Dean’s Blog Spring 2024 

Spring has sprung, bringing with it the promise of warmer days ahead. It’s remarkable how swiftly another academic year nears its end, with exams already in full swing for some.  

With immense pride, I extend my congratulations to the graduating class of 2024 as they embark on the next chapter of their journey towards becoming physicians. March 19, 2024, was Match Day, and I am delighted to report yet another extremely strong showing in our residency placements. Ninety-four per cent of our graduates matched with programs throughout the country, with 70 Dalhousie graduates who matched in the first iteration returning to complete their training here in the summer. Notably, 48 per cent of our graduates have matched to family medicine programs, the largest proportion in recent memory.   

On April 2, 2024, Dalhousie proudly launched Bringing Worlds Together, a groundbreaking $750-million fundraising campaign aimed at fostering global collaboration and addressing pressing societal challenges. I’m pleased to say that in the Faculty of Medicine the campaign will directly support medical student scholarships and bursaries, helping to alleviate the significant student loan debts faced by medical graduates and allowing them to focus on becoming great doctors and researchers. Funding will also support our Medical Simulation Centre, which enhances healthcare education by providing students with essential simulation and interprofessional learning experiences, as well as innovative health education, research, and outreach.  

As we near the end of another term, I hope success finds all those studying in the Faculty of Medicine, and hope you find time to enjoy some lovely spring days. 

 

Thomas and Alice Morgans Fear Memorial Conference on Gender Equity and Shared Care 

On May 27, 2024, the Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with the IWK and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is hosting the 12th Annual Thomas and Alice Morgans Fear Memorial Conference at the Halifax Convention Centre. This important event will bring together diverse interprofessional scholars and practitioners, decision-makers, and the public, to discuss gender equity and shared care, helping participants bridge the gap between understanding and practice. I encourage you to register for an exciting day of informative and thought-provoking sessions and conversation.  

   

Federal government invests $34.4M in Dal research to unlock innovation in clean tech, heart health, ocean science and more 

In an exciting Government of Canada announcement on March 13, 2024, Dalhousie researchers received a total of $34.4 million in funding for research in battery science, heart health, ocean ecosystems and much more. Among the recipients are Drs. Thomas Pulinilkunnil and Susan Howlett from the Faculty of Medicine. With a $2.9-million grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and matched by $2.3-million from Research Nova Scotia, their research is focused on a newly diagnosed and little-understood multi-organ syndrome that causes half of all heart failures. The funding will provide cutting-edge equipment at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick in Saint John and in the Faculty of Medicine in Halifax to investigate the syndrome, promote commercialization of discoveries, and improve the quality of life for heart failure patients. 

Read more here. 

 

MPAS students mark beginning of medical career with special ceremony  

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine recognized the inaugural class in its groundbreaking Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at a special stethoscope ceremony on February 15, 2024.  

Announced in 2023, this two-year program is the first in the Maritimes and provides students with the skills, knowledge, and training required to help them increase access to care and make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of Nova Scotians. 

Read more here. 

 

Euphoria! impresses crowds, judges 

Crowds flocked to the Dalhousie Arts Centre on February 17, 2024, as Dalhousie medical students took to the stage for the 54th performance of Euphoria! to raise funds for Chroma NB, a non-profit organization that provides support for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the Saint John Region.  

Every year since 1969, Dalhousie Medical School students have hosted the variety show, with funds raised going to a charity of their choosing. All four classes face off, showcasing their amazing artistic, theatrical and musical talents, for bragging rights and the coveted Euphoria! trophy.  

It was an unforgettable evening of celebration for all those involved, with more than $43,000 raised in support of Chroma NB.    

Read more here.
 

Faculty of Medicine widely featured in Dalhousie Community Report  

Dalhousie recently released their 2023 Community Impact Report with a focus on health and well-being, and the Faculty of Medicine is prominently featured. The report, which emphasizes Dalhousie as the driving force in advancing our region’s health-care training and research, showcases the Faculty of Medicine’s work in equity and diversity, as well as highlighting research and care across the lifespan.  

