequently invited to speak as a thought leader and advocate for equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility. I consider myself a positive disruptor—always pushing for meaningful change—while remaining genuine and caring in my interactions with others.

At the University of Alberta, I serve as a Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics with cross-appointments to the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. I've had the honor of mentoring future healthcare leaders and have gained valuable insights into the intersection of education and healthcare governance through my tenure as Vice President of the Medical Council of Canada.

Despite my various leadership roles, my dedication to clinical practice remains a priority. As a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, I am committed to providing excellent care to my patients and continually exploring new ways to enhance care through virtual diagnostics and team-based approaches.

My work is guided by core values: Integrity in aligning actions with my words, Collaboration in fostering diverse relationships, Inclusivity in creating supportive environments, Compassion in prioritizing empathy, Innovation in anticipating future needs, Efficiency in managing resources strategically, and Leadership in inspiring teams with vision and accountability.

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Research

My research spans both clinical and educational domains, with over 1,300 citations primarily related to cerebral palsy, autism, pediatric brain injury, and medical education. Early in my career, I focused on assessing collaboration and communication among interprofessional clinicians for Developmental Pediatrics residents, which led to the development of a multisource feedback tool. This work was recognized with a nomination for the Teaching and Learning in Medicine Editor's Choice Award for its impact.

In response to a gap in clinical service delivery, I led the development of a specialized service for assessing young children with significant developmental needs, now serving a vast region that includes Central and Northern Alberta, Northern British Columbia, and the Territories. This initiative has enhanced how families receive information and support, as shown by improved health outcomes data.

During my tenure as Regional Medical Coordinator, my team contributed to the Provincial Simulation Program, creating interprofessional scenarios that enhanced patient care and teamwork. As Medical Director for Infant Preschool Services at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, I pioneered a model for delivering Developmental Consultative Care through virtual health, reaching remote communities with tailored support. This work included co-developing the AAPLES tool for autism assessment (bit.ly/AAPLES), recognized for its innovation with a Patient Experience Award in 2022.

Through these initiatives, we increased assessment capacity by over 50% and significantly reduced wait times, all without additional resources. My focus has remained on improving family satisfaction and access to care, continuously evolving our approach with evidence-based strategies.

Here is a high-level overview of my published work, the articles of which can be found listed at the bottom of this page and and on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=B2Qqhc8AAAAJ&hl=en 

Clinical Practice Guidelines and Systematic Reviews

• Stroke Rehabilitation: I contributed to the "Canadian stroke best practice recommendations," which updated stroke rehabilitation practice guidelines. This work has been widely cited and plays a crucial role in advancing evidence-based practices in stroke care.
• Cerebral Palsy and Osteoporosis: I conducted a systematic review to inform clinical guidelines for children with cerebral palsy at risk of osteoporosis, emphasizing the integration of evidence into pediatric neurodevelopmental care.
• Ankle Foot Orthoses for Cerebral Palsy: My research also includes exploring the use and parental experiences of ankle-foot orthoses in young children with cerebral palsy, contributing to the understanding of rehabilitation aids in this population.

Medical Education and Leadership

• Diversity and Inclusivity in Medical Education: My work in medical education focuses on leadership and inclusivity, including articles like "Medical education leadership: from diversity to inclusivity" and "Six ways to get a grip by calling-out racism and enacting allyship in medical education."
• Resident Physician Leadership: I investigate the development of leadership competencies among resident physicians, such as in the study "The resident physician as leader within the healthcare team," aiming to enhance healthcare team dynamics.
• Educational Technology and Competency Frameworks: I explore the integration of educational technology in medical education, particularly the role of technology in developing competency frameworks for healthcare professionals.

Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disorders

• Autism Spectrum and Developmental Delays: My publications include studies on unusual presentations of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as "Anti–N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Encephalitis" leading to autistic regression, and systematic reviews on training programs for community pediatric autism diagnosis.
• Traumatic Brain Injury: I have also researched the long-term impact of preschool traumatic brain injury on social development, focusing on the cognitive and social outcomes of brain injuries in young children.

Family Caregiver Integration and Person-Centered Care

• Family Caregiver Support: I have evaluated educational programs designed to integrate family caregivers into person-centered care models, emphasizing the critical role of family in healthcare delivery.
• Healthcare Workforce Education: My work involves developing educational initiatives for the healthcare workforce to optimize caregiver integration and enhance compassionate, family-centered care.

Leadership in Healthcare

• Curriculum Development and Implementation: My involvement in leadership education includes developing frameworks like the "4C’s of influence" for leadership development and promoting health-enhancing learning environments, such as adapting the Okanagan Charter.
• Leadership in Residency Education: I also explore leadership within residency education, focusing on deconstructing essential components for successful curriculum development and implementation.

