February
Feature: Supporting wellness in meaningful ways
February 25, 2021
As Assistant Dean, Postgraduate Learner Experience, Dr. Michelle Marlborough supports the psychological and physical wellbeing of residents and fellows at the School. In the role, she hopes to address some of the larger systemic issues that keep learners and physicians unwell.
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Stephanie Lammers, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
February 24, 2021
As a fifth-year resident in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr. Stephanie Lammers enjoys the surgical aspects of the program, as well as the special moments with patients that energize and refuel her.
News: Information breaks barriers for prospective medical students
February 24, 2021
A group of Black medical students have created the Unofficial Guide to Canadian Medical School – a valuable resource providing information about applying to medical school with the hopes to break down barriers to students who don’t have access to mentors and academic networks.
Funding: Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping receives $2.85 million grant
February 24, 2021
Ravi Menon, PhD, along with his research team, have received Brain Canada’s 2019 Platform Support Grant, to support the Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM) at Robarts Research Institute.
Research News: Understanding antibodies at play in long-lasting COVID-19 immunity
February 23, 2021
A team of researchers across Canada, including collaborators from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, is shedding light on how our bodies develop immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and may help to assess how effectively current vaccines are at conferring long-term immunity.
Research News: Pinpointing the role of language disruptions in psychosis
February 18, 2021
Difficulties with communication are some of the earliest symptoms of psychosis. A new study has found that this may be because, like a small airport trying to handle all the air traffic from a big international airport, parts of the brain not meant to process language are trying to perform this complex job in patients with psychosis.
Announcement: Jefferson Frisbee, PhD, re-appointed as Chair, Department of Medical Biophysics
February 18, 2021
Jefferson Frisbee, PhD, has been re-appointed as Chair, Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, effective July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026.
Learner Perspectives: Dr. Sondos Zayed on research and representation in radiation oncology
February 17, 2021
Dr. Sondos Zayed is a third-year resident in Radiation Oncology. She is looking at female authorship in the field and has created an online community for Muslim women in medicine through her blog, Medicine Unveiled, to share experiences and advice.
Research News: Difference in walking pattern can predict type of cognitive decline
February 16, 2021
A new study by a Canadian research team evaluated the walking patterns and brain function of 500 older adults and found that patterns in the way they walk can more accurately diagnose different types of dementia and identify Alzheimer’s disease.
Announcement: Gregory Dekaban, PhD, appointed as Chair, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
February 16, 2021
Gregory Dekaban, PhD, has been reappointed as Chair, Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2026.
Funding: Three research teams receive funding for education research
February 11, 2021
Three research teams have received funding from the Faculty Support for Research in Education (FRSE) program. Congratulations to Greta Bauer, PhD, Dr. Robin Mackin and Mary Ott, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow.
Award: Schulich Dentistry student earns coveted spot at international competition
February 11, 2021
Vladyslav Podskalniy has received the CADR-NCOHR Student Research Presentation Award and was selected as the Canadian representative to present his research at the International Association for Dental Research Undergraduate Hatton Competition.
Research News: Dialysis patients at greater risk of dying from COVID-19 infection
February 11, 2021
Patients in Ontario with chronic kidney conditions who require dialysis have a significantly increased likelihood of contracting and dying from COVID-19, new research has shown. Study author Dr. Peter Blake says the research emphasizes the need to prioritize dialysis patients for vaccination.
Feature: Bats may hold the key to vaccines for future pandemics
February 10, 2021
In their quest to develop a bank of vaccines that could be at the ready for the next pandemic, Western University researchers are hunting for coronaviruses that have the potential for animal-to-human transmission. To do so, they’ve teamed up with bat biologists at the Royal Ontario Museum, which holds thousands of frozen bat tissue samples from around the world.
World Cancer Day: Using cancer cells to treat cancer
February 04, 2021
John Ronald, PhD, is rethinking cell therapy for cancer. He is using cancer cells engineered in the lab and injected back into the circulation to deliver therapeutics right to the site of the cancer.
Research News: Most instructions for inserting COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swabs don't go deep enough
February 03, 2021
There are wide discrepancies in the instructions for how deep the nasopharyngeal swabs used to test for COVID-19 are to be inserted up Canadian noses, new research has found. As an otolaryngologist, Dr. Leigh Sowerby is an expert in the anatomy of the head, neck and inside of the nose. He and his colleagues examined testing instructions provided by provincial and territorial authorities and found wide variations.
Expert Explainer: Art Poon, PhD, on coronavirus ‘variants of concern’
February 02, 2021
As new coronavirus variants emerge, scientists are keeping a close eye on how the virus continues to evolve. According to Art Poon, PhD, unless we can mitigate the spread of the virus, there is a greater chance it will continue to mutate and produce more "variants of concern."
Feature: Medical software licence underlines WORLDiscoveries success
February 01, 2021
Ting-Yim Lee, PhD, Professor of Medical Biophysics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, has developed cutting-edge imaging software that measures blood flow in bodily tissues, helping to guide treatment for stroke patients.
Research News: Alternate type of surgery may prevent total knee replacement
February 01, 2021
A team of researchers including Dr. Robert Giffin, have shown that an underused type of knee surgery in younger patients, called high tibial osteotomy, may reduce the need for total knee replacement.
Feature: Structural stigma against mental illness ‘baked into’ system
February 01, 2021
Dr. Javeed Sukhera, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, writes about mental health stigma on individual and structural levels and its effect on health care.
