“Mini” medical school with a big impact

It may be mini but for 170 people this fall, Mini Medical School provided a big opportunity to interact with world-leading researchers and their work. A diverse crowd, that this year included community members, students from local high schools and our own medical and BMSc program's, as well as Schulich Medicine & Dentistry staff filled the classroom each Thursday night over a seven week period.

Susan Smyth, registration coordinator for Postgraduate Education is one of the regulars, having attended the event for seven years. "It has been my pleasure to attend Mini Medical School for seven years now and I will continue to do so," says Smyth. "I initially attended when I started working in the Undergraduate office as I wanted to get a "taste" for the type of lectures our medical students attended during their training. I was hooked after that first session!"

Now in its tenth year, Mini Medical School is a community lecture series featuring some of the School's most exciting and engaging researchers and clinicians. Attendees enjoy an hour long lecture and then have the opportunity to ask questions gaining a better understanding of the topics.

Hooking this year's participants were some of the School's heavy-hitters. Participants got an inside scoop on Dr. Kang's HIV vaccine, heard about Dr. Owen's revolutionary efforts to communicate with severely brain-injured patients, and learned from Drs. Postovit and Hess about the massive potential of stem cells. They also had the opportunity to learn about Dr. Fenster's advancements in imaging, understand how saliva can be the root cause of many diseases, from Dr. Siquiera and gain more insight from Dr. Montero-Odasso about how keeping your mind sharp can help prevent falls as we age.

Planning has already begun for Mini Medical School 2013. Keep an eye on www.schulich.uwo.ca/communityprograms/minimeds for upcoming details.