May
Honours: Dr. Tarek Loubani awarded Bassel Khartabil Fellowship
May 29, 2020
In recognition of his dedication to using the concepts of open access to design and distribute low-cost medical supplies, Fabricatorz Foundation, Creative Commons, and Mozilla have awarded the prestigious Bassel Khartabil Fellowship to Dr. Tarek Loubani, Associate Professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
Announcement: Centre for Quality, Innovation and Safety opens at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
May 27, 2020
The Centre for Quality, Innovation and Safety at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Department of Medicine aims to improve patient care through research in quality improvement, innovation and patient safety.
Announcement: Thomas Drysdale, PhD has been appointed as the Associate Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
May 27, 2020
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.
Feature: Music sparks virtual connections with the community’s most vulnerable
May 26, 2020
Second year medical student David Zheng has organized more than 100 student volunteers from medical schools across Ontario 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.
Funding News: COVID-19 research projects supported by AMOSO Innovation Funds
May 26, 2020
New rapid grants through the AMOSO Innovation Fund are enabling researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry to explore important COVID-19 research projects. The funding will help support six studies from improving diagnostic and epidemiologic detection of the virus, to testing whether administration of surfactant will improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients.
Announcement: Dr. Bertha Garcia has been extended as Acting Vice Dean & Director, Dentistry
May 25, 2020
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 or upon recruitment of a new Vice Dean & Director, Dentistry, whichever occurs first.
Feature: Exploring the ethics of human challenge studies for COVID-19
May 22, 2020
As part of The Working Group for Guidance on Human Challenge Studies, Dr. Charles Weijer along with 13 other international experts were tasked with developing guidance for the World Health Organization on the ethical permissibility of purposefully infecting informed and willing healthy volunteers with COVID-19 in order to test a vaccine.
News: Dr. Mithu Sen completes Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship
May 22, 2020
Dr. Mithu Sen graduated from the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program at Drexel University College of Medicine, as part of the Program’s 25th anniversary class of fellows.
Award: Dental student receives inaugural national scholarship
May 21, 2020
Congratulations to Jona Szakacs, Dentistry Class of 2020, who has received the inaugural dentalcorp Academic Excellence Award. Only one scholarship is awarded each year to a graduating dental student in Canada.
Funding: Rapid Research Fund backs Western-led ideas
May 21, 2020
Two Schulich Medicine & Dentistry research projects have been named among 15 initiatives province-wide as part of the government’s $20-million Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund. Congratulations to Shawn Li, PhD, and Jason Gilliland, PhD.
Feature: Prototype uses firefighter’s mask to increase capacity of ventilators in hospitals
May 21, 2020
In light of a continuing global concern about the shortage of ventilators, a research team including Associate Professor Dr. Tarek Loubani, designed a prototype that uses this protective gear meant for firefighters in order to modify existing non-invasive ventilators to make them safe to use for COVID-19 patients.
Funding: University investment pushes pandemic research forward
May 19, 2020
The “Research Western Catalyst Grant: Surviving Pandemics” supports interdisciplinary projects at the University that will contribute to a broad range of evidence, tools and guidelines into disease outbreaks. Five research projects at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry received funding through the initiative.
Media Release: COVID-19 disruption will likely lead to 28 million surgeries being cancelled worldwide
May 15, 2020
Western University Associate Professor Janet Martin is part of the CovidSurg Collaborative which has projected that, based on a 12-week period of peak disruption to hospital services due to COVID-19, 28.4 million elective surgeries worldwide could be cancelled or postponed in 2020.
In Memoriam: Dr. Douglas Bocking
May 15, 2020
Western University is mourning the death of Dr. Douglas Bocking, medical education pioneer and former Dean. Dr. Bocking oversaw the implementation of new programs in medicine, including physical and occupational therapy, speech pathology and audiology. He also led the creation of the country’s first academic department in family medicine, helping to establish Canada as a leader in the field.
