As another academic year gets underway, it’s nice to see our hallways filling up with students again. I extend a special welcome to all of our new and returning students.

Even though classes aren’t in session during the summertime, the season remains busy from my standpoint. And of course, our research labs are in full swing at all times of the year.

Honouring tradition
This year’s Orientation Week started with our Hippocratic Oath ceremony, which welcomes our first-year students to medical school. The event was made special by having an honour table set up on the stage in recognition of our Aboriginal and African Nova Scotia communities. It held the traditional medicines of the Mi’kmaq, and a Kente cloth and Sankofa bird represented connection to African ancestry. Elder Debbie Eisan from Dalhousie’s Elders-in-Residence program was also on hand, reminding us that Dalhousie sits on traditional territory of indigenous people. These welcome additions to the Hippocratic Oath program certainly enhanced the meaning behind the gathering to our incoming students and their families.

Honouring the new, it was a pleasure to be back in Saint John for our First Light ceremony, which welcomed our New Brunswick-based first-year students.

And this week we welcomed the third cohort of first-year BSc Medicine students to Dalhousie. It’s great to see so many enthusiastic students—I wish them all the best in their studies.

Classes start in the CHEB
Programming in the new Collaborative Health Education Building (CHEB) has officially begun for the medical school. Over the summer, we did a lot of preparation to ensure a smooth transition into the facility. Our third-year students have spent much of their first few weeks of clerkship in the CHEB’s Centre for Collaborative Clinical Learning & Research; this is where medical students will be taught clinical skills.

The CHEB offers fantastic opportunities for more programs in interprofessional education with our colleagues in Dentistry and Health Professions. It’s going to be a great asset to our educational programs.

DMNB partnership renewed
We recently renewed our Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick agreement with government and the University of New Brunswick (UNB).

The five-year renewal allows us to continue delivering our Saint John-based undergraduate MD program. This collaboration has been hugely successful, providing an incredible training environment for our students and scientists.

Education, research, serving & engaging society
Since becoming dean, I’ve been guiding the development of Dalhousie Medical School’s strategic direction. After a year’s worth of surveys, retreats, town halls, and consultations with hospital and government representatives, we’ve identified three key priorities to focus on: education; research; and serving & engaging society.

Our strategic plan — #DalMedForward — will form the framework for allocating resources and prioritizing initiatives over the next five years. And it articulates an updated vision, mission, and values statement for Maritime Canada’s medical school.

We’re currently making our way through the implementation phase of the plan. Working groups are addressing each area of strategic priority, and a website is currently being developed to report on progress. Please have a look at #DalMedForward and talk about it with your colleagues. I’ve had the chance to discuss the strategy with our partners around the Maritimes and get critical feedback. I welcome your thoughts as well, and look forward to leading these important initiatives that will shape our future.

Research funding awarded to Dal scientists
Securing federal research funding continues to be a challenge at universities across the country. In the most recent Canadian Institutes of Health Research competition, only nine of the 491 grants were awarded to researchers in Atlantic Canada. Having said that, I’m pleased to report that several Dalhousie Medical School projects secured nearly $10 million in awards. Congratulations to all. Our strategic plan for research will have a focus on increasing our Faculty’s international research competitiveness.

Remembering yesteryear
In July, I had the pleasure of attending the Class of 1996’s 20-year reunion and the Class of 1981’s 35-year reunion. As a graduate of 1983, it was a great chance for me to see old friends and update them on what’s new at Dalhousie and in medical education. Although much has changed—with the addition of DMNB, our use of state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology, and our new curriculum—Dalhousie’s commitment to producing excellent physicians has continued over the decades. It’s gratifying to see our graduates speak so highly of their own educational experiences at Dalhousie.

Facility renos
No doubt, you’ve noticed construction activity around our Halifax campus. We’re six months into a two-year infrastructure renewal and sustainability project for the Tupper Building and Clinical Research Centre. The aim is to reduce energy and water consumption, cut our greenhouse gas emissions, and improve comfort for office and lab occupants.

