Dean’s Blog February 2023

It has been a busy time in the Faculty of Medicine, with many exciting announcements over the last month. At the end of January, news came of a collaboration between Dalhousie and Cape Breton University to establish a medical school campus in Sydney, Nova Scotia. We look forward to this partnership and training physicians at this new campus. You can read more about this below.

On February 1, after many months of hard work and collaboration, we released our 2023-2028 strategic plan, Realizing Our Ambition. The plan signals the Faculty of Medicine’s long-term aspirations while providing a clear, actionable strategy to guide us through the next five years. It builds on our achievements, while guiding us in new, and exciting directions.

As we begin the implementation of the plan’s action items, which fall under four core streams: Educational Excellence, High-impact Research, Serving and Engaging Society, and Valuing People, your input and collaboration will be critical to our success.

Thank you to all who contributed to the strategic planning process, and for all you are doing to help us achieve our vision of healthier communities.

 

Tupper Building Flood
On Saturday, February 4, as a result of extreme weather conditions, a pipe in the Tupper Tower ruptured, causing significant water damage on the west side of the building on floors 12 through 2.

Restoration efforts are underway, but this has been an incredibly challenging situation, and I thank everyone affected for your input and patience as we work through this together.

We will continue to keep those impacted informed as we work through the restoration process.

 

Cape Breton Medical School Campus
On January 27, I had the privilege to be in Cape Breton for the official announcement of a collaboration between Dalhousie University and Cape Breton University to establish a medical school campus based in Sydney, Nova Scotia by the fall of 2025.

This strategic partnership will ensure more Nova Scotians will have the opportunity to receive an excellent medical education in their home province and will assist with the recruitment and retention of physicians to the Cape Breton region, and indeed to all of Nova Scotia. With a focus on family medicine and rural medicine, the Cape Breton campus will provide training that will greatly benefit the health needs of many communities of Nova Scotians.

Cape Breton will become the third site for Dalhousie Medical School along with the very successful Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick campus based in Saint John, New Brunswick and Dalhousie Medicine campus based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dalhousie Medical School has a history of over 150 years of training physicians and has successfully provided distributed medical education opportunities throughout the Maritimes. We look forward to partnering with Cape Breton University, physicians in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Health, and the community, to train the next generation of physicians at this exciting new campus.

 

The Dalhousie Medicine Student Society presents: Euphoria!
This Saturday, medical students from all four years of training will gather at the Dalhousie Arts Centre for Euphoria!, a fundraising variety show showcasing the talents of our medical students. Each class has organized a 30-minute skit to perform and the class with the best skit wins the show, a trophy, and bragging rights.

This year the event supports Camp Triumph, a charity that provides an opportunity for children and youth whose families are affected by chronic illness or disability to attend the camp, an experience that helps them build confidence, positive self-esteem, while also helping them to reach their full potential.

Tickets for Euphoria! are $25 for current students and $33 for general admission and available through the Dal Arts Centre box office.

 

Dalhousie to host Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Induction 2023
On June 22, 2023, the Faculty of Medicine will host the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) induction ceremony at the Halifax Convention Centre. At the event, six outstanding Canadians who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, integrity and contributions to medicine and the health sciences, in Canada or abroad, and have led to extraordinary improvements in human health will be honoured by CMHF.

Learn more and purchase tickets here.

 

Faculty of Medicine Awards – Call for Nominations
The Faculty of Medicine invites nominations for awards that recognize outstanding contributions to education and teaching, administrative leadership, community service, medical research, and continuing medication education.

Deadlines vary for each award, please refer to nomination forms. Each department is encouraged to nominate members, both early and established career, who have made valuable contributions in any of these areas. The nomination criteria and application details are available here.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the Dean’s Office (Awards.Medicine@dal.ca.) if you have any questions.

 

New program helps international medical graduates return home
The government of Nova Scotia has created a designated pathway to residency for 10 international medical graduates studying outside Canada, with priority given to those with a connection to Nova Scotia. Previously, there were six designated seats for international medical graduates interested in a Nova Scotia residency; this brings the total to 16.

These 2023 residency positions under the Nova Scotia International Medical Graduates Program are part of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) program, the national service that matches all physician residency program applicants with open spots at Canada’s medical schools. Students began applying to CaRMS on Wednesday, December 7.

These seats come with an agreement to work in an area of high need in the province for five years after completing the residency requirement.

Read more on NovaScotia.ca.

