Spotlight on self-compassion research: NOSM University and Lakehead University learners present at international conference

The Mindful Self-Compassion North Research Team set a new milestone with four presentations at this year’s International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) in Halifax–an exciting achievement that reflects the team’s growing impact in the field.

The team delivered workshops on several key initiatives, including the launch of new bilingual, evidence-based infographics designed to support clinicians in addressing a range of patient challenges such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and emotional regulation. They also presented equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) research exploring whether self-compassion courses can help reduce intrinsic racial biases among clinicians and learners. 

In addition, the team shared oral presentations highlighting their research findings, including evidence that medical students tend to treat themselves more harshly during difficult times than they would a close friend—a pattern that appears more pronounced than in the general population—and the feasibility and effectiveness of teaching self-compassion skills through asynchronous learning methods. Below, each team member reflects on their individual contributions and shares how participating in both research and knowledge translation personally impacted them.

Eden Mackereth (MD, Class of 2026),  a fourth-year medical student at NOSM University, contributed to research on the use of technology in self-compassion training for medical learners. Her pilot project explored the effectiveness of a partially asynchronous learning platform to teach self-compassion principles to residents, offering practical strategies for managing the demands of high-pressure clinical environments.

The findings suggest potential for improving accessibility to self-compassion training among both learners and physicians. She also co-facilitated a workshop that introduced wellness infographics designed to help clinicians teach self-compassion skills to patients. Eden’s work reflects a broader effort to support learner and physician wellness and to foster innovation in wellness education across medical schools in Canada.

Alongside co-authors and fellow medical students Brooklyn Ranta and Eden Mackereth, Claire Poulin (MD, Class of 2026) presented research examining the prevalence of self-compassion among NOSM University medical students. The study highlighted the emotional challenges of early medical training and its impact on learner mental health.

Claire’s involvement reflects a strong commitment to student wellness and a shared goal of addressing high rates of depression and burnout in medical education through the lens of self-compassion and common humanity. Presenting at ICAM provided a valuable platform to share the voices of NOSM students—whose experiences are shaped by socially accountable education and training in remote, Northern, and rural communities—and to emphasize the need for compassionate, evidence-based support systems in medical training.

Brooklyn Ranta (MD, Class of 2026) contributed to both the self-compassion infographic workshop and the research exploring self-compassion within a medical student cohort, demonstrating her engagement with multiple dimensions of wellness in healthcare. In collaboration with her supervisors—Dr. Bryan MacLeod, Monique Mercier, and Dr. Robert Simpson—she co-authored a chapter in an upcoming book focused on the prevalence of burnout and poor mental health outcomes among medical students. Brooklyn has been a strong advocate for integrating self-compassion into medical education as a strategy to address these challenges and counter the isolation often experienced in medical training.

Mackenzie Barnett (PhD Clinical Psych Candidate, Lakehead University, Class of 2026) is a fourth-year PhD student collaborating with the MSC North team on her dissertation research. At ICAM, she co-presented a workshop with Dr. Bryan MacLeod exploring how self-compassion practices can influence clinicians’ reactions to patients. Their project builds on emerging research suggesting that mindfulness and self-compassion can reduce racial bias, applying these insights to a replicable course—Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities—developed by Dr. MacLeod. Data collection begins this fall. Recently, research studies have shown that practicing mindfulness and/self-compassion exercises can reduce racial bias.

Mackenzie and Dr. MacLeod are taking this research one step further by applying these novel findings to a replicable self-compassion course, the Self Compassion for Healthcare Communities course, which Dr. MacLeod has been teaching to health professionals and learners for over four years. Mackenzie says that she enjoyed having ICAM participants reflect and comment on their own experiences with EDIA work and provide insights to strengthen this important research protocol. Mackenzie and Dr. MacLeod will begin data collection officially this fall. Mackenzie also firmly believes in the MSC North tongue in cheek tag of being “recovering over-achievers.” She has sadly seen too many healthcare providers and researchers burnout and suffer due to their deep desire to help others. Mackenzie hopes that MSC North can act as an example for other research teams and practitioners to embrace the practices of self-compassion and self-kindness in how they operate (and in their research!) to ensure longevity in the essential and important work they do.

Although Chelsea Klein (MD Class of 2027) was unable to attend the 2025 ICAM conference due to exams, her contributions were strongly felt during the infographic workshop. She is contributing to the team’s research on bilingual mental health infographics, which were presented as clinician training tools at the conference. The project examines the usability of these infographics as educational resources for clinicians and patients dealing with burnout, depression, anxiety, PTSD, or emotional dysregulation. Chelsea has played a key role in the initiative, notably leading and implementing the French translation to enhance accessibility and impact.  

As a Francophone, Chelsea is passionate about the bilingual access of these tools and led the French translation to help expand access to mental health resources, especially in Northern Ontario where approximately 21% of residents are Francophone. This bilingual approach supports NOSM University’s social accountability mandate and promotes safer and more inclusive care through linguistic congruence. 

Dr. Bryan MacLeod is a Chronic Pain Physician and Associate Professor at NOSM University. He began his medical career as a rural family physician in Marathon after completing his residency through the Northern Ontario Medical Program (NOMP). Over the years, Dr. MacLeod has held several clinical leadership roles, including Medical Director of Faculty Development with NOMP, Palliative Care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Chronic Pain at St. Joseph’s Care Group, and ECHO North. After experiencing burnout in 2019, Dr. MacLeod shifted his focus to clinician and learner wellness, both in teaching and research. He says he is especially proud of the MSC North student researchers and their accomplishments, including being selected to present four sessions at the 2025 ICAM conference.

Dr. MacLeod and his research team would like to recognize the work and contributions of the team’s other current and past members, including: Chad Tremblay, Janelle Lazon, Dr. Sarah Hunt, and Dr. Jenna Simpson whose invaluable contributions laid the foundations for this good work and made our presentations possible. 

In 2025, the team will provide CEPD accredited, bilingual (French and English) materials for free to all NOSM University faculty and clinicians across the country. These resources are designed to support the integration of self-compassion practices into clinical care. Clinicians who choose to use the materials will also have the opportunity to provide feedback to help refine the tools prior to broader dissemination.

To participate in this initiative, please add your name and email to our confidential contact list.