It has been a busy fall so far, with much excitement in the Faculty of Medicine.

In October we celebrated the Dalhousie Medicine Gala at the Halifax Convention Centre. Great to see such an incredible turnout at the event, the first we have hosted since in four years. The weekend also featured an awards dinner for the Dalhousie Medical Alumni Association where we recognized six worthy recipients, and the Dr. Fred Barton Visiting Scholar & Lecture in Ethics in Medicine. Thanks to the organizers and all who attended the weekend’s events. Learn more about the festivities below.

Planning continues for two new significant initiatives in the Faculty of Medicine, namely the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program, which will welcome the inaugural class of students in January 2024, and the Cape Breton Medical Campus (CBMC), which will begin accepting students for August 2025. The CBMC will be uniquely focused on family medicine training and rural health with the expectation that most graduates will become family physicians addressing the needs of Cape Breton residents and other rural Nova Scotians. A special admissions pathway is under development for the CBMC and there will be other exciting developments that will make this campus unique.

Each year I have the pleasure of travelling to our teaching sites with our medical education and family medicine teams to meet with our students, residents, and faculty who are teaching and training around the Maritime provinces. This fall visits were made, or will be made, to Yarmouth, Kentville, Liverpool, Bridgewater, New Glasgow, Sydney, and Inverness in Nova Scotia, to Charlottetown, PEI, and in early December, to Miramichi, Moncton, Fredericton, Woodstock and Saint John in New Brunswick. This is a great opportunity to get feedback and discover innovations and opportunities in our teaching programs around the Maritimes and to meet and renew acquaintances with those who give so much to our Faculty.

I would like to acknowledge the ongoing challenges for faculty, staff, and students impacted by the flood that occurred last winter that affected large sections of 11 floors in the Tupper Medical Building. Unfortunately, the damage was more extensive than originally anticipated, resulting in delays in returning laboratories to operation. Much work is being done ensure these labs will be back better than ever. We will continue to keep you updated on progress and please do not hesitate to reach out to medical.communications@dal.ca if there are questions or concerns.

To all our students, staff, and faculty: in these times of uncertainty and strife in the world, I hope your fall is going as well as can be expected. As we move forward with the implementation of our new strategic plan, Realizing Our Ambition, best wishes in your studies and pursuits, and let us know how we can help you in any way.

For other information and more detailed updates about other activities related to the Faculty of Medicine, see below.

 

Dal Med Gala

On Friday, October 13 we kicked off our Dal Med Gala weekend with the inaugural Dr. Fred Barton Visiting Scholar & Lecture in Ethics in Medicine, featuring guest lecturer, American author and medical ethicist, Harriet A. Washington, who presented on “The Erosion of Consent: Implications for Health Care Providers.” The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer period, and panel discussion that included Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed, Associate Dean, Serving & Engaging Society and Dr. Naila Ramji, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology here at Dalhousie.

On Saturday, October 14, gala celebrations continued with a Fun Run/Walk in support of Feed Nova Scotia and the Healthy Foundation For Tomorrow charity. Eighty faculty, students, family, and friends, united for the event to make a positive impact on our community’s well-being, raising over $400 in donations for Healthy Tomorrow Foundation, along with a carload of food for Feed NS. Thank you to Aerobics First for their generous support of the event, and to all those who came out to make a difference.

Later that evening we swapped our sneakers for our dancing shoes for the Dal Med Gala. For the first time since 2019 we gathered together at the Halifax Convention Centre to celebrate your hard work and dedication to the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University. Nearly 1,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, family and friends, joined together for an evening of great good, excellent company, and entertainment. It was wonderful to see so many faces in the room together after so many years. I was particularly pleased to see such an incredible student presence, with almost 500 medical and graduate students attending.

The Gala recognized three classes who reached milestones in class giving supporting Dalhousie medical students. The Class of 1991 was awarded the 100K cup, the Class of 1983 was awarded the 300K cup, and the Class of 1978 was awarded the 500K cup in recognition of their sizable class gifts to medical education. All-told, 18 classes have generously made the decision to establish a glass gift, with funds raised totaling more than $1.7 million over the past 10 years in support of our medical students. Sincere thanks to all involved.

It is never too early or too late to start a class gift, as classes ranging from 1965 and as recent as the class of 2020 have made the decision to create a legacy and make a collective impact for the Medical School as a class​.

Proceeds from the Gala were directed to the Dalhousie Medical Alumni Association (DMAA) Student Experience Fund. Thanks to the DMAA team, and all those who had a hand in planning another successful Dal Med Gala.