Read the report here.  

 

Black Health Primer aims for inclusive healthcare 

A new online course on Black health and anti-Black racism in the Canadian healthcare system is now available to learners across Canada. 

The Black Health Primer was created by Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, the James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies here in the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Onye Nnorom, an assistant professor at Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and Sume Ndumbe-Eyoh, an assistant professor at Dalla Lana, in response to gaps in education and training on Black health and anti-Black racism in medicine and public health in Canada. 

Read more here. 

 

Medical Neuroscience student wins 3 Minute Thesis competition 

Reynaldo Popoli, a medical neuroscience PhD student, won Dalhousie University’s annual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition by presenting his research on enhancing the quality of life for ALS patients. The competition, held on March 19, 2024, in the Dalhousie Student Union Building, featured 10 graduate students who had to communicate their research to a general audience in three minutes or less, using only one static PowerPoint slide.  

Reynaldo received a $1,000 prize and will represent Dalhousie at the Eastern 3MT regionals, which will be held at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique in Quebec in June. 

Pooyan Moradi, another PhD student in medical neuroscience, secured second place and received a $500 prize for his presentation on utilizing artificial intelligence to identify seizures in animals and its potential application in predicting epilepsy in humans with head injuries. 

Read more here. 

 

Department of Psychiatry leads launch of national program to support mental health of doctors and trainees 

A new national program spearheaded by Dalhousie’s Department of Psychiatry will offer mental-health support to physicians, residents, and medical students across Canada. 

Wellness4MDs delivers daily supportive text messages in English or French to subscribers for six months at no cost. The program aims to significantly reduce levels of stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression commonly experienced by physicians, residents, and medical students. 

Dr. Vincent Agyapong, head of the Department of Psychiatry, and his Global Mental Health Research Group based at Dalhousie and the University of Alberta designed Wellness4MDs. The service’s text messages are based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles and were developed by psychiatrists, mental health therapists, clinical psychologists, and mental health service users.   

Learn more here. 

 

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada recognizes Dalhousie learners, faculty, and staff 

Each year, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the academic partnership of Canada’s faculties of medicine, recognizes distinguished individuals for their leadership, excellence, and achievements in academic medicine. 

Congratulations to the recent winners from Dalhousie: 

• AFMC Scientist Award: Dr. Susan Howlett 
• AFMC Learner Changemaker Awards: Dr. Jasmine Mah 
• AFMC John Ruedy Award for Excellence in Graduate Health Professions Education Scholarship: Dr. Victoria Luong 
• AFMC Administration Award: Pamela Bourque 

Read more here. 

 

Faculty launches peer recognition program, People First

We are proud to launch “People First” a new peer-to-peer public recognition program that allows you to informally recognize someone in your department, division, or unit, who exemplifies the Valuing People stream of work by: 

• Creating a positive work environment 
• Supporting career growth 
• Fostering wellbeing 
• Maintaining an affirming organizational culture 

You can make submissions here, and posts will be shared on the Faculty’s SharePoint site and may also be shared broadly in the Dean’s Blog, Dal Med News, bi-weekly newsletter, and our social media channels. At the end of each month, a name will be drawn randomly, and the winner will be given a Faculty of Medicine branded water bottle.  

Congratulations to our February 2024 winner, Anne Woolaver from the Division of Immunology in the Department of Pediatrics, and to Michelle LeBlanc, our March 2024 winner from the Department of Psychiatry!  

 

Request for submissions: Faculty of Medicine Advancement newsletter 

Do you have an exciting research advancement or project you’re working on you’d like us to feature in the Faculty of Medicine Advancement team’s monthly INFORMED newsletter and on our website? Let us know by emailing dayna.park@dal.ca and don’t forget to sign up to receive regular updates including competition information, workshop invitations, upcoming event details, speaking opportunities, and more!  

 

Dr. Sarah Wells appointed Associate Dean, Academic (Basic Science) 

On behalf of the Faculty of Medicine, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Sarah Wells has been appointed Associate Dean, Academic (Basic Science), for a five-year term. This appointment is effective February 5, 2024.  