Work on our multi-user research facilities – our CORES space – has gone very well. Renovations and relocation to the LSRI has finished, and an opening of the facilities is expected in November. We’ll be sharing more information about that event soon.

Sign up for emergency messaging through Dal Alert
I’d like to remind faculty, staff, and students to sign up for Dal Alert. The free messaging service is used by the university to quickly broadcast important information to members of the Dalhousie community.

Dal Alert uses a variety of messaging media (e.g., email, text messaging, web) to communicate about security threats, chemical spills, weather-related closures, and other unpredictable events.

Condolences and thanks
Unfortunately, this beautiful summer was marred by the tragic death of the brother of one of our medical students. Our deepest condolences go out to Sean Hurley and his family. And our thanks go to the many members of the Class of 2017 who supported Sean and performed at Kevin’s memorial service in Cole Harbour.

Follow on social media
Please feel free to get in touch with me any time. I’m on Twitter (@DalMedDean), and you can also stay up-to-date on Dalhousie Medical School news through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Have a great fall!

I trust everyone had a nice Canada Day. I hope you’ll have vacation time over the summer months to enjoy spending time with family and friends in our beautiful part of the world.

Celebrating the Class of 2016
The past few weeks have been full of excitement, and mark a momentous occasion for our newest graduates, the Class of 2016.

Class members have achieved great success so far, and I know will be destined to do many big things as they move forward with the next phase of their careers.

Convocation was a special experience for me as it was my first graduation as dean. It was wonderful for the graduates to be able to share their achievements with family and friends. And it was a proud moment to see the graduating class recognize faculty and residents who made a particular impact on their education. Dr. Scott MacDonald received the Silver Shovel award, and the Resident Teacher of the Year award went to Dr. Nick Sowers. Both Drs. MacDonald and Sowers are in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Best wishes to the Class of 2016, for future success and happiness.

Welcoming new residents
As some residents were wrapping up their training at Dalhousie, we welcomed a new group of 169 residents on July 1^st. Of course some trainees – about 50 per cent – are Dalhousie Medical School grads, and others have come from across the country to begin their Dal experience.

Postgraduate education will be going through some exciting changes that will impact these new residents. Competency-based training will be introduced shortly in several of our programs. We’ll also be moving forward with new accreditation standards from the Royal College and the College of Family Physicians that will impact the fall 2017 accreditation process at Dalhousie.

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.

Remembering Human Body Donation Program donors
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to attend Dalhousie’s internment and memorial services for people who gave the ultimate gift to medical science: their bodies.

For centuries, anatomy has been the foundation for medical advances and improvements in patient care. This continues today. Despite the innovative simulation technology available now, nothing can replace the fundamental knowledge offered by a real body. What’s learned in the anatomy lab has a direct impact on patient care in our hospitals and clinics around the Maritimes. And because of this, I know we’re all very grateful to the donors and their families.

Admissions review
In an effort to attract top-notch students who are representative of the Maritime population, we’re currently reviewing our admissions processes. Dr. Gus Grant, CEO of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia, is leading this review. He’s supported by a committee made up of medical students, members of the public, diversity leaders, and those with expertise in medicine and academic admissions policies. To get wider feedback, Dr. Grant hosted a town hall on June 20^th,. With almost 70 people in attendance, lots of ideas were brought forward.

The committee’s recommendations will inform our admissions team about ways to improve our admissions procedures.

AFP contracts negotiated
As many of you know, the province’s doctors – which include many of our faculty – voted to accept a new academic funding plan (AFP) contract with government. This four-year agreement replaces previous AFPs.

I look forward to working with our 12 AFP departments and our partner organizations – the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, Doctors Nova Scotia, the IWK, and the Nova Scotia Health Authority – as we move ahead with our academic mission for the Maritime provinces.

