September
Research News: Gut microbiome may influence how cancer patients respond to oral therapy
September 29, 2020
“Research is beginning to uncover the ways in which the human microbiome influences cancer development, progression and treatment,” explained Brendan Daisley, PhD candidate. He was involved in a study that illustrates how the gut microbiome interacts with an oral medication in prostate cancer patients.
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Diana Cuckovic
September 26, 2020
There was a time where Dr. Diana Cuckovic, PGY2, Family Medicine, considered dance might be her calling, but her interest for life sciences and desire to help others encouraged her to pursue a different path.
Feature: Student initiative reaches out to seniors in isolation
September 25, 2020
Erika Haberfellner, Medicine Class of 2021, is helping lead the Student Senior Isolation Prevention Partnership, pairing medical students with seniors in the Windsor community with the goal of forging social connections and combatting loneliness among seniors.
Research News: Evaluating the process for living kidney donation to improve outcomes
September 24, 2020
A study by researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Lawson Health Research Institute engaged patient partners in order to determine objective measures to evaluate the process of becoming a living kidney donor. The aim is to create national guidelines that will increase donation rates and improve outcomes.
Feature: From professional athlete to medical student
September 24, 2020
Former CFL player Mark Mackie retired from the league to pursue medical school. A few weeks into his experience at Schulich Medicine, he continues to draw on many of the skills he developed as a professional athlete.
Feature: The knowledge multiplier - creating an online clinical learning experience
September 24, 2020
This summer, 76 dental students participated in a pilot program for a new blended learning model in paediatric dentistry. Developed by Drs. Sharat Pani and Liliani Vieira, the model delivers clinical instruction using online and in-person components. A recent report on their work has garnered national interest.
Feature: Passion for teaching fuels student success
September 24, 2020
Dr. Tyceer Abouhassan combines his passions of education and medicine as a faculty member at the School's Windsor Campus. Throughout the years, his engaging and award-winning approach to teaching has garnered consistent praise from students.
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Rachel Liu, General Surgery
September 23, 2020
As a General Surgery resident, Dr. Rachel Liu, PGY4, enjoys the wide range of cases and patient populations the specialty covers. For her, the personalized approach to residency training at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is a big advantage.
News: Schulich Dentistry reinvents structure and model of clinical education to optimize learning
September 23, 2020
The education team at Schulich Dentistry’s main goal has been to bring third- and fourth-year students safely back to the clinics. They spent the summer months planning and developing new processes and procedures to prepare for the realities of providing clinical education and care during a pandemic.
News: Preparing for the future at Robarts Research Institute
September 22, 2020
In his role as Acting Director, Strategy and Scientific Integration at Robarts Research Institute, Robert Bartha, PhD, will be facilitating an Institute review and developing the strategic plan used to guide the Institute into the future.
Research News: Microbiome study first step in personalized care for patients with ureteral stents
September 22, 2020
Researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University conducted a novel microbiome study to examine bacteria associated with ureteral stents. They found that nearly all the stents had unique bacterial profiles that were most associated with a patient’s medical condition rather than antibiotic use. For patients with ureteral stents, they may benefit from a personalized approach to care and antibiotic treatment.
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Ryan Instrum, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
September 21, 2020
Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery is a fast-paced and dynamic surgical specialty. For Dr. Ryan Instrum, PGY3, the specialty’s expanding scope of practice makes it an exciting time to be completing his residency training at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
Award: Western ranks first in global undergrad competition
September 21, 2020
Hailey Dall-Proud, BMSc'20, was the global winner of the Undergraduate Awards in the Medical Sciences category. Schulich Medicine & Dentistry student Prisca Hsu was named regional award winner in the Education category. Submissions by Praneet Gill, Sanghun Kim, Selvi Sert, Michael Wang, Steven Zhang and Fang Zhou Ge were also highly commended.
Honours: Six Western researchers named Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Fellows
September 21, 2020
The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences selected 77 new fellows this year, among them are Schulich Medicine & Dentistry faculty members Marlys Koschinsky, PhD, Dr. Amit Garg, Grace Parraga, PhD, Dr. Michael Rieder and Lisa Saksida, PhD.
Feature: A shared commitment to Indigenous health advocacy
September 20, 2020
Sisters Kristin and Cassie Poole hope to become family physicians to improve access, safe and culturally sensitive health care for rural and Indigenous communities.