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Teaching

International Speaker and Advocate for Educational Innovation

I have had the privilege of sharing my insights as an invited speaker and author on topics related to emerging technologies in medical education, as well as on equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Some recent highlights include:

• Keynote Speaker, Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoc) Board of Directors Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario, 2024: "Achieving a Practical Framework for Advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity: Inclusive Excellence," focusing on advancing equity within medical education.

• Keynote Speaker, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Dutch Caribbean, Netherlands-Caribbean Foundation for Clinical Higher Education (NASKHO), Aruba, 2023: "Owning Allyship: Leading Through the Tensions of Racism and Relationship," addressing the complexities of allyship in leadership.

• Keynote Speaker and Moderator, International Conference on Medical Education (ICRE), Canada, 2023: "CanMEDS Project Update," providing updates on the CanMEDS framework's impact.

• Keynote Speaker, Congreso Mundial sobre Educacion Medica (ASCOFAME), Cartagena, Colombia, 2023: "Programa de Certificación y ‘Recertificación’ Médica en Canadá," discussing Canada’s certification and recertification processes for medical professionals.

• Course Speaker, Harvard Macy Institute (HMI) Transforming Your Teaching for the Virtual Environment (TTVE), Virtual, 2023: "Creating Community in Synchronous Virtual Environments," focusing on strategies to foster community and engagement in virtual learning environments.

• Keynote Speaker at the 2021 International Medical Education Leaders Forum (IMELF) in Chile: I spoke on "COVID and Medical Education – Lessons Learned and What Will Remain," reflecting on the rapid changes and adaptations in medical education during the pandemic and exploring which innovations are likely to persist.

• Keynote Plenary Speaker for SimEXPO 2023: I provided a perspective on "Simulating for What Future?" discussing the role of technology in shaping the future of healthcare systems.

• International Conference on Residency Education (ICRE) 2021 Pre-Conference Workshop: I co-led "The Future is Now: Gamechangers in Medical Education Technology," a workshop designed to equip educators with the tools and knowledge to integrate cutting-edge technology into their teaching.

• Keynote Speaker Panelist at the American Academy of Optometry (AAOPT) Academy Meeting, Boston 2021: I participated in a session on "Owning Allyship: Leading Through the Tensions of Racism and Relationship," focusing on the role of healthcare educators in promoting allyship and addressing racism within medical training environments.

• Keynote Speaker for the Canadian Embassy to Turkey’s ‘Medical and Healthcare Education in Times of Crisis’ Conference, 2021: I discussed "Transformational Learning: The Role of Extended Reality (XR) in Medical Education," highlighting how XR technologies can enhance learning experiences, especially during challenging times.

• Keynote Speaker on the Canadian Medical Education System, Medical Institute of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, 2020: Through my involvement with Royal College International, I was honored to provide an overview of the Canadian medical education landscape to international colleagues.

• Invited Editorial on Virtual Health and Medical Education: I authored "Virtual Health, Learner Competence, and a Pandemic: The Storm I Had Been Waiting For," published in the Archives of Medicine & Health Sciences, reflecting on how the pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual health and its implications for medical education.

Research Funding in Educational Innovation

Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to secure over $1 million in peer-reviewed grant funding to support educational innovation. These funds have fueled 13 different projects aimed at transforming medical education, allowing us to explore new teaching methods, integrate technology, and address key issues such as equity, diversity, and inclusivity.

Educational Contributions and Innovations

I have presented at over 80 national and international conferences and workshops, contributed to 30 education-related peer-reviewed publications, and been involved in over 20 platform and conference abstracts. One of my most impactful roles has been leading the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry’s response to COVID-19 at the University of Alberta. This initiative involved integrating technology-enhanced teaching and learning across five undergraduate programs and 61 postgraduate programs, while also advising the broader university community.

I am particularly proud of creating more than 60 educational innovations, including:

• Electronic Portfolio Systems: I developed an electronic portfolio adapted for use internationally and nationally across multiple postgraduate medical education programs, enhancing how learner progress is tracked and evaluated.

• Modular Curriculum for Academic Half Days: This flexible teaching curriculum was designed to be replicated at various institutions, allowing for consistent and high-quality medical education delivery.

• Nationally Validated Educational Technology Competency Framework: This framework helps educators integrate technology effectively into medical education, setting standards for competency across Canada.

• Provincial CanMEDS OSCE: I was instrumental in developing a CanMEDS Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), providing a standardized assessment tool that supports competency-based education in residency programs.

Leadership in Residency Training

As the Program Director for the Developmental Pediatrics Residency Program at the University of Alberta from 2009 to 2018, I had the honor of training 13 developmental pediatricians and pediatric rehabilitation subspecialists, all of whom have gone on to hold academic positions. Under my leadership, our program received exceptional reviews, including an unprecedented internal review in 2013 and an external review by the Royal College in 2017, both of which found no areas of concern or deficiencies. I’m proud of the national profile we established for our program, demonstrating our commitment to training the next generation of compassionate, skilled, and knowledgeable pediatric specialists.

Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for educational excellence and a commitment to fostering environments where all learners can thrive. Whether through research, leadership, or hands-on teaching, I strive to make a positive impact on the future of medical education.

Innovation and Teaching Awards 

Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) Patient Experience Award, 2022.

Provincial award determined by the Patient and Family Advisory Committee of the HQCA to recognize and spread knowledge about initiatives that improve the patient's overall experience in accessing and receiving healthcare services. Awarded to the Infant Preschool Assessment Services Team for an initiative led by me.

Dr. Keith J. Goulden Award for Teaching Excellence, 2022. 

Awarded to one physician annually, recognizing teaching excellence to Developmental Pediatric Subspecialty Residents and Clinical Fellows, while promoting dialogue about teaching excellence.  Conferred by the Developmental Pediatric Trainees, University of Alberta.

Cooperation, Collaboration, and Teamwork Recognition Award, 2020.

The Cooperation, Collaboration and Teamwork Recognition Award by the Department of Pediatrics recognizes those groups who function as a team in delivering high quality education, research, child health and/or administration as part of the department's activities to the academic environment and/or the larger community. Awarded to the Infant Preschool Assessment Services Team that I co-lead.

Physicianship Lecturer of Excellence Award, 2020.

Awarded annually by the Medical Student Association, this year from the Class of 2022 at the University of Alberta. Award given to the top lecturer who teaches in the yearlong longitudinal course.

Physicianship Lecturer of Excellence Award, 2019.

Awarded annually by the Medical Student Association, this year from the Class of 2021 at the University of Alberta. Award given to two lecturers that year who teach in the yearlong longitudinal course.

Teaching and Learning in Medicine (TLM) Editor’s Choice Award, 2018. 

One of six research articles chosen by the Editor and selection team, which exemplify the journal’s mission and the impact on research and practice, innovativeness, and accessibility.

Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Certificate of Merit Award, 2017.

To promote, recognize, and reward faculty committed to medical education in Canadian medical schools. Faculty and residents at medical schools across Canada put nominations for this award forward.

PARA Clinical Teaching Award of Excellence, 2015.

Since 1988, the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta (PARA) has presented an award to physician preceptors who have shown excellence in resident physician education.  Each year, this Award of Excellence is given to a preceptor at the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and a rural site. Residents put the nomination forward and the award recipient is chosen by PARA.

Dr. Keith J. Goulden Award for Teaching Excellence, 2013. 

Awarded to one physician annually, recognizing teaching excellence to Developmental Pediatric Subspecialty Residents and Clinical Fellows, while promoting dialogue about teaching excellence.  Conferred by the Developmental Pediatric Trainees, University of Alberta.

Pediatric Undergraduate Medical Education, Student Recommendation for Teaching Excellence, 2006.

Awarded to one resident each quarter for teaching excellence in pediatric medical education in the Clinical Clerkship Program at Dalhousie University.

Lyn Kathryn Sonnenberg, Douglas Sinclair

Journal of Pharmacy Practice. 2023 August; 10.1177/08971900221076447

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Brent Thoma, Nancy Fowler, Thomas Maniatis, Anna Karwowska, Lyn K. Sonnenberg, Linda Snell, J Damon Dagnone, Glen Bandiera

Canadian Medical Education Journal. 2023 June; 10.36834/cmej.v14i3

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Linda Snell, Nancy Fowler, Brent Thoma, Lyn K. Sonnenberg, Maria Mylopoulos, Anna Karwowska, Denyse Richardson, Nathan Cupido

Canadian Medical Education Journal. 2023 March; 10.36834/cmej.v14i1

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Leadership in Health Services. 2023 January; 10.1108/LHS-05-2022-0060

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Alexandra Kilian, Victor Do, Lyn K. Sonnenberg

Medical Science Educator. 2022 December; 10.1007/s40670-022-01700-z

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Nathan Cupido, Nancy Fowler, Lyn K Sonnenberg, Anna Karwowska, Denyse Richardson, Linda Snell, Brent Thoma, Maria Mylopoulos

Canadian Medical Education Journal. 2022 October; 10.36834/cmej.75445

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Ming-Ka Chan, Volk A, Patro N, Lee W, Sonnenberg LK, Dath D, de Camps Meschino D.

Canadian Medical Education Journal (CMEJ). 2022 June; 20 (In Press (online)) 10.36834/cmej.73216

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting. 2022 May; doi.org/10.5334/ijic.ICIC21178

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Sonnenberg L.K., Do V., Maniate J., Chan M.K., Kvern B., Prevost B., Busari J.

