I hope you will have vacation time over the summer months to enjoy spending time with family and friends in our beautiful part of the country. While we are busy welcoming some of our researchers, staff and learners back to campus and preparing for the fall term, it is important to take time off to rest and recharge.

Many around the world celebrate Pride Month in June, but here in Nova Scotia and at Dalhousie we celebrate our LGBTQ2SIA+ communities in July. At Dalhousie Medical School, we encourage our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and administrators to pause, celebrate and reenergize. The full acceptance, safety, and practice of inclusiveness for our LGBTQ2SIA+ community is critical to all our successes.

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you updates related to the Faculty of Medicine. Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Faculty of Medicine will continue to provide specific updates as needed to supplement those already provided by Dalhousie University.

 

Return to Research

This has been an important month for the Faculty of Medicine, as we officially welcomed many faculty students and staff in our research community back to campus. COVID 19 related research has continued throughout the pandemic. On July 5, 2020, scientists and students that required access to our research facilities in other health research areas were able to come back to campus, respecting all public health and occupational health measures outlined by Dalhousie University.

Steps have been taken by our Environmental Health & Safety and Building Services teams to ensure your wellbeing. We ask that you remain vigilant with social distancing procedures where appropriate and follow the instructions of all decals and signage that have been placed throughout public areas like the Tupper Foyer, the Link and the LSRI Atrium.

The last several months have been challenging to say the least, but I would like to thank you all for your continued patience and professionalism as we worked through this difficult situation. I encourage you to read a recent Dal Med News article which highlights the tenacity of our scientists during this time.

 

Refresh of Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum

Part of ensuring a world-class education is ongoing review, evaluation and as-needed modification of the curriculum based on emerging trends in medicine and medical education, as well as our annual evaluations.

To this end, a Curriculum Refresh Committee (CRC) has been formed to assess the strengths and gaps/areas of improvement in our undergraduate medical education program. The CRC will make recommendations to the Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum Committee (UMECC) to ensure students receive the most effective and relevant curriculum for the practice of medicine. This refresh is slated to be implemented by August 2022.

Key themes that have been identified to be included in this work include:

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) & Public Health
• Planetary Health (including Climate Crisis)
• Poverty and Marginalized Communities
• Generalism
• Addictions Medicine
• Movement to Competency-Based Learning for UGME
• Health Systems
• Student Wellness

The development and delivery of an undergraduate medical curriculum is a far-reaching and complex system with many stakeholders. The input of faculty, residents, students, staff, and the community will be critical to the success of this refresh.

Over the coming weeks, you will receive invitations to participate in the curriculum refresh project in a variety of ways including focus groups, completing surveys, participating on working groups, interviews, meetings, written submissions, etc.

The refreshed curriculum will draw upon established best practices in medical education and practice, both at the national and international levels, and your input will provide invaluable insight for the future of medical education at Dalhousie University.

 

Appointment of Dr. Angela Cooper, Assistant Dean, Faculty Wellness

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Angela Cooper (Department of Family Medicine, Department of Psychiatry) has been appointed inaugural Assistant Dean, Faculty Wellness, for a five-year term. This appointment is effective September 21, 2020.

In her new role, Dr. Cooper will provide strategic direction and leadership in the development of wellness programming for faculty members, ensuring that components are evidence based and aligned with current best practices for promoting faculty wellness.

The faculty wellness program will ensure our faculty have prosperous, successful, and enjoyable careers in Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine. It promotes a comprehensive understanding of health and wellness as it applies to our MD and PhD faculty, and its relationship to the provision of excellent clinical care, research, and teaching in efforts to support our student and postgraduate learners.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Cooper and welcoming her to her new role.

 

Appointment of Dr. Karthik Tennankore, QEII Foundation Endowed Chair in Transplantation Research

I am happy to announce that Dr. Karthik Tennankore has been appointed the QEII Foundation Endowed Chair in Transplantation Research, for a five-year term. Dr. Karthik Tennankore is a nephrologist and associate professor of medicine and holds a cross appointment in The Department of Surgery. His clinical expertise includes kidney transplantation.

As a research chair, Dr. Tennankore will be joining a community of scholars who are making a substantial impact on the research environment and raising the profile of their areas of expertise – locally and globally, while attracting research talent, advancing knowledge and discovery, and influencing practice and policy.

 

Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS) Manager

I am delighted to share that Ms. Sarah Upshaw has been named the permanent Manager of Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS).

PLANS seeks to increase representation of African Nova Scotians in the health professions through recruitment and retention, community collaborations and partnerships to improve health outcomes within the African Nova Scotian community.

Sarah has been with the program since October 2019 and has made significant contributions during these months in streamlining programs by reaching out to schools, strengthening our outreach, and identifying new opportunities for PLANS.

