June 2019 Newsletter
2019 Achievements Report
Each day, faculty, staff and learners work collaboratively to bring the School's vision to life. It's because of your commitment to discovery and knowledge translation, your enthusiasm to embrace innovative research and new educational approaches and your valuing of partnerships, social accountability and responsibility, that we are achieving our goals.
BioMedical Research Facility update
The BioMedical Research Facility project is on track for groundbreaking to take place in February 2020, after a short pause reported a few months ago. The Project Team has started working with a new architectural firm who has provided an assessment that is aligned with budgets, and there is a plan to go to tender for construction by the end of the 2019 calendar year.
Four new CRCs announced
Congratulations to Shehzad Ali, PhD, Grace Parraga, PhD, Corey Baron, PhD, and Marco Prado, PhD, who have been named among Western’s nine new Canada Research Chairs (CRCs).
London scientists key players in national dementia strategy
Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso and his team will receive $1.345 million over five years through the second phase of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, announced as part of Canada’s national dementia strategy.
Researchers examine gender-based differences in physician burnout
Dr. Javeed Sukhera co-authored a discussion paper that examined the literature around physician burnout and looked specifically at the differing indicators for women physicians.
Homecoming events to examine burnout in the health care professions and explore the unfinished business of medicare
Join us for two events taking place during Homecoming Weekend featuring André Picard, Drs. Jeremy Chitpin, Gillian Kernaghan, Mithu Sen, Colin Taylor, Sara Taylor, Danyaal Raza, as well as Schulich Dentistry student Christine Huynh.
Celebrating the Class of 2019
During the past two weeks, the School celebrated the Class of 2019 for BMSc and Neuroscience, Dentistry and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
MD Curriculum Renewal - breaking down the courses
During the next several months, overviews of the courses that will be included in the renewed curriculum will be shared with faculty, staff and learners. This month, we are sharing more information about the Foundations of Medicine course.
Sponsor a White Coat
The White Coat Ceremony is a pivotal moment, marking the beginning of a student’s journey. For the first time, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is pleased to invite alumni, faculty, staff and friends to be part of this special occasion by sponsoring a white coat and providing encouragement for incoming Medicine and Dentistry students.
Gregory Dekaban, PhD, appointed Acting Chair, Microbiology & Immunology
Gregory Dekaban, PhD, has been appointed as Acting Chair, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, or until a new Chair is appointed.
Celebrating your achievements
Congratulations to all graduating residents, Peter Chidiac, John Denstedt, Jeffrey Dixon, and many others on the recognitions and honours you received this past month.
Student Profile: Megan DeWeerd, BMSc'19
Megan DeWeerd, BMSc'19, was part of the first cohort of students graduating this June with an Honors Specialization in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology.
Student Profile: Safee Mian, PhD'19
Safee Mian, PhD'19, is applying his basic science training to a career in management consultancy. He says graduate school provides highly transferable skills.
Student Profile: Pari Dabas, DDS'19
During the past four years, Pari Dabas, DDS'19, enjoyed new experiences that helped her grow personally and professionally.
Discovery Week brings rural and regional medicine front and centre
Through Discovery Week, students experience a new side of health care that they haven’t seen before.
Resident Spotlight: Dr. Matthew Pfaff, PGY1
Dr. Matthew Pfaff, PGY1, Family Medicine, chose the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry – Windsor Campus as it offers residents independence and increased opportunities to interact with staff directly.
Research Profile: Dr. Tom Appleton, PhD
Dr. Tom Appleton, PhD, is investigating the mechanisms of osteoarthritis with the goal of developing more personalized treatments for patients. "I really want to be in that space where we are making clinically relevant discoveries."- Media Releases
Media releases in June featured research on how diet can influence memory formation, what you should know about marijuana and fertility and how researchers are collaborating to help defuse aortic aneurysms, known as the 'time bomb' of cardiology. - See The Line
The 2019 event is fast approaching and has an outstanding lineup of speakers including Katherine Price Snedaker, LCSW, Executive Director and Founder of PINK Concussions; and Rick Westhead, Senior Correspondent, TSN and CTV National News. This event sells out early every. Don't miss your opportunity to attend. 
EXCELLENCE PHOTOS
Last month, we celebrated the 2019 Awards of Excellence recipients - faculty, staff and trainees who are leading the way in education, research and administration.
SUMMER BREAK
We hope you have enjoyed reading The Pulse this past academic year. We are taking a break for two months and will be back with more stories in September.
EVENTS
Faculty & Staff BBQ – July 5. There's just one day left to register for the BBQ. Sign up by the end of day June 28 to ensure you are on the list for this summer favorite.