Annual faculty meeting
At June’s faculty meeting, I presented our new Faculty of Medicine strategic plan. After a year of planning and engaging faculty, staff, and students, it’s exciting to see this plan take shape as we focus attention on our three pillars of activity: education, research, and serving and engaging society. This plan won’t just sit on a shelf. We’re immediately moving forward with an implementation process that will outline how we’re going to get this work done.

I’ll continue to spend time on seeking feedback on our plan from our partner organizations. It’s clear that collaboration and teamwork are absolutely essential for us to achieve our goals, and community consultation and engagement will also be a major part of the implementation process.

Thanks and appreciation
As with any Faculty of Medicine, leadership transition is a key part of renewal, and July 1^st is a key date for academic appointments.

As we welcome Dr. Joanne MacDonald to the role of assistant dean, student affairs, I’d like to thank Dr. Mike Teehan for all he’s done over the past several years in the Student Affairs Office, and I wish him the best of luck in leading the Department of Psychiatry.

I’d also like to welcome Drs. Romesh Shukla of the Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, David Kirkpatrick of the Department of Surgery, and Christy Simpson of the Department of Bioethics back to their posts as department heads.

And last but not least, I want to recognize Dr. Gerry Johnston, our outgoing associate dean of research, for his contributions over his 41-year career at Dalhousie Medical School. Based on the number of people who attended his retirement reception, Gerry’s wise counsel and good humour will be missed. Meanwhile, we’re thankful to Dr. Roger McLeod for stepping in as interim associate dean.

As usual, the medical school is a hub of activity. I’ve summed up the most recent happenings below.

Graduation time
It’s convocation season at Dal, and I wish the Class of 2016 – and the faculty and staff who’ve supported them over the years – congratulations.

Whether you’re heading off to a residency program, or moving into the next chapter of your research career, I hope you reflect fondly on your time at Dalhousie Medical School. You’ll soon be part of a global network of Dal grads – a network that extends across the Maritimes, the country, and the world. I encourage you to call upon this alumni community as you move forward in your chosen professions.

I look forward to seeing you cross the stage.

Mock accreditation of UGME program helps us get ready for real deal
Since my last update, our mock accreditors visited the medical school. They were on campus April 7^th and gave us great feedback to work from. Their visit really sparked our accreditation ramp-up, and you’ll be hearing from me, and others, as we gear up for February. We’re going to need the support of faculty, staff, and students in advance of the review by the Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools. So, stay tuned.

Strategic plan town halls well attended
I’d like to sincerely thank those who participated in our strategic plan town halls. From my perspective, they were very well attended. We took lots of notes and our working groups have returned to their desks to incorporate the thoughts and ideas that were presented to us. While we’re on the home stretch – the next iteration of the plan will be presented at the June 7^th faculty meeting – we’re still open to feedback. The briefs that were developed in advance of the town halls can be found on the dean’s page. If you have additional insights, please send them to our facilitator, Wayne Marsh (wmarsh@ns.sympatico.ca).

Clinical Investigator Program attracts lots of interest
It’s exciting to see how much interest there is in our Clinical Investigator Program (CIP). I was able to attend part of the annual CIP retreat, and was pleased to learn we have eighteen residents enrolled as clinician-scientist trainees. Because of their high level of both clinical and research involvement, clinician-scientists are uniquely positioned to lead the way in advancing the health research agenda in the future.

Humanities conference highlights mental health in Canadian Forces
A couple of weekends ago, I attended our humanities conference. It was a great celebration of the arts in medicine. The presentations were thoughtful and engaging. I especially enjoyed the keynote by Colonel Rakesh Jetly. A psychiatrist with the Canadian Armed Forces, he gave a powerful talk on war’s impact on military personnel. Post-traumatic stress disorder and other combat-related stresses affect our soldiers, sailors, and aircrew at alarming rates.

On the Saturday evening of the conference, the Gold Headed Cane dinner, sponsored by our humanities program, took place. It was the largest turnout in the 14-year history of this event. Dr. David Hasse received the Faculty of Medicine Gold Headed Cane, and the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia awarded its cane to Dr. Mandi Irwin.