 

Workshop prepares medical learners for large scale casualty and triage situations
Following an incredible collaboration between both undergraduate medical education teams in Nova Scotia (DMNS) and New Brunswick (DMNB), local healthcare professionals and associations, as well as the Centre for Collaborative Clinical Learning and Research (C3LR), the first Disaster Preparedness Workshop was held on November 26, 2022.

Many months in the making, the workshop offered learners in their third year of medicine at Dalhousie’s Nova Scotia and New Brunswick campuses, the opportunity to develop and practice skills associated with large scale casualty and triage situations. With 34 simulated patients (SP) participating alongside volunteer physicians (including residents), paramedics, nurses, and respiratory therapists, the workshop was the first of its kind at Dalhousie and a massive undertaking.

Read more on Dal Med News.

 

IWK research provides opportunity for health care providers to learn how to create culturally safe health care environment
An IWK research project offers health care providers an opportunity to learn from Indigenous Peoples about working in a health partnership and creating a culturally safe environment. To Know Better is to Do Better: Translating Indigenous Knowledge to Health Practice draws from nearly 15 years of community engagement, relationship-building, research, and validation with the Mi’kmaq and their health leadership teams.

The project involves the creation of an Indigenous-led innovative cultural safety curriculum relevant for health clinicians, and invites 375 health clinicians from IWK, NSH, and Mi’kmaw community health settings in Nova Scotia to participate in a 6-module cultural safety course. The six modules are informed by research with several First Nations communities in Mi’kma’ki and a partnership with Tajikeimɨk, Dalhousie University and IWK Health.  Dr. Margot Latimer, CIHR Research Chair in Indigenous Health Nursing, Faculty at Dalhousie, is Co-Principal investigator, and Dr. Brent Young, Academic Director of Indigenous Health, Dalhousie Medical School, is also involved from Dalhousie.

The aim is to determine the course impact on clinician attitudes, knowledge and behavioural outcomes meant to positively impact the experiences of Indigenous people seeking care in the healthcare system.

Read more on YourIWK.com.

 

Dal scholars advance fight against anti Black racism in medicine from pages of top journal
Initiated and spurred on by the national Black Health Education Collaborative, the Canadian Medical Association Journal has published two special issues centred exclusively around anti-Black racism and Black health in Canada. Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, the James R. Johnson Chair in Black Canadian Studies here at Dalhousie, and Dr. Onye Nnorom, a colleague at the University of Toronto, were the driving force behind this work. The two-issues created an editorial shift at the journal designed to create a more equitable and welcoming publishing environment for Black researchers and scholars moving forward.

Read more on Dal News.

 

Several Dal alumni and former faculty among latest Order of Canada appointments
Seven individuals appointed to the Order of Canada in late December have Dalhousie connections, including two Dal Med Alumni, Dr. Andreas Laupacis, and Dr. Allen Eaves.

The Order of Canada celebrates citizens who have made exemplary and longstanding contributions to this country. From volunteers to scientists, businesspeople to artists, since 1967, this award has recognized people whose life and work has made this nation a better place. The Order is considered one of Canada’s highest honours.

I offer my congratulations to each of the new appointees.

Read more on Dal News.

 

Dalhousie medical student receives Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
Third year medical student, Ms. Hannah Cameron, is a recent recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. This medal is a way for the province of Nova Scotia to honour The Queen’s service while also honouring significant contributions and achievements made by residents. The program specifically recognizes Nova Scotians who have devoted themselves to the service of others, especially during the pandemic. For the last eight years, Hannah has been an army reservist medic with the 33 Field Ambulance in Halifax. Nominated by her army unit, Hannah is recognized for her incredible service to the military and her community. While balancing her medical school studies, Hannah has instructed new classes of army medics in both the summer of 2021 and 2022; worked in medical clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic; and been a volunteer at the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research Military Health Research Conference 2023.

She was presented with Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in a ceremony on January 31, 2023.

Congratulations to Hannah on this incredible honour!

 

Department of Community Health and Epidemiology associate professor is awarded prestigious grant
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology associate professor, Dr. Robin Urquhart has been awarded an Accelerator Grant by the Canadian Cancer Society.

Nova Scotia has one of the highest cancer rates in Canada. With her new Accelerator Grant, Dr. Urquhart will adapt Danish cancer patient pathways to improve and streamline diagnosis and referrals in this province.

As well as associate professor, Dr. Urquhart is the Canadian Cancer Society (Nova Scotia Division)’s Endowed Chair in Population Cancer Research at Dalhousie University.

Congratulations, Dr. Urquhart!