For those of you who were unable to attend, please enjoy our photo gallery of the Gala and video highlighting some of the Faculty of Medicine’s highlights and accomplishments over the past year.

 

Dean’s Retreat

Over the last two years, the Faculty of Medicine has undergone an extensive strategic planning process with faculty, students, staff, residents, and external stakeholders. Our new strategic plan, Realizing Our Ambition, was launched nearly a year ago, and since that time faculty leadership have been meeting with departments and groups to plan our next steps. I was happy to be at our Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick campus in Saint John for the annual Dean’s Retreat on October 26 and 27, 2023, where leaders from across the Faculty of Medicine gathered for strategic planning sessions. We thank you all for your valuable contributions thus far and look forward to the coming months as we continue to strive for our vision of healthier communities.

 

Dr. Noni MacDonald inducted into Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

It is with pride that I share that Dr. Noni MacDonald, renowned global health advocate, researcher, pediatrician, infectious disease specialist, and vaccinologist, has been announced as a 2024 inductee to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF).

Outstanding leaders in the fields of medicine and health science, CMHF laureates have led the way to extraordinary improvements in human health.

Dr. MacDonald, a former Dean of Medicine at Dalhousie Medical School and the first woman in Canada to hold the position, is now retired from the Department of Pediatrics where she was a professor specializing in pediatric infectious diseases. As the first pediatrician certified in pediatric infectious diseases in Canada, she has made significant contributions in areas like cystic fibrosis and HIV. Her research on sexually transmitted diseases in young people has resulted in her recruitment to both government and health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to generate authoritative policies that change practice and provide health-care professionals with evidence-based guidelines. She was also a key contributor to research studies supported by the Canadian Immunization Research Network and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. As a co-founder of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology, she’s sought after by influential health organizations, including WHO and Health Canada.

Dr. MacDonald’s dedication extends to enhancing healthcare for underserved populations. In 2008, she co-founded MicroResearch in Eastern Africa, a program that empowers local healthcare providers to address community health issues within their context, culture, and resources. By involving the community, the program has trained over 800 individuals in Africa, fostering long-lasting research efforts and improving local practices. These principles have now been applied to healthcare in Nova Scotia communities.

Her commitment to social accountability in medical education has driven changes in accreditation standards. Despite ceasing clinical work some years ago, she maintains a strong presence in teaching, research, and policy development, particularly in the realm of vaccines.

The 2024 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be hosted by the University of British Columbia on April 13, 2024.

Congratulations, Dr. MacDonald, on an honour so richly deserved.

 

Resident leadership elective Empowers healthcare leaders of tomorrow

An initiative designed to empower healthcare leaders, designed by Assistant Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education, Dr. David Bowes, and co-led by PGME Curriculum Specialist Jenny Acuna and Evaluation Specialist Dr. Cindy Shearer, has just finished its second year with remarkable success.

The leadership elective, a four-week rotation available to residents in any specialty, equips them with essential healthcare and academic leadership skills.

I offer my congratulations to Dr. Bowes and his team on the success of this elective and look forward to seeing it progress in the future.

Read more here.

 

Faculty nominated for 2023 Discovery Awards

I’m proud to announce that several faculty members have been nominated for the 21^st annual Discovery Awards, celebrating outstanding innovators whose game changing achievements in science and technology put Nova Scotia at the forefront of global innovation. Finalists will be honoured on November 22, 2023, at an event at the Halifax Convention Centre.

Congratulations to the finalists:

• Sarah Wells – Science Champion
• Finlay Maguire – Emerging Professional
• Noreen Kamal – Emerging Professional
• Robert Abraham, Daniel Boyd, and Sharon Kehoe (ABK Biomedical Inc.) – Innovation
• Sarah Kirk – Public Impact Award
• Steven Beyea – Public Impact Award

Learn more about the awards and finalists here.

 

Dr. Julie Copeland, Appointed Senior Associate Dean, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick

I’m so pleased to announce that Dr. Julie Copeland has been appointed Senior Associate Dean, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick for a five-year term. This appointment is effective January 15, 2024.

Dr. Copeland will join Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick from Western University, where she is the Postgraduate Director and an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Dr. Copeland holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Brunswick – Saint John, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Toronto, and a Rural Family Medicine residency from Western University. She also holds a Master of Clinical Science in Family Medicine from Western University. As an Academic Family Physician, she has practiced comprehensive Family Medicine in the office, hospital, and community settings.

In announcing Dr. Copeland’s appointment, on behalf of the Faculty of Medicine, I would like to express my sincerest thanks to Dr. Jennifer Hall, who is completing her second term as Associate Dean. Dr. Hall has been instrumental in the development of DMNB and has well positioned the campus for future success.  Dr. Hall will be continuing with the Faculty of Medicine in an advisory capacity for a one-year period beginning January 2024.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Copeland to Dalhousie and DMNB!

