Graduate Education
The Collaborative Specialization prepares University of Toronto graduate students to develop focused expertise in aging and/or palliative and supportive care, grounded in a life course perspective.
The specialization continues to thrive, with an average of 33 students graduating annually and a total of 231 graduates between 2019 and 2025, representing our top enrolled member departments and faculties across the university. Through its strong interdisciplinary foundation and life course lens, the Collaborative Specialization meaningfully enriches students’ academic and professional development.
Student Awards
The Institute provides five endowed student research awards in aging; four are given out annually, while one is a travel award supporting students presenting their original research at conferences around the world. The Institute awarded a total of 45 awards over the last 7 years in the amount of $113,664 to students, the majority of whom were registered in the Collaborative Specialization from our member departments and faculties.
Noon-Hour Research Seminars
The Institute continued to showcase the work of emerging scholars and affiliated researchers through our dynamic noon-hour online seminar series. Over the past 7 years we hosted 25 seminars led by graduate students from the Collaborative Specialization, alongside presentations by member faculty and international scholars. These sessions not only drew a diverse audience and sparked lively discussion and intellectual exchange, but also served as a valuable professional development opportunity for graduate students—supporting their growth, visibility, and engagement within the research community. Together, these seminars brought our community together around a wide range of timely, engaging, and impactful topics, including:
- Successful Aging in Canada: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
- Turning Over a New Leaf: Links Between Nature Access and Outcomes in Long-Term Care
- Making and remaking a sense of home amidst later life homelessness
Institute Workshops for Healthcare Workers and Other Professionals
The Institute has developed online Workshops to meet the growing demand for ongoing professional development among healthcare workers and other professionals working with the aging population. These Workshops offer participants the opportunity to work at their own pace, engage with instructors, and connect with participants from a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds. Importantly, these Workshops are offered free of charge to students enrolled in the Collaborative Specialization, providing them with valuable, accessible training that supports their academic and professional growth.
From 2021 to 2026, the Institute provided 46 workshops covering 19 unique topics for health care and other professionals working with older adults. Participants attended remotely from 11 provinces and territories across Canada and 12 additional countries, and included social workers, nurses, doctors, nursing home and care programs administrators, managers and directors, occupational therapists, students, faculty, and older adults.
The Collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course has celebrated seven tremendously productive and inspiring years, made possible by our vibrant academic community. We are deeply grateful to our graduate students, faculty members, research and teaching affiliates, alumni, and the many educators and professionals committed to improving care for older adults. Your engagement, feedback, and enthusiasm continue to strengthen and shape the learning environment we build together. As we look ahead, we are excited for the future — promising continued growth, deeper interdisciplinary connections, and a lasting impact on graduate education and scholarship in aging, palliative, and supportive care.