Congratulations to Dr. Wendy Stewart, director of Medical Humanities-HEALS, who coordinated both of these events.

Awards and accolades
Members of our medical school community are continually receiving awards, recognitions, and a variety of different honours. To name a few, Dr. Roy Duncan was recently honoured with a Killam Chair, several of our DMNB students were awarded Killam pre-doctoral scholarships, and first-year med student Connor McGuire won last weekend’s Bluenose Marathon 10km – by a large margin.

For a full list of the most recent accolades, visit our website.

I hope you’re enjoying our relatively moderate winter weather (compared to last year anyway, knock on wood!).

We need help!
It’s the time of year when we ask faculty members to get involved in medical school opportunities – either through teaching our students and/or by joining one of our important committees.

At Dalhousie Medical School, we’re committed to providing our students with the best learning experiences. We want faculty to teach what they’re interested in, and what they’re good at. Educating medical students, residents, and grad students is one of the benefits of working in an academic heath care environment.

We need – and very much appreciate – faculty help and engagement; it’s absolutely essential for the success of our medical school. If you have ideas of how you’d like to share your skills and contribute to our educational mandate, please contact our Undergraduate Medical Education office (ugme@dal.ca).

Dalhousie students hosting national conference
The Dalhousie Health Sciences Students’ Association (DalHSSA) – a group of Dal students dedicated to facilitating collaboration among peers in the faculties of medicine, health professions, and dentistry – is hosting this year’s National Health Sciences Students’ Association conference. It’s taking place March 4-5, in Halifax. The theme of the conference is diversity and inclusion in health care. Dr. John Ross of the Department of Emergency Medicine is the keynote speaker.

Student leadership
I want to give credit to the many students who take on leadership roles in and around the med school despite their busy academic schedules. Medical and graduate students are giving their extra-curricular time to committees, conferences, and other initiatives to enhance their own experiences and to strengthen the med school community. I admire the passion and commitment of our student leadership, and I think their dedication bodes well for the future of medicine and health research.

Support cardiovascular research at Dal
This year’s Molly Appeal is supporting Dalhousie Medical School-based cardiovascular research. Dal scientists, cardiologists, and surgeons are working on a number of initiatives to improve health care and quality of life for patients, while studying new ways of preventing, diagnosing, and treating heart disease.

Atlantic Canadians have the highest rates of cardiovascular disease and death in the country. And not only do 90 per cent of us have one or more risk factors for heart disease, many of us will die from it. We can help change these numbers by supporting our exceptional medical researchers through the Molly Appeal (www.dmrf.ca/molly-appeal).

FoM leads the way for the United Way
Dalhousie University’s 2015 United Way campaign raised $157,621. This fundraising success is due in part to the high rate of participation at Dalhousie Medical School. Our community raised $36,620 — the most money out of any Dalhousie faculty or administrative unit. As the largest campaign contributor, the med school was awarded $500. That money will be split between the Dalhousie Medical Students’ Society and the Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Society.

I know that Monica Baccardax, United Way area coordinator, Debbie Hayes and Charlene Joseph-Dunbar, the medical school’s employee campaign coordinator co-chairs, and Christina MacNeil, finance chair for Dalhousie’s United Way steering committee, worked hard on this campaign and deserve a lot of credit for our success.

Online curriculum map launched
Our brand new undergraduate medical education curriculum map is now online. It’s a searchable, one-stop-shop for faculty, staff, and students looking to browse the MD curriculum’s objectives and outcomes. Have a look on the Dal website: http://bit.ly/1TO6v5A

CHEB program planning continues
We continue to plan for our transition into the new Collaborative Health Education Building (CHEB) on the corner of Summer St. and University Ave. Students have begun using the study space available in the second floor learning commons.

