November 2017 Newsletter

Philanthropy, politics and the power of research
It was an evening of candour, emotion and laughter at the 2017 Leaders in Innovation Dinner. Special guest Ann Romney shared her experience living with multiple sclerosis, alongside her husband, Mitt Romney. The event also honoured researcher V. Wee Yong, PhD, the 2017 recipient of the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine. Guests were treated to an engaging conversation with the Romneys about everything from philanthropy to family to politics...

Agreement with Nanjing Medical University expanded
A delegation from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is with Premier Kathleen Wynne in Nanjing, China this week as part of a Business Mission with Ontario's Ministry of International Trade. As part of the mission, the School is expanding its partnership with Nanjing Medical University...

Team has the World by a string
A team of trainees including Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry student Michelle Quaye took home top honours at Western's World's Challenge Challenge for CREATE Kenya - an idea that uses entrepreneurship as means to support people with mental illness...

Medical student wins prestigious Russ Jackson Award
Western Mustangs linebacker and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Medical student Nick Vanin was honoured for his achievements, both on and off the field, with the prestigious Russ Jackson Award at the U SPORTS football All-Canadian Gala Thursday night...

Polanyi Prize recognizes scholar’s imaging work
Sarah Svenningsen, PhD'16, a postdoctoral fellow at Robarts and McMaster University, received the John Charles Polanyi Prize, presented by the Council of Ontario Universities...

CBME Research grants awarded
Seven different CBME research projects will share which was provided through the Competency-Based Medical Education Innovation Fund. Projects focused on a wide variety of themes from Neurosurgical-Team, Simulation based training to Developing an assessment tool for on-call experiences in surgical education...

CBME and the broader medical education reform
Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) is a popular topic of conversation at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry these days. Dr. Jay Rosenfield, vice dean, Medical Education is enthusiastic about the transition and sees it as an opportunity for positive change for learners and faculty alike, and for broader medical education reform responsive to the health care needs of the community....

Dr. Mark Awuku named Ontario Pediatrician of the Year
Dr. Mark Awuku is named the 2017 Ontario Pediatrician of the Year by the Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario. Dr. Awuku is a pediatrician and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry – Windsor Campus...

Moira Stewart recognized by North American Primary Care Research Group
Moira Stewart, PhD, received the 2017 Maurice Wood Award for Lifetime Contribution to Primary Care Research from the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG). Stewart, renowned for her work in primary care, is a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics...

Dr. Larry Jacobs re-appointed Assistant Dean, Windsor Faculty Affairs
Dr. Larry Jacobs is re-appointed as Assistant Dean, Windsor Faculty Affairs, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, effective January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019...

Celebrating your achievements
Congratulations to Reena Khanna, Renato Natale, Moira Stewart, Sarah Svenningsen, Mark Awuku, Michelle Quaye, Nick Vanin, Kathryn Bailey, Darren Cargill, Scott McKay and Larry Schmidt....

Helping young refugees transition, Mazen El-Baba, MA'17
Refugee children from Syria might not think that they have a lot to teach others. Mazen El-Baba, MA’17 thinks differently. The recent master’s program graduate is using his passion for research and his commitment to the community to better understand the effects of adverse experiences on children’s mental wellbeing and decision making...

Student Profile: Luz Saavedra Valdemar - Turning Personal Experience into a Bustling Career
Luz Saavedra Valdemar is passionate about creating accessible health care in her home country of Mexico. Through the Master of Public Health program she hopes to learn new approaches to combating barriers to care...

National media coverage: Uncovering concussion clues
Research findings from Ravi Menon, PhD, and Kathryn Manning, PhD Candidate, gained national spotlight in October. The team showed that young hockey players who have suffered concussions still show changes in the white matter of the brain months after being cleared to return to play. The findings were published in Neurology...

R.E.A.L. Life Perspectives: Central Lambton Family Health Team
In the third instalment of the R.E.A.L. Life Perspectives, we get a behind the scenes look at the Central Lambton Family Health Team (CLFHT) with faculty member Dr. Firas Al-Dhaher and second-year Family Medicine resident Dr. Cody Jackson...

Resident spotlight: Dr. Adam Kassam, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dr. Adam Kassam didn’t set out to be an advocate. The chief resident in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry says a passion for diversity and a firm belief in speaking up for what he believes in is what has been the driving force behind his more than half dozen published op-eds...

Research – a vital element during undergraduate medical training
Dr. Tithecott says that research is an accreditation element for undergraduate medical programs for a reason - it offers a vital training ground for skill development and helping students develop the skills they need to need to ask questions, analyze data and critically assess information.”...

Scientists take part in Reddit AMA
Drs. Greg Gloor, Gregor Reid, Jeremy Burton and Jean Macklaim participated in a Science AMA (Ask Me Anything) Series following the publication of their “The Gut Microbiota of Healthy Aged Chinese Is Similar to That of the Healthy Young” study...

Profiles of Excellence: Multiple Sclerosis Researchers
Ravi Menon, PhD, Steven Kerfoot, PhD, and Dr. Sarah Morrow are using molecular biology, advanced imaging techniques and clinical testing to unravel the mysteries of multiple sclerosis...

2018 Awards of Excellence - Nominations Now Open
Every year, the Awards of Excellence honours the outstanding contributions of faculty and staff at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and provides an opportunity to recognize and encourage the ongoing development of outstanding talent found here. Please submit your nomination by February 26, 2018...

2018 Alumni of Distinction Awards - Nominations Now Open
Annually, the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s Alumni of Distinction Awards celebrates and honours alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the School, Western University, the community and/or their profession. Recognize the outstanding accomplishments of a peer, classmate or colleague and join us in celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of our alumni. Deadline for nomination is Monday, March 5, 2018...

Your November desktop background download is now available
Thank you to the talented Melissa Huynh, Resident, Urology, for the November desktop background. Download the November desktop background today...

Living Well @ Western
Living Well @ Western provides wellness opportunities to Western’s employees, including postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. A new service is being launched, Bringing Living Well to You, that brings a ‘coach’ to your worksite to provide a 10-15 minute wellness activity...

Schulich Medicine & Dentistry toques are back - Get yours today
The snow is falling and the holidays are almost here. Schulich Medicine & Dentistry toques make great gifts for your departments, colleagues, families and friends. You can choose between two different options. Contact Communications to place your order...

Tweets of the month
Catch up on the best 140-character thoughts from our faculty, staff and students, including tweets from Adam Kassam, David Fischer, Jane Thornton , Saman Maleki, Alison Allan and more...

Staff & Faculty Services: Equity & Human Rights Services
Equity & Human Rights Services supports Western’s respectful and inclusive working and learning environment. We are here to help you, whether you are a student, staff or faculty member. We are dedicated to making Western an equitable, safe and supportive environment for all members of the University community....