May
Flags lowered to half-mast to honour residential school victims
May 31, 2021
Western University’s flags will be at half-mast for 215 hours to recognize the tragic loss of 215 children whose remains were found on the site of the former Indian Residential School in Kamloops, BC.
Learner Perspectives: Dental student Erik Tamberg on student leadership
May 31, 2021
Erik Tamberg, BMSc’15, Dentistry Class of 2021, believes students can have a big impact on their campus and community, as champions for positive change. During his time in dental school, he has volunteered with community outreach initiatives, participated in summer research projects and serves in student government, most recently as President of the University of Western Ontario Dental Student Society (UWODSS).
Award: Schulich Dentistry student - Natalie Rubinger named 2021 recipient of dentalcorp Academic Excellence Award
May 31, 2021
Rubinger, Class of 2021, will receive a full reimbursement of tuition for the DDS program, as well as a two-year contract at a dentalcorp practice.
Feature: Pitch perfect - New tool helps to ‘tune’ cochlear implants to improve hearing
May 27, 2021
With the aim of improving hearing for patients with cochlear implants, a team of researchers has designed a mathematical tool to help program the implants with precision for each patient’s unique anatomy.
Award: Canadian Resident Matching Service recognizes exceptional student leader
May 26, 2021
In recognition of his experience and potential as a leader, David Zheng, Medicine Class of 2022, received the CaRMS Sandra Banner Student Award for Leadership.
Feature: Enhancing care for patients with multiple chronic conditions
May 26, 2021
Patients with multiple chronic conditions are often seeing multiple medical specialists, taking a handful of medications and are balancing important and sometimes conflicting health advice. In an effort to improve care, Dr. Moira Stewart and a team of researchers at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine tested a multi-provider case conference as part of their care.
News: Roy Butler, PhD announced as President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care London
May 25, 2021
St. Joseph's Health Care London announced alumnus Roy Butler, PhD'02, will be stepping into the role of CEO and President, effective August 3, 2021. Butler is currently the Vice President, Patient Care and Risk Management.
Research News: Research collaboration shows critically ill COVID-19 patients have normal antibody production
May 25, 2021
Researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Lawson Health Research Institute have teamed up with local biotech company, Diagnostics Biochem Canada Inc. (DBC), to help better understand COVID-19 and the body’s immune response to the infection.
Award: Dr. Amit Garg conferred Kidney Foundation’s Medal for Research Excellence
May 24, 2021
In recognition of his research contributions to furthering understanding of kidney health and their positive impacts on patient care, Dr. Amit Garg, PhD has received the 2021 Medal for Research Excellence.
Feature: Promoting success beyond the classroom
May 19, 2021
As Assistant Dean, Learner Experience (Dentistry), Dr. Maria Jacinta Santos hopes to bring a dentistry-specific perspective to existing learner supports and identify more opportunities to promote student success in the first two years of the DDS program.
Expert Explainer: Steven Kerfoot, PhD, on how vaccines work in our bodies
May 19, 2021
What exactly happens inside your body after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination? Will our immunity to COVID-19 eventually wane? As vaccine eligibility expands in Canada, Steven Kerfoot, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, provides a clear picture of how our immune systems respond to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Announcement: MD+ expands
May 18, 2021
Two months since its launch, the School’s new MD+ track has expanded program offerings. Students with interests in business, public administration, science management and music performance now have several new degree and diploma opportunities to explore.
Honour: Paula Foster, PhD, honoured with Senior Fellowship from the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
May 18, 2021
Foster is the first Canadian to become an ISMRM Senior Fellow, and only the third imaging scientist from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry to ever receive the honour.
News: Western attracts $1 million to advance virtual learning
May 18, 2021
Ten Western initiatives have been awarded a total of $1 million in funding as part of the eCampusOntario Virtual Learning Strategy, including a suite of skills-based resources to support learners and promote equitable education developed by Nicole Campbell, a repository of medical education assets led by Danielle Dilkes and gamified simulation training for faculty development led by Michael Brock.
Feature: Mentorship Program enriches medical school experience for LGBTQ+ students
May 14, 2021
In their second year of medical school, Drs. Rachelle Beanlands and Lily Robinson formed a mentorship program for LGBTQ+ medical students at the School. Now in its fourth year, it has continued to provide hope, reassurance and a safe environment for self-expression.
News: Dr. Amit Garg awarded Western’s top research honour
May 13, 2021
Dr. Amit X. Garg, Professor of Medicine, has been awarded a 2021 Hellmuth Prize for Achievement in Research in recognition of his sustained excellence in his contributions to the field of nephrology.
In Memoriam: Louis Charland, PhD
May 13, 2021
The Western community lost a beloved member on Sunday, May 9, 2021, with the passing of Professor Louis Charland.
Feature: Not all head and neck cancers are the same
May 12, 2021
How might the site of a cancer in the mouth or throat influence its molecular makeup and how it’s treated? Medical student Hugh Kim and Dr. Anthony Nichols are diving into a massive database of information to find answers to these questions.
Feature: Engaging the community in cancer research
May 12, 2021
A group of graduate trainees is contributing to a new blog that showcases cancer research in the London region as part of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Research Information Outreach Team (RIOT).
Announcement: First Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences graduate program cohort begins studies
May 12, 2021
The Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) program welcomed its first cohort of 18 learners, ready to take on medical sciences’ greatest ‘wicked problems’.
Announcement: 2021 Awards of Excellence – Windsor Campus recipients
May 09, 2021
The Awards of Excellence – Windsor Campus celebrate the commitment and dedication of faculty, residents, staff and students. As mentors and role models, the recipients are distinguished by their leadership skills and embodiment of the School’s values. Congratulations to the 2021 recipients.
Funding: Researchers receive Royal College grant to study bias and equity training in specialty education
May 07, 2021
With support from a Strategic Initiative Grant, researchers with the Centre for Education Research & Innovation will explore how professional context influences the cycle of feedback, facilitation and behaviour change, with the goal of informing future EDI training, policy and organizational practice.
News: Indigenous Graduation Ceremony marks shared milestone
May 07, 2021
More than 60 Indigenous students will be celebrated at the Indigenous Student Graduation Ceremony, including four medical students sharing a special bond.
Research News: Air pollution exposure contributes to childhood asthma, population-based study shows
May 04, 2021
New findings from Ontario have shown that children born in Sarnia have a higher risk of developing asthma compared to neighbouring cities. A research team found that higher air pollution exposure in the first year of life very likely contributed to this higher risk.
Feature: Training infectious disease research leaders
May 03, 2021
The ImPaKT Facility is ground zero for training research leaders to tackle the next pandemic. Mariya Goncheva, PhD, and Corby Fink, PhD are two postdoctoral trainees unravelling the mysteries of COVID-19 through their work on campus.
