Promotions 2021: Q&A with Elzbieta Slodkowska

What is your role in LMP?

I work as a breast pathologist and director of Immunohistochemistry at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Between 2016 and 2020 I served as a co-organizer of Pathology Update at the University of Toronto.

Why did you pursue an academic career?

It gives a great opportunity for personal growth while your knowledge, as well as interpersonal skills, are being challenged on a daily basis. It also gives you plenty of opportunities to teach and mentor.

What does this promotion mean to you?

It is an acknowledgment by the University of Toronto of my contributions to the field of breast pathology and quality assurance.

If you can go back, what advice would you give your younger self?

Follow your dreams, don’t give up, and don’t get distracted

What advice would you give faculty who would like to apply for promotion?

My advice would be to find a good mentor as soon as possible, attend the promotion workshop, and start working on projects that will be within the theme of your promotion platform. Most importantly, get familiar with the promotion documentation that you’ll be required to submit, and keep diligent and up to date documentation of your scholarly work accordingly.

How did you manage your time in putting your dossier together considering your multiple priorities?

Putting together a promotion dossier is very time-consuming, especially if you don’t have secretarial staff to help you. When you start working on it you will see there is an end to this process and once you get there the feeling is very rewarding.

I would also like to acknowledge the support and help from Patricia Cayetano and the Promotion Committee as well as from my colleagues at Sunnybrook.

Find out more about promotion

Promotion guidelines: to Associate Professor and Professor

Contact lmp.hr@utoronto.ca if you are a faculty member in LMP and want to learn more about the promotion process, workshops, and more.