May 2020 Newsletter
2020 Achievements Report
While change has been our constant for the first half of 2020, throughout the past year, faculty, staff and learners continued to advance the School’s vision. The Achievements Report highlights many of those accomplishments and features six compelling stories about our School.
One month check in with Dr. John Yoo
Dr. John Yoo began as the School’s Dean on May 1. Four weeks into the role, we sat down with him to check in on what’s been keeping him busy and his plans for the coming weeks and months.
Road to Recovery
Plans are underway for the return to campus and in the short term, research. A web page has been established to provide details and information that is important about this road to recovery.
Celebrating the Class of 2020
Wishing the Class of 2020 all the best as they take the next steps toward their future. With Convocation postponed, a special website has been created to recognize and celebrate the School’s newest graduates.
Centre for Quality, Innovation and Safety opens at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
The Centre for Quality, Innovation and Safety aims to improve patient care through research in quality improvement, innovation and patient safety.
The three pillars of development
Dr. Andrea Lum began her term as Vice Dean, Faculty Affairs, in January and is already developing new ways for faculty to excel and navigate their careers. She’ll be leading faculty through recruitment, retention and retirement, with a focus on their professional development and wellbeing.
Getting to know Dr. Sandra Northcott
As Associate Dean, Learner Equity & Wellness (LEW), Dr. Northcott hopes to better define the mandate and role of the LEW Office, develop a plan for learner mistreatment, create greater synergies between the different student support services on campus and explore and how the Office can create a better structure to support wellness.
COVID-19 stories: The latest research, innovations and community outreach in response to the pandemic
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry continues to lead on a global scale during the pandemic. Faculty and learners at the School are exploring new ways to test and treat the virus, gaining a better understanding of symptoms, designing and supplying PPE for frontline workers, supporting seniors and providing care to people in the community.
Dr. Bertha Garcia extended as Vice Dean & Director, Dentistry
Dr. Bertha Garcia has been extended as Acting Vice Dean & Director, Dentistry at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, effective June 1, 2020 until May 31, 2021.
Thomas Drysdale, PhD, appointed Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Thomas Drysdale, PhD, has been appointed as the Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2025.
Celebrating your achievements
Congratulations to Greta Bauer, Mithu Sen, Jona Szakacs, recipients of the latest AMOSO Innovation Fund grants and many others on the recognitions, honours and appointments you recently received.
Music sparks virtual connections with the community’s most vulnerable
Second-year medical student David Zheng has organized more than 100 student volunteers to play live musical performances over video chat for residents in long term care homes and other health care facilities who may be feeling isolated as a result of the pandemic.
Celebrating the Medicine Class of 2020 with Michelle Quaye
Michelle Quaye, MD’20, says she’s learned a lot about herself and what it means to be a leader during her medical school experience.
Research: Class of medication used for overactive bladder linked to onset of dementia
A recent study from researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Lawson Health Research Institute and ICES provides further evidence of a link between a common class of medications called anticholinergics and the onset of dementia.
Distributed Education: Expressing experiences through poetry
Inspired by a phone call with a patient, Dr. Kevin Dueck took to pen and paper. His poem, "Someone Cares," was recently published in Leaflet.
My six-word story
Dr. Jasna DeLuce, a fourth-year resident in Medical Oncology, shares the words of wisdom she lives by.
In memoriam: Dr. Douglas Bocking
Dr. Douglas Bocking, MD’43, former Dean of Medicine, died on May 9 at the age of 99. He is remembered as a great scholar, mentor and champion for the School and University.- In the news: COVID-19 research and community contributions
Faculty members and learners made national and international headlines during the past month. David Edgell, PhD, shared details on CTV News Network about his team’s work to develop a serological antibody test for COVID-19. Janet Martin, PharmD, is part of a global collaborative that studied the impact of cancelled surgeries. Medical students involved in volunteer initiatives to aid in the pandemic were featured by University Affairs. And Dr. Charles Weijer shared his expertise on the ethics of human challenge studies. - J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine Symposium
Each year, Robarts Research Institute awards the distinguished J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine to an individual who has made outstanding research contributions. A premier event, the accompanying Symposium is held to showcase the tremendous research efforts of researchers at Robarts and around the world. This year, planning and preparation to host this event and adjudicate the award has become complicated due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, a decision has been made to cancel the 2020 Symposium and Prize. - Connect with Dr. John Yoo on Twitter
Follow and connect with the Dean on Twitter at @JohnYooMD.
