Strengthening global partnerships: Paris Cité delegation visits Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

From left: Rose Lin, manager, Office of Experiential Education; Micheline Piquette-Miller, professor and associate dean, research; Mike Folinas, director, research administration; Reina Bendayan, professor; Lisa Dolovich, professor and dean, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; Matthieu Resche-Rigon, dean, Faculty of Health, Université Paris Cité; Michel Vidal, vice-dean of research and president of the research commission, Université Paris Cité; Marcia McLean, assistant professor, teaching stream, and academic lead, experiential education for professional programs; and Jillian Kohler, professor.

Strengthening International Exchange and Training Opportunities

On April 29, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy welcomed a delegation from Université Paris Cité’s Faculty of Health as part of a multi-day visit to the University of Toronto, focused on strengthening international collaboration in research, education and health systems.

The visit brought together faculty leadership and researchers for discussions on shared priorities in pharmaceutical sciences, with a particular focus on education and training. Through presentations and dialogue, participants explored opportunities to enhance curriculum innovation and expand international learning experiences for students and trainees.

A key area of focus was the international student and professor exchange program between the faculties of pharmacy, first established in 2011 and renewed every five years. The program supports travel and exchange opportunities for PharmD and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty, creating opportunities for research internships and academic exchange.

Led by Professor Reina Bendayan at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Professor Xavier Decleves at Université Paris Cité, the program has gained renewed momentum through recent travel scholarship funding, helping to strengthen experiential learning and international research training across both institutions.

“The program is a cornerstone of academic excellence and collaboration,” said, Bendayan, “enabling students and professors at the University of Paris Cité and the University of Toronto to thrive in their educational and research pursuits across their Faculties of Pharmacy.”

“The program is a cornerstone of academic excellence and collaboration.”

Since 2023, expanded funding has increased participation and interest across both faculties. These exchanges support co-supervision of trainees, advance collaborative research and enrich the educational experience through cross-institutional learning opportunities.

The visit also reinforced broader collaboration across the University of Toronto, including in pediatrics and public health, further supporting interdisciplinary approaches to education and research.

Together, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to advancing global partnerships that strengthen education and prepare the next generation of pharmacy leaders.

“The opportunity to meet with Université Paris Cité health sciences leadership has allowed us to identify additional tangible opportunities for collaboration in research and education," said Lisa Dolovich, professor and dean, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. "It is remarkable how many areas of work represent shared interests in areas spanning the full spectrum of pharmaceutical sciences.”

“I look forward to further interactions and seeing benefits of our student and faculty member exchanges and collaborations in the coming years.”