In July, staff from the Learning Resource Centre on Barrington St. will be moving to the third floor of the CHEB. Clinical skills and simulation teaching for med students will take place there, starting in the 2016/2017 academic year.

If you have a chance, stop by the CHEB and have a look. The first and second floors are open to the public.

Dr. Tim Lee retires
I want to make special mention of – and thank – Dr. Tim Lee, who will be retiring from his position at Dalhousie Medical School on February 29, after almost 25 years of dedicated service.

A professor of microbiology and immunology, Dr. Lee has had a very impressive research career (with a major focus on transplantation). He built a strong, collaborative team that spanned the basic and clinical sciences, and has taught and mentored many students during his time at Dal. Dr. Lee has also been serving as the university’s first assistant dean of its Bachelor of Medical Sciences program.

Dr. Lee leaves a great legacy, and we’ll miss his passion and wit as he returns to his native Toronto.

 

Unfortunately, I’m starting this post off with very sad news. As many of you know, Dr. Linnea Veinotte passed away tragically in Grenada on December 6. She completed postdoctoral studies in our Department of Microbiology & Immunology in 2013. While studying here, she held a Killam Fellowship and the Rossetti Fellowship in Cancer Research. From colleagues and friends, I’ve learned of Linnea’s passion for her work and the level of enthusiasm she brought to teaching. Her contributions to science and community will be missed. Our thoughts and condolences are with Linnea’s family.

As 2015 comes to an end, I want to thank members of the med school community for all that you’ve done over the past year. All in all, we’ve had a very busy, successful twelve months. There really are too many accomplishments to celebrate here on the blog, so I’m highlighting just a few of the things we can be proud of as we head into 2016.

Advancing medical education
This year, the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship program expanded to Moncton, New Brunswick. We launched a service learning pilot – a knowledge enrichment program that integrates community-based volunteer placements into the undergraduate curriculum. And in partnership with Dentistry and Health Professions, we opened the Collaborative Health Education Building – an inter-professional learning facility that will transform education and patient care.

Advancing health care through research
Our researchers have done an amazing amount of work in 2015. I’ll note just a few examples of how they’re making a difference.

Dr. Scott Halperin, director of the Halifax-based Canadian Center for Vaccinology, led a clinical trial for an experimental Ebola vaccine. Dr. Jean Marshall is leading an international team of physicians and scientists investigating the role inflammation plays in rheumatoid arthritis and heart failure. Dr. Jennifer Corcoran is looking at how viral genes contribute to the development of cancer. Another team is testing safer, less toxic cancer therapies. And researchers at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick have developed a new way to deliver chemotherapy.

Dalhousie Medical School researchers have also made a breakthrough discovery around the immune system’s response to respiratory syncytial virus, a virus so common it infects virtually 100 per cent of the world’s population. Dr. Lisa Barrett launched a hepatitis C immunity study in PEI’s provincial correctional centre – one of the first drug intervention studies in a Canadian corrections facility in 40 years. Alec Falkenham, a PhD student in the Department of Pathology, developed a new tattoo removal technology. And using light, Dalhousie medical researchers found a way to bypass the nervous system and stimulate muscles that have been damaged through injury or disease.

Recognizing donors
We’re in the season of giving thanks and appreciation. Over the last year, our education, research, and patient care activities have benefitted from the generosity of donors. Government and corporate funding will always be integral to what we do. But we also rely heavily on community philanthropists.

Allan and Leslie Shaw donated $1-million to the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation to improve melanoma diagnosis and treatment in the Maritimes. Margot Spafford established the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation Gillian’s Hope Fund to support the recruitment of an MSologist to the region. And Dr. Leslie Anne Campbell was just recruited to the Sobey Family Child & Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes Chair. Thanks to Dr. Campbell’s work, we’ll be better equipped to help young people living with mental illnesses.

Happy holidays
None of what we accomplished this year would’ve happened without your efforts; I applaud all of your hard work.

Wishing you a happy holiday, and a healthy year ahead.