As Associate Dean, Dr. Wells will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Faculty’s academic educational program plans and aligning the objectives associated with the Faculty of Medicine’s four strategic streams. Dr. Wells will provide strategic leadership and support for undergraduate (not including medical), graduate, postdoctoral fellow and professional development education programs offered by the Faculty of Medicine, including academic program planning / strategic planning, and curriculum development, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement.  

Dr. Wells has served as Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Medicine, overseeing the Medical Sciences BSc program since 2016. She will continue to oversee the Medical Sciences program, in addition to her new role.   

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wells on her appointment.   

 

In Memoriam: Dr. Edward Carl Abbott 

The Faculty of Medicine was saddened to hear of the passing of retired faculty member in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Edward Carl Abott, on February 8, 2024, at the age of 88.  

Born in Newfoundland, Dr. Abbott traveled to Halifax to attend medical school here at Dalhousie. After his training he returned to Newfoundland as a general practitioner at the Cottage Hospital in Botwood. Inspired by his experience there, he returned to Dalhousie to pursue specialty training in internal medicine. During his residency, he worked with Dr. Stan Peart at the Toronto General and received a scholarship to work in London, England under Sir Colin Dollery.  

Dr. Abbott eventually settled in Halifax as an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine in Dalhousie. Both his patients and colleagues will remember him for his warmth, dedication, thoroughness, and his debonaire dress.  

A devoted and professional physician, Dr. Abbott will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.  

Read his full obituary here. 

 

In Memoriam: Dr. John Godfrey Heathcote 

The Faculty of Medicine was saddened to hear of the passing of retired faculty member and former head of the Department of Pathology, Dr. John Godfrey Heathcote, on March 20, 2024, at the age of 73.  

Dr. Heathcote was an accomplished and recognized expert in the pathology and developmental biology of the eye. He chaired the Canadian Ophthalmic Pathology Society and presided over the British Association for Ophthalmic Pathology. Joining Dalhousie in 2004, he held positions as a professor and head in the Department of Pathology, and a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Later, he served as Senior Medical Director of the Provincial Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Program in Nova Scotia. 

Dr. Heathcote retired to Bayfield, Ontario in 2019.  

A devoted and professional physician, Dr. Heathcote will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.  

Read his full obituary here. 

 

In Memoriam: Dr. Robert Lorne Brown 

The Faculty of Medicine is saddened to hear of the passing of retired faculty member and family physician, Dr. Robert Lorne Brown, on March 27, at the age of 86. 

Dr. Brown attended Dalhousie Medical School, graduating in 1963. He practiced as a family physician in Halifax for 52 years, showing great compassion and dedication to his patients and advocating for accessible health care for all. As a faculty member at Dalhousie, he mentored countless students and family medicine residents during his career. 

Dr. Brown was Chief of Staff at what was the old Civic Hospital on University Ave., and a member of the Hospital Advisory Boards for the Civic Hospital, the Halifax Infirmary, and the Victoria General Hospital. He was also chair of Birthright, an organization devoted to supporting pregnant women in need, for many years. He received an honourary life-time membership with the Canadian Medical Association in 2006, for his distinguished career.  

Dr. Brown was an exceptional physician, devoted to all those he served. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. 

Read his full obituary here. 

 

In Memoriam: Dr. Daniel Alexander Gillis 

The Faculty of Medicine is saddened to hear of the passing of retired faculty member, Dr. Daniel Alexander Gillis, on March 27, 2024, at the age of 95. 

Born in 1928, Dr. Gillis grew up in Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton and obtained his medical degree from Dalhousie University. He completed his postgraduate training both in Canada and the United States before returning to Halifax where he would spend the bulk of his career as the Chief of Surgery at the IWK Children’s Hospital.  

He dedicated his career to children’s health and in 1997 was recognized with the Order of Canada for the introduction and development of techniques of open-heart surgery in children. He was a former President of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Surgeons, and well known as an exceptional mentor to students and colleagues alike.  

A devoted and professional physician, Dr. Gillis will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.  

Read his full obituary here.