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Student Congratulations – Dalhousie Impact Awards

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Left to Right: Duane MacLeod (Nursing), Sarah Bouchard, Rebekah Oomen and Christopher Saulnier received their Board of Governors Awards from Chancellor Fred Fountain (centre).

On Tuesday, March 27th, Dalhousie hosted the first annual Impact Awards – a celebration of the contributions that students make to each other, Dalhousie and the greater community.  Among the winners were a number of students from the Faculty of Health Professions:

  • Rising Star Award – presented to a first year student who has demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment, leadership, creativity and initiative to the DSU, as well as to the campus and community at large.  Kyle Warkentin, Nursing.
  • Residence Life Leader Award – presented to students in residence leadership positions who have demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity and professionalism.  Kathleen Nason, Pharmacy.
  • Certificate of Distinction – awarded to students who demonstrate above average contributions to campus life over the course of their university career.  Michael Gfeller, Health and Human Performance (Kinesiology).
  • Gold D’s – awarded to students to recognize an elite level of involvement and acheivement in campus life over the course of their university career.  Emma Leon, Nursing and Zachary Whitney, Nursing.
  • Best Departmental Society – presented to a society that has demonstrated a high level of consistency in event planning and delivery, high participation and attendance of their membership and sets an example for other student societies.  Dalhousie Nursing Students Society.
  • Faculty Leadership Awards – presented to a student in good academic standing in each Faculty who exemplify the the highest level of passion for their discipline, take initative in creating new opportunities and encourage their pers to engage in faculty events.  Winners positively impact other students in their Faculty and the reputation of their Faculty outside of Dalhousie.  Megan Riordan, Pharmacy.
  • Board of Governors Awards – the top student awards at Dalhousie (four are awarded each year), recognizing students who contribute to the quality and vitality of the University, both through their academic accomplishments and involvement in campus life.  Duane MacLeod, Nursing.  (Read more about Duane’s acheivements in Dal News).

Getting “Kinnected”

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Kinesiology alumnus Jeff Zahavich holds court with current students at the Kinnections event (Nick Pearce photo)

Kinesiology: the study of human movement.
“Kinnections”: understanding where your kinesiology degree might go to.

From business to private practice, from coaching to research, alumni of Dalhousie’s kinesiology program brought various professional perspectives to campus earlier this month at the Department of Kinesiology’s “Kinnections” event.

Kinnections was organized and hosted by kinesiology professor John Kozey, who introduced the five guests as Dalhousie alumni who have all taken their degree in different directions for success, helping illuminate the many options available to students when it comes time to graduate.

There were several speakers and when the event was over, students took the time to chat with each of them.  Second-year kinesiology students Erica Linde and Cynthia Ly both felt the event was worthwhile, and that they would attend again in the future.

To learn more about this event read the DalNews story.

Student Congratulations – Audrey Prayal-Brown

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Audrey (left) takes to the podium with her teammate

Congratulations to Audrey Prayal-Brown, an MSC Kinesiology candidate in the School of Health and Human Performance (Supervisor – Dr. John Kozey) who recently won gold and silver at the 2011 Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Durban, South Africa.  The sport of lifesaving is competitive lifeguarding – certified lifeguards put their skills to the test against each other.  It is the only sport in the world where participants first learn their skills for a humanitarian purpose and only later use them in competition.  It is internationally recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Audrey won a gold medal in the Line Throw competition – the competitor throws an unweighted line to a fellow team member located in the water approximately 12 m distant and pulls this “victim” back to the poolside – with a time of 11.17s, a Canadian and Commonwealth record.  Audrey and her team won silver and set a Canadian record in the Mannequin Carry Relay – a team of four lifesavers must swim 25m carrying a 40lb mannequin before passing it to the next member of their team – with a time of 1:36.76.

In addition to this success, Audrey also presented “Buoyancy testing: study 1 – Determination of Underwater Buoyancy” at the 2011 National Association of Canadian Ergonomists Conference in London, Ontario.  The presentation is the first of a three phase study that Audrey is working on with a team of researchers comprised of John Kozey, Dana Sweeney and Paul Potter.  She presented the same study at the Atlantic ACE Conference this past spring and won the Undergraduate award.

Beyond the Blues

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"Beyond the Blues" co-chair Lynne Robinson chats with a student attending the event.

