Belated happy New Year! I trust everyone had a great holiday break. It’s hard to believe we’re through the first part of 2017 already. Lots going on; I’ll update you on a few key matters.
Remembrance
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of people killed in a Quebec mosque last week while attending an evening service. As Canadians, we value and celebrate the diversity of our communities. We respect the rights of people of all faiths and nationalities to live and prosper in our country.
Accreditation home stretch
Three weeks from now — between February 26 and March 1 — the Undergraduate Medical Education accreditation team, which consists of the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) and the US-based Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), will be on campus. Over a four-day period, the team will visit our educational and clinical facilities in Halifax and Saint John, and provide feedback on the running of our medical school.
Undergraduate medical education accreditation takes place every eight years. In preparation for this accreditation review, faculty, medical students, and staff have worked effectively over the last two years to complete a systemic assessment of our MD program; it’s been a real team effort. Because of this collaborative work, I believe we’re in a good position to welcome the accreditors to Dalhousie.
In preparation for accreditation, we’re having preparatory sessions in Saint John and Halifax for those meeting with the accreditors. This includes touring our educational and clinical spaces in the two cities.
I again want to thank all involved for your patience, dedication, and support in preparing for accreditation of our MD program. I remain impressed and amazed by all the great work being done by our education programs. If you have any questions leading up to the accreditors’ visit, please contact our two accreditation co-leads, Anne Weeden (anne.weeden@dal.ca) or Dr. Darrell White (d.white@dal.ca).
#DalMedForward – From plan to action
We’ve entered the implementation phase of #DalMedForward.
Our strategic priority leadership teams are working to confirm outcomes, targets, and work plans for each of the seven priority areas identified in #DalMedForward. The executive sponsors for our education (Dr. Jennifer Hall), research (Dr. Roger McLeod), and serving & engaging society (Dr. Darrell White) pillars will report back to me with these plans within the next 90 days.
Two research initiatives were recently announced that relate to the implementation of #DalMedForward.
The process for research teams to be considered for Wave 1 and Wave 2 recognition by the Faculty of Medicine for International Excellence in Research was outlined in a communication from Associate Dean of Research, Dr. Roger McLeod. Successful teams will receive supports to enhance their research activities and position them for future major funding opportunities.
We also announced that a bridge funding competition will be held later this spring to support faculty and help build our research infrastructure. More details about this competition will be forthcoming.
More on the implementation of our strategic plan can be found on our #DalMedForward website.
Awards of excellence
In partnership with the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, we’re bringing back the Faculty of Medicine Awards for Excellence in Medical Research. One award will recognize basic science research, the other will recognize patient-oriented research, and the third award will go to a new investigator. The nomination deadline is February 27.
DMRF’s senior research award – the Max Forman Prize – is also available. The nomination deadline for the Forman Prize is February 21.
It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the great work of our faculty members. So please consider putting one or more nominations forward for these important awards.
Contact carla.ross@dal.ca or dmrf@dal.ca if you have questions, or are seeking more information on the awards and/or nomination process.
Commitment to diversity
With a commitment to diversity and inclusion within the medical school community, we’ve formed a Diversity Leadership Task Force.
Led by Dr. Jean Marshall, former head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Arthur B. MacDonald chair, the group is comprised of representatives from clinical and basic sciences departments, Human Rights and Equity Services, the Social Accountability Committee, and the Dean’s Office.
The task force will develop a report outlining strategies that can facilitate the recruitment and career development of diverse faculty into senior leadership positions within the medical school. Recommendations will be presented to me and to Faculty Council in June; I look forward to receiving the ideas.
If you have suggestions to assist Dr. Marshall in this diversity and inclusion work, she can be reached at jean.marshall@dal.ca.
Dr. Mann receives AFMC honour
We recently received word that Dr. Karen Mann was selected as the posthumous winner of the 2017 Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada Award for Outstanding Contribution to Faculty Development in Canada.
Karen’s teaching career of over 50 years made her one of the country’s most widely respected health educators. She believed in the power of educational research and theory to strengthen health education, and she was committed to learners and colleagues alike.
The award will be presented to Karen’s family at the CCME meeting in Winnipeg in April. Many of Karen’s Dalhousie colleagues will be in attendance to recognize this honour.
Student-led health clinic needs preceptors
In my December update, I told you about Halifax Outreach Prevention Education Support – or HOPES.
This student-led initiative, an interprofessional collaboration between learners in the faculties of Medicine, Health Professions, and Dentistry, will begin offering health consults for marginalized populations in Halifax.
As I mentioned last time, HOPES is in need of volunteer preceptors to supervise students working at the Sunday health clinics. The clinics are held from 1-4:30 p.m., at Dalhousie Health Services, between January and April. If faculty members are interested in helping out, please contact the HOPES preceptor coordinator, Jenna MacGregor (preceptor.hopessrc@gmail.com). This is a terrific service-learning program to support.
New department heads appointed
On January 1, Dr. Kirk Magee was appointed interim department head and chief for the Department of Emergency Medicine. And Dr. Tobias Witter was more recently appointed interim department head and chief for the Department of Critical Care. Through these appointments, Drs. Magee and Witter will direct the clinical, research, and academic affairs in their respective departments.
As Dr. David Petrie (Emergency Medicine) and Dr. Ward Patrick (Critical Care) step down from their roles as department heads, I’d like to thank them for their great leadership over the years; it’s been a pleasure working with them both.
Until next time
Winter will be winding its way to an end soon. Stay warm, and please provide feedback about the topics mentioned above, or other matters that are of interest to you.
All the best.