Feature: NOVID-20 Virtual Run supports coronavirus research
May 14, 2020
A Canadian charity is ensuring runners across the globe can still enjoy the camaraderie of a running club, all while pounding the pavement in support of coronavirus vaccine research at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
Announcement: Greta Bauer, PhD, named CIHR Sex and Gender Science Chair
May 13, 2020
Congratulations to Greta Bauer, PhD, who was named one of 15 CIHR Sex and Gender Science Chairs. The Chairs will investigate sex and/or gender as a primary research question, while also building capacity and sharing findings within and outside of their research communities.
Award: Two researchers named Young Innovators
May 13, 2020
Silvia Penuela, PhD, and Matthew Teeter, PhD, have been named as recipients of the Petro-Canada Young Innovator Awards. The program provides awards to new researchers to recognize and support innovative work that not only impacts positively the learning environment in their department, but society at large.
Announcement: New Scholarship opportunity for graduate students
May 13, 2020
With a goal of enhancing collaborative research, Dr. John Yoo has announced the introduction of the Dean’s Research Scholarship program.
Feature: Dr. Daniel Pepe helps to shield the health care system, one virtual visit at a time
May 12, 2020
Dr. Daniel Pepe was the brains behind an online COVID-19 triage tool designed to protect health care workers while providing rapid care for patients. It’s the only tool that uses on-call providers as part of the process in order to connect patients directly with a nurse or doctor.
News: Future signaled in combined PhD candidacy
May 11, 2020
Jacqueline Kueper, MSC’17, did not intend to be a pioneer. But the more she thought about the possibilities, the more she realized becoming Western’s first combined PhD candidate made sense. She is pursuing a doctorate in Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Computer Science – the first Western student to study two different fields for one PhD.
Announcement: Researchers receive more than $4 million in NSERC funding
May 08, 2020
Researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry have received more than $4 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Research News: Team first in world to treat COVID-19 with specialized dialysis
May 07, 2020
As part of a randomized controlled trial, a London-based team is the first in the world to treat a patient with COVID-19 using a modified dialysis device. The device gently removes a patient's blood, modifies white blood cells and returns them to fight hyperinflammation. It is being tested with critically ill patients at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).
Research News: Class of medication used for overactive bladder linked to new onset of dementia
May 06, 2020
A 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.
Announcement: Interdisciplinary research teams receive seed funding
May 06, 2020
Five new interdisciplinary research teams have received funding from the Collaborative Research Seed Grants (CRSG) program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
News: Researcher, expert combat conspiracies with facts
May 05, 2020
Sajjad Fazel, MPH’18, is a researcher at Alberta Health Services in Calgary and a social media influencer and health promoter in Tanzania. He is part of a national study mapping the type, content and context of COVID-19 misinformation and how to make accurate information more palatable than the myths.
News: Medical students explore mental-health peer support
May 04, 2020
A group of medical students are emphasizing the value of peer support in promoting mental health and wellness with an initiative they hope will change the way medical students help each other.
Announcement: Dr. Ram Singh and Dr. Craig Campbell have been appointed Interim Co-Chair/Chiefs of the Department of Paediatrics
May 04, 2020
Dr. Ram Singh and Dr. Craig Campbell have been appointed Interim Co-Chair/Chiefs of the Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University and its teaching hospitals, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care London, effective May 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 or until a permanent Chair/Chief is appointed.
Feature: Student effort offers lifeline to isolated seniors
May 03, 2020
Three Western students, along with their community partners, are offering a little joy to seniors isolating alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Stay in Touch initiative brings messages of hope – and perhaps a few smiles – to doorsteps and computer screens across the community.
Feature: New Schulich dean finds lessons in crisis
May 01, 2020
On May 1, Dr. John Yoo stepped into his new role as Dean of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry during an unprecedented moment in human history.
News: Dr. John Yoo begins his term as Dean
May 01, 2020
Dr. John Yoo, the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s 20th Dean, begins his first term effective May 1, 2020 to June 30, 2025.
Feature: Exploring better way back for mental-health patients
April 30, 2020
A new model for individuals facing mental-health challenges offers smoother transitions back into the community following hospitalization – all while saving the health-care system millions of dollars annually, according to a Western researcher.