On October 6, Dalhousie University offered our first ever depression screening event “Beyond the Blues.”  Lynne Robinson (School of Health and Human Performance) was co-chair of the organizing committee and brought together multiple partners from within Dalhousie and the community to deliver the highly successful event.  Dalhousie partners included Employee and Organizational Development, the Centre for Learning and Teaching, Live Well at Dalhousie, Counselling Services and the Psychology Department.  Outside partners included the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Mental Health Association.  The School of Health and Human Performance contributed many student volunteers who valued the experience as part of their education at Dalhousie.

The event was highly successful, with coverage that night by CTV and Global television and DalNews.  The activities at the event included a keynote talk by Dalhousie depression researcher Simon Sherry (with estimated attendance around 180) and an opportunity for an informal depression screening.  This was followed by a chance to “drop in” to pick up tips on maintaining good mental health and receive a brief free consultation with a psychologist (provided by the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia).  Participants included students, staff and faculty.  The objectives of the event were to destigmatize mental illness and, in particular, depression; raise awareness of depression as an important issue that affects may of us; encourage good mental health practices and promote early detection and intervention.

Jerry Singleton inducted into Academy of Leisure Sciences

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Dr. Jerry Singleton

Dr. Jerry Singleton

The School of Health and Human Performance wishes to recognize Dr. Jerry Singleton’s recent induction into the Academy of Leisure Sciences. 

The Academy of Leisure Sciences is an honorary society composed of eminent scientists who have made outstanding and distinctive contributions to the leisure, park and recreation sciences.  Although many Fellows continue to maintain active programs of research, election to the Academy reflects a career-long record of outstanding contributions to knowledge.

The Academy was founded in 1980 by a group of 30 leading leisure scientists.  Their objective was to recognize outstanding accomplishment in the leisure, park and recreation disciplines, and by so doing inspire others to make significant contributions to the leisure sciences.

A Holistic Approach to Aboriginal Health Research

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Debbie Martin (left) and Heather Castleden

Debbie Martin (left) and Heather Castleden

Debbie Martin (Health and Human Performance) and Heather Castleden (School for Resource and Environmental Studies) are co-principal investigators with the Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program (AAHRP), based at Dalhousie and the Millbrook First Nation in Truro.  They are taking a holistic approach to Aboriginal health research, working with communities across the region to address their needs.  To learn more about their work, read the DalNews story.

Congratulations – Dr. David Westwood

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Congratulations to Dr. David Westwood (Health and Human Performance) on being appointed as a member on the Biological Systems and Functions Evaluation Group at NSERC for a three year term ending June 30, 2014. 

NSERC’s success in supporting university research in science and engineering depends on the voluntary participation of members of the research community in its peer review process.  The process is highly regarded by the research community and its credibility is linked to the participation of some of the best – and busiest – researchers from all sectors.  Congratulations David!

Aboriginal Health and Healing

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Dr. Debbie Martin (Nick Pearce photo)
Dr. Debbie Martin (Nick Pearce photo)

Starting this Fall, Dr. Debbie Martin (School of Health and Human Performance) will be teaching the course “IPHE 2201 – Introduction to Aboriginal Peoples’ Health and Healing.”  The course, open to all undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health Professions, will provide an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal perspectives regarding health, as well as about the multiple and complex challenges facing Aboriginal peoples with respect to key health issues such as; health and social inequities, the epidemiology of disease and culturally appropriate service provision.

In a recent Global Martimes interview, Dr. Martin said that one aim of the course is to help students look at health issues from an indigenous perspective, and to provide health care with that angle in mind, further stating, “There are different ways of approaching health and health care that we don’t often think about.” 

Showing Our Pride

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Master of Health Promotion student Erica Siba participates in the parade. (Katherine Wooler photo)

On Saturday, July 23, dozens of students, faculty and staff took to the streets of Halifax to take part in the 2011 Halifax Pride Parade, showing their stripes in support of tolerance and diversity. To learn more about Dalhousie’s participation in the Pride festivities, read the DalNews story.

WOW – Women on Water

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WOW! is not only an acronym for Women On Water!, it also describes the people involved, the programs it supports and the mentorship it provides. On Thursday, July 21, 2011 organizers are holding a silent auction and BBQ to raise funds and awareness for WOW! a program that promotes the health and wellness of women in Nova Scotia through the sport of sailing.  

Jacqueline Gahagan, professor and chair in the Health Promotion Department at Dalhousie University and WOW!’s founding chairperson, says WOW! is committed to promoting the health of women through sailing mentoring and education.  To learn more, read the DalNews story, and visit the WOW website.

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