News: Medical students help deliver medical gowns to health care workers
September 20, 2020
A team of medical students is helping deliver medical gowns to health care workers in the London area. With volunteers from Canada Sews, the gowns are made from donated fabric. More than 800 gowns, along with notes of encouragement, have been delivered to local clinics, long-term care homes, pharmacies and emergency shelters.
Research News: Stroke can be the first presenting symptom in younger patients with COVID-19
September 15, 2020
A research team led by Dr. Luciano Sposato found that approximately two in every 100 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 will suffer a stroke, and 35 per cent will die as a result. In younger patients, nearly 50 per cent had no other visible symptoms of the virus at the time of the stroke.
Funding: Researchers receive a multi-million dollar injection of funding through CIHR
September 15, 2020
Eight Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers targeting a wide range of health issues were recipients of nearly $4.9 million through the spring 2020 competition.
Announcement: Dr. Laura Foxcroft appointed as Assistant Dean, Faculty Wellbeing
September 14, 2020
Dr. Laura Foxcroft, Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, has been appointed as the Assistant Dean, Faculty Wellbeing effective October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2025.
Announcement: Dr. Robert Stein re-appointed Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Equity and Wellbeing
September 11, 2020
Dr. Robert Stein, Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, has been re-appointed to Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Equity and Wellbeing, effective October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2022.
Funding: New funding allows researchers to investigate long-term effects of COVID-19 on the lungs
September 10, 2020
Funding from the Ontario COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund is enabling a team of researchers across Ontario led by Grace Parraga, PhD, to use novel lung-imaging techniques to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 and plan health care and societal resources for survivors, post-infection.
Funding: Research into blood testing for antibody-virus complexes receives federal COVID-19 grant
September 10, 2020
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in partnership with the federal government’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, granted just over $150,000 in funding to a research project led by Ryan Troyer, PhD, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
Feature: Finding new ways to treat leukemia after relapse
September 09, 2020
Cure rates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a common childhood cancer, are poor in cases where the disease relapses or comes back after treatment. A research team led by Rodney Dekoter, PhD, is working to understand why and to pinpoint more effective treatments.
Honours: Royal Society celebrates five Western scholars
September 08, 2020
For many Canadian scholars, being elected into the Royal Society of Canada is a crowning achievement of their careers. To Lisa Saksida, PhD, – newly honoured into the into RSC, along with four other Western scholars – it is also a reminder of the teamwork that takes place in any successful research program, and that their collective work has only just started.
Feature: Alumni-led consulting firm hosts practicum placements disrupted by COVID-19
September 06, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international practicum placements for students in the Master of Public Health and Global Health Systems programs, three alumni stepped in to help, hosting 19 students at their public health consulting firm this summer.
News: Collaborating for success in Basic Medical Sciences
September 05, 2020
Susanne Schmid, PhD, started her term as Vice Dean, Basic Medical Sciences, on July 1. In this new leadership role, she is focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration, support for trainees and faculty mentorship.
Award: PhD candidates receive CIHR recognition at the Canadian Student Health Research Forum
September 04, 2020
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry doctoral trainees Jeremy Lant, Saumik Biswas, Kaela Scott and Tian Duo Wang won the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Silver Award for their poster presentations at the 2020 Canadian Student Health Research Forum. Yodit Tesragiorgis, Shelby Oke and Mohamed Gatie received the CIHR Honourable Mention.
Feature: Peer program supports clinician well-being
September 02, 2020
The new Peers for Peers Program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry provides one-on-one peer support for clinical faculty, emphasizing empathetic listening and shared experience.
Announcement: Nicole Campbell, PhD, appointed as Director of Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences
September 02, 2020
Nicole Campbell, PhD, has been appointed as the Director for undergraduate and graduate programs in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences, effective September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2023.
Announcement: Jessica Prodger, PhD, appointed Co-Director, Collaborative Graduate Program in Global Health Systems
September 01, 2020
Jessica Prodger, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, has been appointed as Co-Director of the Global Health Systems graduate program, effective July 1, 2020 to August 31, 2023.
Pandemic-era course shift fuels students’ academic and personal growth
September 01, 2020
Nicole Campbell, Assistant Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, spoke with Western News about how she has adapted her approach to teaching for this upcoming school year.
