September 2019 Newsletter
Dr. Ian McWhinney Lecture Series
The Department celebrated the legacy of Dr. Ian McWhinney with our fifth annual lecture series on September 18. Dr. David Loxterkamp delivered the keynote presentation, "Outside the Lines – The added value of the generalist physician," to a room of residents, faculty, researchers and community physicians. An archived recording of the session is available on our livestream channel.
Chair's Message – Longitudinal Clinical Experience
September marks the start of a new academic year and this year brings significant changes to our medical education curriculum. These changes are promising to create a better appreciation of generalism in our medical students. As part of the curriculum change, the Department of Family Medicine faces a need to provide a longitudinal clinical experience for medical students starting in the first year. We have embarked on an ambitious recruitment program seeking medical practices to welcome medical students as observers for the equivalent of 16 half days in the practice over the course of a year.
Postgraduate Program Report
Our Family Medicine Residency Program is undergoing a formal full survey accreditation visit by the CFPC November 24 – 29. We require your participation. The new academic year is off to a great start. On behalf of the Postgraduate Program, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the incoming PGY1 residents. Please visit our website to take a look at the requirements to complete residency. Learn more about important reminders and dates for the year.
Graduate Program Report
The 2019-20 Family Medicine graduate programs academic year launched on September 16 with our on-site sessions running until September 26 on the first floor of the Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine. This year we welcome three new MClSc students – Drs. Mathew Grandy, Aline Oliveira and Craig Olmstead. We are excited to have our new and returning students from across the globe with us for a few weeks.
Meet our new resident leaders
Kristen De Marco, Ada Gu and Kelly Lien are the 2019/2020 Family Medicine chief residents. They serve as an important resource to the Department and resident body, and act as mentors, leaders and advocates for the Program. Meet each of our resident leaders in this profile series.
Celebrating your achievements
Congratulations to all award recipients. Adjunct professor and alumna Dr. Linda Lee, MClSc '10, was named a 2019 Joule Innovation access to care grant recipient for her MINT Memory Clinics initiative, current PhD student Dr. Kamila Premji was selected to receive the 2019 Canadian Family Physician Best Original Research Article Award, and Dr. Amrita Roy was named a CFPC Research Award for Family Medicine Residents recipient. Learn More.
In the media: Researchers seek seniors to put heart and mind into study
Researchers are recruiting a new round of seniors willing to hop on a stationary bike for science. Family Medicine Professor Dr. Robert Petrella and his team are trying to test whether high-intensity interval training — a popular fitness regimen that involves completing short bursts of intense physical activity followed by short periods of rest or moderate exercise — has more of an impact on blood pressure and memory in seniors than a regular exercise regime. Via London Free Press.
In the media: Moira Stewart referenced in The Conversation
The Conversation published an article entitled “#HellomyNameIs: A simple act to improve patients’ experiences of care” which references a 2001 Editorial in the BMJ by Moira Stewart, PhD.
Longitudinal Clinical Experience (LCE)
On September 3, the MD Program at Schulich welcomed its Class of 2023, the first class to take part in the newly updated curriculum. The Longitudinal Clinical Experience (LCE) in Family Medicine is an excellent opportunity to expose students to Family Medicine early in their careers. Thank you to the many faculty who have volunteered to participate in this flagship program for the new curriculum. The September Faculty Development session on the LCE will provide support and answer any remaining questions you might have.
The real low-down on diabetes
The Diabetes Alliance received more than $1 million to lead a global, real-world study on diabetes-related hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The study, Investigating Novel Predictions of Hypoglycemia Occurrence using Real-world Models (iNPHORM), is part of the Diabetes Alliance’s global hypoglycemia research program located at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine. It is led by Dr. Stewart Harris, Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Alexandria Ratzki-Leewing, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Family Medicine Resident Research Grant Competition launches
The Department of Family Medicine and the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine are excited to launch the first Family Medicine Resident Research Grant Competition this academic year. The competition is open exclusively to PGY1 family medicine residents at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, with up to $5,000 of funding awarded each year to support high level primary care research. Spearheaded by Lawrence Yau (PGY2 – Mt. Brydges), the competition is a great opportunity for residents to use as a stepping stone for much larger national level grants in the future.
2019 Homecoming Weekend
Revisit your roots at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and join us for Homecoming this October. With a full weekend of events scheduled, it’s a perfect time to reconnect with friends and colleagues and revisit where it all began.
Obstetrical Skills Day
First year family medicine residents will attend our annual Obstetrical Skills Day on November 6. A dedicated group of faculty will come together under the leadership of Dr. Laura Lyons to present an informative 1/2 day workshop with hands-on rotating work stations covering everything from the mechanics of a normal vaginal birth to diagnosing and treating a shoulder dystocia. Note: All PGY1 residents are required to attend in person.
Symptoms in Family Practice: New Findings using EMR Data
Please join Dr. Tom Freeman and colleagues for an afternoon discussing “Symptoms in Family Practice: New Findings using EMR Data,” supported by the Citywide Department of Family Practice, the Department of Family Medicine and Centre for Studies in Family Medicine. When: November 13, 2019, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Where: Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine, 4th floor – Rm. 4006. Learn More and Register Today.
International Multimorbidity Symposium
You are invited to attend the International Multimorbidity Symposium on Friday, November 15. This Symposium is being co-presented by the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and the Department of Family Medicine. Learn More and Register Today.
Department Spotlight: Dr. Amanda Pendergast, MClSc'19
Dr. Amanda Pendergast, MClSc '19, is an academic family physician and Assistant Professor at Memorial University. She lives in St. John’s, NL with her husband Shawn and their three children. "Dr. McWhinney has helped me understand my patients for who they are, not from an illness that may try to define them. I am often surprised at how the same disease will present differently in different patients."
September 2019 Research and Publications
The Department of Family Medicine is at the forefront of research in primary health care. Among the areas of focus for research are patient-centered care, clinical practice guidelines, health promotion, population health, care of the elderly, health services and information technology.
Events
Join us October 3 for Geriatric Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds – Rock Steady Boxing: Fighting Back Against Parkinson’s at 8:00 a.m. held at Parkwood Institute Main Building in Parkwood Auditorium B2-109. Save the date: Hands-On Injection Workshop For Family Physicians, Wednesday, November 13, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in the Arts & Humanities Building – Athletics Injuries Lab – Room 2B15 - Western University.
Top stories from our June newsletter
Missed the June e-newsletter? Take a moment to read the top stories: Award Winners, Announcement: Dr. