Extending the learning: Educational resources in Canada’s transfusion medicine landscape

Members of Canadian Blood Services’ research and education network participated in the CSTM 2026 conference last week in a session focused on the different levels and layers of transfusion medicine education.

The session offered conference attendees an interactive opportunity to explore three key examples of educational activities in Canada:

1. The on-demand and multi-format resources available on Canadian Blood Services’ professional education website, ProfEdu.ca,

2. The Transfusion Camp’s semi-structured curriculum for healthcare providers in conjunction with medical schools across Canada, and

3. The formal and credentialized Master’s-level Specialist in Transfusion Science program available through the University of Alberta.

Key session takeaways are summarized below to highlight opportunities for participation for those who are interested in accessing and/or contributing to these learning activities.

Professional education (ProfEdu.ca)

• What it offers & who it’s for: Canadian Blood Services’ professional education website is a valuable national resource hub for health-care professionals working in transfusion medicine or as part of the organ and tissue donation and transplantation community. The site offers free, on-demand access to practical information including clinical guidelines, leading practices, courses, reports, publications, upcoming learning opportunities and events.

• Ways to get involved: To access the full suite of content available on the professional education website, visit ProfEdu.ca. You can share your experiences and feedback on the transfusion medicine resources by completing our 2026 ProfEdu audience survey! Sharing your feedback with us through this survey will allow Canadian Blood Services to continually improve the transfusion medicine resources.

Access the 2026 ProfEdu audience survey

Transfusion Camp

• What it offers & who it’s for: Transfusion Camp  delivers high-quality, relevant transfusion medicine training across multiple specialties for postgraduate medical residents and is offered at every medical school in Canada (along with select international variations). To date, Transfusion Camp has trained more than 3,000 residents in Canada alone, and research has shown its positive impact on knowledge, attitudes, and transfusion practices.

• Ways to get involved:  The program benefits not only learners but also faculty and educators who contribute to curriculum development and delivery. Upcoming cohorts for Transfusion Camp will begin in September for the post-graduate MD trainee cohort). Health-care professionals with subject matter expertise relevant to transfusion medicine who may be interested in learning about opportunities to contribute to Transfusion Camp sessions are invited to contact: TransfusionCamp@blood.ca

Specialist in Transfusion Science (MSc STS)

• What it offers & who it’s for:  This specialization program delivered through the University of Alberta’s department of laboratory medicine and pathology, is a course and practicum-based degree that can be completed in two (full-time) or four (part-time) years of study. The program covers all competencies in advanced transfusion science laboratory training, from theory and practice of immunohematology, to blood donation, supply and distribution, blood product inventory management, and regulatory systems in a blood bank context. Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree, CSMLS certification as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, and have minimum 3 years of experience working in the field of transfusion medicine.

• Ways to get involved: Registration for upcoming cohorts of the program follows the University of Alberta’s admissions process: applications and supporting documents are due July 1^st for the following September intake. Prospective participants are encouraged to reach out to consult the program admissions website for more information: Admissions | Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Congratulations to the session panelists, Dr. Kaylee Brooks, Dr. Yulia Lin, Chris Ward, and Sarah McMahon, and to the planning team contributors, Dr. Sophie Chargé, Casey Kapitany, Erica Seelemann, Dr. Gwen Clarke and Dr. Jelena Holovati, for this successful session and the important contributions to enhancing capacity in Canada’s blood system that these educational activities make.

Canadian Blood Services – Driving world-class innovation

Through discovery, development and applied research, Canadian Blood Services drives world-class innovation in blood transfusion, cellular therapy and transplantation—bringing clarity and insight to an increasingly complex healthcare future. Our dedicated research team and extended network of partners engage in exploratory and applied research to create new knowledge, inform and enhance best practices, contribute to the development of new services and technologies, and build capacity through training and collaboration. Find out more about our research impact.