 

Dr. Manuel Mattheisen named University Research Chair

Dalhousie has established a new University Research Chair program to attract top talent. Designed to allow faculties to make globally competitive offers, the program has launched with four new chairs in the Faculties of Health, Medicine, Computer Science and Agriculture. Congratulations to Dr. Manuel Mattheisen from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, and the Faculty of Computer Science, who is among the new chairs in the Established Scholar category. Dr. Mattheisen’s research is focused on the intersection of genetics, mental health and computer science. Leveraging medical and molecular genetics, genetic epidemiology, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and biostatistics, he is unlocking the genetic underpinnings of psychiatric disorders.

Read more on Dal News.

 

Lea C. Steeves Award in Continuing Medical Education

Congratulations to Dr. Todd Hatchette of the Department of Pathology who was selected as the recipient of the Dr. Lea C. Steeves award for 2022.

The Dr. Lea C. Steeves annual award highlights continuing medical education teachers, and is given to an individual who consistently provides an exceptionally high quality of education to their students.

Dr. Hatchette was selected for this award based on his excellence in teaching and his demonstrated commitment to physician education.

 

New award encourages medical students to choose family medicine

Announced at the Dal Med Gala, a $1.2 million gift from the Walker Wood Foundation will create a significant new award for Dalhousie medical students who pursue a residency in rural family medicine. Beginning in 2024, two medical school graduates will each receive a James Walker Wood, MD, Award in Medicine valued at $100,000 – the largest ever individual prize for MD graduates at Dal’s Faculty of Medicine. Recipients must be entering a Family Medicine Residency at Dalhousie in a rural or remote area in the Maritimes. The award will recognize outstanding graduates who have been involved in relevant extracurricular and leadership activities and who faced financial need during their medical degree.

Learn more here.

 

Research In Medicine (RIM) program celebrates 10 years

In September the Research in Medicine program celebrated its tenth year. RIM is a longitudinal and self-directed course where students learn about research, and design and develop a research project over the course of their undergraduate studies. A requirement for graduation, the goal of RIM is to instill a high level of critical thinking and create a culture of inquiry among learners.

Learn more about RIM here.

 

Dalhousie Medical Research unveils REMEDY magazine

In mid-October Dalhousie Medicine Research unveiled their latest endeavor in the world of medical research and education. The first issue of REMEDY Magazine, was released on October 17, 2023. With a fresh name and a modern aesthetic, inside its pages you’ll find a treasure trove of stories celebrating research and education excellence that wouldn’t be possible without the support of our amazing community.

Read REMEDY here.

 

Subscribe now: Cape Breton Medical Campus Monthly Newsletter

Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine has partnered with Cape Breton University to publish a monthly newsletter dedicated to keeping you up to date with what has been accomplished thus far in the creation of the new Cape Breton Medical Campus.

Transparency as Dalhousie and Cape Breton University continues to progress in this venture is important, and this newsletter endeavours to keep stakeholders, partners, and the community informed through monthly updates.

Click here to read the latest newsletter, and subscribe to be sent the next issue.

 

UPEI names Dal Med grad first Dean of Medicine

Congratulations to Dr. Preston Smith, a Dalhousie Medical School graduate, and current dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, who has been named the University of Prince Edward Island’s first dean of Medicine, effective April 1, 2024.

Prior to his time at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Smith was senior associate dean of education here in the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie. He was instrumental in the development of DMNB, as well as starting new family medicine residency programs in PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Dr. Smith is a highly regarded medical educator and administrator and I am so pleased to have him back on the East Coast.

Congratulations to him on his appointment!

Read more here.

 

In Memoriam – Dr. Ethel Pereira

The Faculty of Medicine is saddened to hear of the passing of retired faculty member, Dr. Ethel E Pereira, 96, of Halifax. Dr. Pereira passed away peacefully at Drummond Hall Parkland Clayton Park, in Halifax Nova Scotia, on September 3, 2023.

Dr. Pereira was born in Belgaum, and grew up in Secunderabad, India. She was a staff member at the Halifax Infirmary, Victoria General Hospital, Grace Maternity Hospital, IWK Health Centre, and Stadacona Medical Center, and an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dalhousie University.

Dr. Pereira retired from a fulfilling medical career in 1993. She loved life and continued to live life to the fullest by gardening, spending time with loved ones, enjoying music, and traveling around the world with her dear friend Lucille Fricker.

Read Dr. Pereira’s obituary here.