Sarah brings a wealth of experience in health professions and a commitment to the youth and communities that she works with through PLANS. We are delighted to have her as part of the Global Health team and look forward to her continued leadership in the PLANS portfolio.

 

2020 Dr. G. W. Archibald Gold-headed Cane Award in Medical Humanities Recipient

Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Lynk, who has been named the recipient of the Dr. G. W. Archibald Gold-headed Cane Award in Medical Humanities. Presented each year to a physician faculty member who combines scholarly attainments, humanism and professional skills, this year’s honoree, Dr. Lynk, serves as an effective role model for students in the medical humanities.

Congratulation, Dr. Lynk.

 

 

Welcoming new residents

As some residents were wrapping up their training at Dalhousie, we welcomed a new group of 170 residents on July 1st. This is an exciting time for our new postgrad trainees, and I encourage them to take full advantage of their educational experiences – including getting involved in teaching of our medical students, who will benefit from their experience and wisdom.

I want to thank our residents, program directors and staff at Dalhousie, as well as the Maritime health authorities, for creating a seamless start to residency training. In particular, I would like to thank our simulation staff who hosted various COVID-19 boot camps for residents that went very well. The extra work being done by the university and the hospitals to help our residents to start their careers is appreciated.

 

The 2020 President’s Research Excellence Awards recipients

Congratulations to all the recipients of the President’s Research Excellence Awards, including Dalhousie Medical School faculty members Dr. Zhenyu Cheng (Department of Microbiology and Immunology), Dr. John Frampton (School of Biomedical Engineering), and Dr. Jeremy Brown (School of Biomedical Engineering). More information about their cutting-edge work and a full list of award recipients can be found on Dal News.

I am pleased to celebrate such a stellar group of individuals who have helped make us the hub of world-leading research and innovation we are today.

 

2019-2020 Faculty of Medicine Awards

At the Faculty of Medicine Annual Faculty Meeting held virtually on June 2, a few of the many people dedicated to research, teaching and mentoring at Dalhousie Medical School were celebrated and recognized for their efforts and achievements over the recent academic year.

Recognizing the contributions of faculty members in the areas of research, education, and community service is a key component of the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine strategic plan, #DalMedForward.

Congratulations to the recognized individuals below who are making the most of their time at Dalhousie Medical School, seizing opportunities and opening themselves up to new experiences and perspectives. They are a reminder of what can be accomplished through leadership, passion, and engagement.

• Dr. Robyn McLaughlin, Department of Pediatrics (Early Career Award of Excellence in Education)
• Dr. Irena Rot, Department of Medical Neuroscience (Award of Excellence in Education)
• Dr. Ashley Miller, Division of General Medicine (Early Career Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice)
• Dr. Mark Sadler, Division of Neurology (Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice)
• Dr. Sarah Shea, Department of Pediatrics (Dr. Allan Cohen Memorial Award for Community Service)
• Dr. Brian Moses, Division of General Internal Medicine (Community Teacher of the Year Award
• Dr. Dennis Klassen, Division of General Surgery (The Wayne Putnam Award)
• Dr. Grace Park, Class of 2020 (The Dr. J. Donald Hatcher Award for Medical Research)
• Dr. Jeanette Boudreau, Department of Microbiology & Immunology (Award for Excellence in Basic Research)
• Dr. Karthik Tennankore, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology (Award for Excellence in Patient-Oriented Research)
• Dr. Alyson Kelvin, Department of Pediatrics (Faculty of Medicine Early Career Investigator Award)
• Dr. John Archibald, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (The Max Forman Senior Research Prize)

For more information on the awards and this year’s recipients, please visit Dal Med News.

 

Scotia Scholars

I am pleased to share that many of our Master’s and Doctoral students are recipients of the 2020-2021 Scotia Scholars Awards presented by Research Nova Scotia. The Scotia Scholars Awards were created to provide financial support to research trainees with exceptional potential who are engaged in health research at participating Nova Scotia institutions.

Please join me in congratulating these outstanding learners. A full list of award recipients can be found here.

 

DMRF’S 3^rd Annual Impact Reception

On Wednesday, July 8, the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation hosted its third annual Impact Reception – a celebration of our donors and the health research they support. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event took place online, and featured some fascinating presentations and conversations featuring Dr. Thomas Pulinilkunnil (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, DMNB), Dr. Paola Marcato (Department of Pathology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology), Dr. Rudolf Uher (Department of Psychiatry) and Dr. Craig McCormick (Department of Microbiology & Immunology). In case you missed it, you can view a recording of the virtual event here.

 

On that note, I wish all of you a great remainder of the summer and hope you find time for family, friends, and sunshine. I look forward to seeing you, virtually or in person, back on campus later in August as we welcome our incoming class of medical and graduate students.