Leadership in Health Services. 2022 January; 35 (1):1-13 10.1108/LHS-03-2021-0015

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BMC Health Services Research. 2022 January; 10.1186/S12913-022-07689-W

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Leadership in Health Services. 2022 January; 10.1108/LHS-03-2021-0015

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International Journal of Integrated Care. 2022 January; 10.5334/IJIC.ICIC21178

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Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 2022 January; 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001042

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Sonnenberg L.K., Sinclair D.

journal of pharmaceutical practice. 2022 January; 2022 (3) 10.1177/08971900221076447

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Guan X., Zwaigenbaum L., Sonnenberg L.K.

JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS. 2022 January; 43 (1):44-54 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001042

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Parmar J.K., L’Heureux T., Anderson S., Duggleby W., Pollard C., Poole L., Charles L., Sonnenberg L.K., Leslie M., McGhan G., Huhn A., Sereda S., Marion C., Tarnowski G., Mah J., Melenberg D., Weir C., Pooler C., MacLachlan N., Bremault-Phillips S., Tian P.G.J., Sacrey L.A.R.

BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2021 December; 22 (1) 10.1186/s12913-022-07689-w

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Do V, Maniate JM, Sonnenberg LK

Canadian Medical Education Journal (CMEJ). 2021 December; 12 (5):59-60 10.36834/cmej.72551

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona. 2021 November;

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting. 2021 November;

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Do V, Maniate JM, Sonnenberg LK

Canadian Medical Education Journal (CMEJ). 2021 September; In press https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.72551

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Lyn Sonnenberg, Arif Onan, Douglas Archibald

Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology. 2021 August; 10.21432/cjlt27943

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Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), Amsterdam, Netherlands. 2021 July;

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Sonnenberg LK, Onan A, Archibald D

Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology (CJLT). 2021 June; 47 (1) 10.21432/cjlt27943

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Sonnenberg LK

Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences. 2021 June; 9 (1):12-15 10.4103/amhs.amhs_107_21

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Sonnenberg LK, Do V, Maniate JM, Chan M-K, Kvern B, Prevost B, Busari JO

Leadership in Health Services. 2021 June; In press 10.1108/LHS-03-2021-0015

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Lyn K Sonnenberg, Victor Do, Constance LeBlanc, Jamiu O Busari

Canadian Medical Education Journal. 2021 May; 10.36834/cmej.71566

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Abraham J.R., Foulds J.L., Lee J.A., Sonnenberg L.K.

Medical Education. 2021 May; 55 (5):641 10.1111/medu.14492

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Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) Annual (Virtual) Conference. 2021 May;

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Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) Annual (Virtual) Conference. 2021 May;

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Sonnenberg LK, Do V, LeBlanc C, Busari J.

Canadian Medical Education Journal (CMEJ). 2021 May; Online ahead of print 10.36834/cmej.71566

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Joseph R. Abraham, Jessica L. Foulds, Jacqueline A. Lee, Lyn K. Sonnenberg

Medical Education. 2021 May; 10.1111/medu.14492

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Festival of Teaching and Learning, University of Alberta. 2021 March;

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Pegah Firouzeh, Lyn K. Sonnenberg, Christopher Morris, Lesley Pritchard-Wiart

Disability and Rehabilitation. 2021 February; 10.1080/09638288.2019.1631394

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Firouzeh P., Sonnenberg L.K., Morris C., Pritchard-Wiart L.

Disability and Rehabilitation. 2021 January; 43 (5):726-738 10.1080/09638288.2019.1631394

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona. 2020 November;

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Hillier T., Lai H., Sonnenberg L., Lewis M., Goez H.R., Schipper S.

Academic Medicine. 2020 September; 95 (9 A Snapshot of Medical Student Education in the United States and Canada Reports From 145 Schools):S563-S565 10.1097/ACM.0000000000003292

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GMS Journal for Medical Education. 2020 January; 10.3205/ZMA001311

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International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation. 2018 January;

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Leadership in Health Services. 2018 January; 10.1108/LHS-08-2017-0046

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Lyn K. Sonnenberg, Lesley Pritchard-Wiart, Carol S. Hodgson, YongQiang Yu, Sharla King

Teaching and Learning in Medicine. 2017 October; 10.1080/10401334.2017.1301817

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International Journal of Stroke. 2016 January; 10.1177/1747493016643553

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Paediatrics and Child Health (Canada). 2016 January;

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Chinese Medical Sciences Journal. 2015 January; 10.1016/S1001-9294(15)30044-4

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Journal of Child Neurology. 2015 January; 10.1177/0883073814528282

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Journal of Child Neurology. 2014 January; 10.1177/0883073813501875

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Journal of Child Neurology. 2014 January; 10.1177/0883073813514134

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Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 2012 January; 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04091.x

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Brain Injury. 2010 January; 10.3109/02699052.2010.489033

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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2005 January; 10.1007/s10803-005-3307-0

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