As the fall term and the year come to an end, I’d like to acknowledge our students for their hard work and dedication for completing another successful term. Everyone is getting closer to his or her degree. Enjoy your break, and we look forward to seeing you in 2017!
HOPES needs preceptors
For our students, it’s more than just working in the classroom. They’re also involved in giving back to the community. One such initiative is HOPES (Halifax Outreach Prevention Education Support). This initiative, which has been a couple of years in the making, is a major interprofessional collaboration between students in the faculties of Medicine, Health Professions, and Dentistry, and students at Mount Saint Vincent University.
Among other things, this group will establish a student-run health promotion clinic in association with St. Andrew’s Church in Halifax. They’ll also be running health clinics on Sunday afternoons at the Dalhousie Health Services Clinic on LeMarchant Street.
HOPES is currently in need of volunteer preceptors to supervise students working at the health centre. They’re seeking a commitment of four Sundays, from 1-4:30 p.m., between January and April. If you’re interested in working as a volunteer preceptor, please contact HOPES preceptor coordinator, Jenna MacGregor (preceptor.hopessrc@gmail.com).
The HOPES clinic is expected to see its first patients early in the new year. Congratulations to the efforts of all involved!
Support the DMJ
Speaking of our students, please take the time to enjoy the latest issue of the Dalhousie Medical Journal. This student-run journal is impressive – both in its scope of articles and its professional layout. The students are working to get the journal indexed on PubMed. Have a read and consider supporting the journal if you have the opportunity.
Condolences from around the world
We continue to receive messages of condolence from around the world in memory of our friend and colleague, Dr. Karen Mann. Karen was a very special person and world-renowned medical educator. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Dr. Jean Marshall named inaugural Arthur B. McDonald Chair
On December 14, Dr. Jean Marshall, professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, was named an inaugural Dalhousie University Arthur B. McDonald Chair. Named after the 2015 co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics (and Dalhousie alumnus), the chair recognizes high-caliber professors who are actively involved in world-class research.
Dr. Marshall’s laboratory is internationally recognized for its studies in the biology and function of mast cells in host defense against infection and cancer, and also in chronic inflammatory diseases. The Canadian Cancer Society has also just recognized Dr. Marshall’s work; her research was selected as one of the societies top 10 research impact stories of 2016.
Other notable recognitions
Our faculty, staff, and students are continuously being recognized for the excellent work that they do; in this post, I’d like to highlight a few achievements from our latest awards and accolades file:
– Dr. Mahesh Raju, Department of Medicine, received the 2016 Humanitarian Award for New Brunswick.
– Dr. Roy Duncan, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, received an Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Chair; Killam Chairs are awarded to academics of the highest distinction at Dalhousie.
– Dr. Francoise Baylis, Department of Bioethics, was appointed to the Orders of Nova Scotia and Canada.
– Dr. Rudolph Uher, Department of Psychiatry was recently awarded the Canadian Royal-Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research.
It’s important that we celebrate the fantastic community of scholars that we’re all so fortunate to be a part of here at Dalhousie Medical School. I encourage you all – faculty, staff, and learners – to nominate deserving candidates for the awards and merits that are available.
#DalMedForward moving ahead
We had a very good turnout at the December town hall meeting, where we launched the implementation strategy for #DalMedForward.
There are three areas of activity – education, research, and serving & engaging society – and there are executive sponsors for each of these three areas. The executive sponsor for research is Dr. Roger McLeod, associate dean of research. The executive sponsor for education is Dr. Jennifer Hall, associate dean of Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. And our executive lead for serving and engaging society is Dr. Darrell White, senior associate dean. The executive sponsors – in conjunction with other deans, department heads, and key faculty – are responsible for ensuring that #DalMedForward-related work gets done.
Based on feedback subsequent to the town hall, we have importantly added six women scientists to our #DalMedForward research leadership team – to ensure our implementation group represents the diversity of our research faculty.
I truly do thank everyone who’s taken the time to provide us with input. Your opinions are highly valued and the comments are very helpful as they shape this work ahead of us. I look forward to updating you throughout 2017 on how #DalMedForward is progressing.
James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies
We recently learned that Dalhousie’s James Robinson Johnston Chair (JRJ) will be hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, in the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology. This is the first time this highly prestigious Dalhousie University chair has been awarded to the Faculty.
As you know, #DalMedForward has an emphasis on serving and engaging society. Having the JRJ within the medical school will strengthen our efforts on improving the health of black persons in the Maritimes. We’ll begin recruiting the Johnston Chair early in the new year.
Enjoy your holiday break
As we head into the holidays, there are many things to celebrate and to give thanks for. I wish all of you and your families a peaceful and joyous holiday season and all the best for 2017.