Gerry Cooper, Associate Dean

Welcome to 2013.

This is an exciting year for the Windsor Program as it marks the start of the "steady state" for us. That of course refers to fact that as of this September, we will have 38 students in each of the four years of the undergraduate medical program.

This will be a significant milestone for us after many years in the making! All the more amazing when you consider that as recently as September 2008 there were only 24 undergraduate medical education students in the Windsor Program. Beginning September 2013, there will be 152 students at the Windsor Program - that's a 500+ per cent increase.

In the meantime, our Program is continuing to grow in other ways including new infrastructure and community collaborations, new staffing, expanded recognition programs and changes to the postgraduate program.

The recent completion of the Medical Education Building's third floor (MEB-3) and the three dimensional virtual anatomy lab, has led to increased space and tools to better accommodate our learners' educational needs. And in 2013, we will see even greater use of this space.

Our learners will also benefit from a community collaboration with the Tecumseh Manning Medical Centre (TMMC). A new innovative approach to extending our School's dedicated videoconferencing system is possible with the completion of construction of the VC suite at the TMMC. Thanks to faculty member and TMMC Medical Director, Dr. Haider Hasnain, learners and faculty will be able to connect with the full slate of VC meetings and sessions without leaving the TMMC; previously, this was only available to those on campus or in the hospital.

New medical schools typically have an adjustment period where they need to determine what their staffing and leadership needs are; this was the case with our program as well. By the end of January, we will be that much closer to being at an optimal state.

With that I welcome Ms. Deb Curran and Ms. Tiffany Walsh who will assist us with our postgraduate Family Medicine program. Dr. Larry Jacobs has also come on board as our new Academic Director, Medicine (UME). And plans are also underway for an additional manager within the Windsor Program.

This spring, we will continue with the Windsor Program Awards of Excellence, recognizing the tremendous leadership within our ranks. A special ceremony will be held to celebrate the recipients' contributions.

We are also continuing our efforts to expand the number and range of postgraduate medical residency programs in Windsor. While these discussions have been underway for some time, there is much more optimism that our plans will come through to fruition soon. Beginning in July postgraduate residents who stay Windsor for shorter-term rotations will be housed in luxurious state-of-the-art accommodations. These new accommodations are the result of an important community collaboration with a local developer. No more need for shared bathrooms and kitchens.

As our program continues to grow, new traditions are being established and a real culture is developing. There is no greater example of that than the 2012 Holiday Party which featured live music courtesy a group of Year 1 and Year 2 students, a visit from Santa thanks to the preparatory work of elf Dr. Sheldon Lewis.

We are excited about the upcoming year, and the many initiatives that are underway at the School. There's no question we will also be closely monitoring with great interest, the discussions concerning a single-site hospital for the Windsor community. Should this now move through the legislative processes, we will be sure to reflect the needs and interests of our medical learners and faculty as the planning for the new venue proceeds.