 

Dr. Steven Soroka Awarded NSHA Leadership Excellence Award
Congratulations to Dr. Steven Soroka on receiving this year’s Making Waves: Leadership Excellence Award for Physician Leader. This award recognizes an outstanding physician leader at Nova Scotia Health who demonstrates outstanding achievements that have had a significant impact on health policy, service delivery, organizational culture and/or continuous improvement.

Dr. Soroka is a Professor in the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine.

Learn more about Dr. Soroka’s award.

 

Dalhousie Medical Alumnus Appointed to Senate of Canada
Dr. Sharon Burey, an Ontario pediatrician and Dalhousie Medical School graduate was recently appointed to the Senate of Canada. Dr. Burey, who emigrated from Jamaica in 1976, and has practised as a behavioural pediatrician in Ontario for over 30 years. She has dedicated her career to equality, and to justice for those living in poverty, visible minorities, and other marginalized communities.

Dr. Burey completed her medical degree and specialty training in pediatrics here at Dalhousie.

Learn more about her impressive career.

 

Six Dalhousie Medicine faculty among 10 from Dalhousie receiving grants from Research Nova Scotia
Research Nova Scotia recently awarded close to $1 million in New Health Investigator Grants to 10 Dalhousie researchers. These grants are awarded to scholars early in their careers to establish and expand projects that promise to help solve some of our toughest health care challenges. Among the recipients are six faculty members from the Faculty of Medicine. Congratulations to:

• Cindy Feng, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology
• Ruth Lavergne, Department of Family Medicine
• Richard Spence, Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery
• Jocelyn Stairs, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Amanda Vinson, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine
• JianLi Wang, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology

Read more about their research on Dal News.

 

Expressions of Interest: Faculty Committees
The Faculty of Medicine is seeking expressions of interest from faculty members for upcoming vacancies (July 1, 2023) on standing faculty committees.

Faculty Council strongly encourages all faculty members to consider serving on those committees. Active participation by all faculty in the governance of the Faculty of Medicine is essential.

If you are currently serving and your term is scheduled to end, please let us know if you’d be interested in re-offering.

Interested faculty members can click here to apply and any questions about these committees, can be directed to janice.godin@dal.ca.

 

Vox MeDal
The winter 2022 issue of our alumni magazine, VOX MeDAL was distributed to the alumni community in December. In this issue you will read about exciting activities happening at the medical school like the DMAA-led mentorship program, the medical school’s curriculum refresh, and recent class reunions. Also highlighted are the 2022 DMAA Alumni Recognition Award recipients. Congratulations to our advancement team on a fantastic issue.

Read the winter 2022 issue of Vox MeDAL here.

 

Dr. Leah Jones appointed first Academic Director, Black Health, at Dalhousie Medical School
On September 1, 2022, Dr. Leah Jones assumed the role of Academic Director, Black Health at Dalhousie Medical School. As Academic Director, Dr. Jones will lead the new Black Learners Admissions Pathway, currently under development by the Black Learner’s Admissions Subcommittee, which she chairs. Similar to the Indigenous Admissions Pathway and aligning with Dalhousie’s Third Century Promise, as well as recommendations from the African Nova Scotian Strategy, this formalized equitable pathway aims to increase representation of African Nova Scotian and Black learners into Dalhousie Medical School, and in turn, the healthcare system.

Read more on Dal Med News.

 

BHCRI appoints new Scientific Director
The Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeanette Boudreau as the institute’s next scientific director. Dr. Boudreau’s term officially began January 1, 2023, taking over from outgoing scientific director Dr. Gerry Johnston.

Dr. Boudreau is an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the DMRF Cameron Cancer Scientist and has been a member of BHCRI since she came to Dalhousie in 2016. She has received a New Investigator grant from BHCRI, which has helped initiate her research and has led to receiving over $9M in external funding, including a TFRI New Investigator Award – the first in Atlantic Canada. Additionally, many of Dr. Boudreau’s trainees have been in the cancer research training program.

Read more about Dr. Boudreau’s new appointment here.

Appointment of Dr. Kirill Rosen, Assistant Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Kirill Rosen has been appointed Assistant Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies for a five-year term, effective January 1, 2023.

Reporting to the Associate Dean Research, Dr. Rosen, who is a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and a senior scientist at the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, will provide strategic and administrative leadership to advocate for, and support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as valued members of the research community in the Faculty of Medicine. He will represent their interests, providing guidance and knowledge of career development opportunities, and financial and other supports. Dr. Rosen will also act as the Faculty of Medicine representative for various local, regional, and national groups and committees invested in the support of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

With a high level of interest and expertise in research, education, and supervision, Dr. Rosen is well suited to provide guidance to our graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Rosen to his new role.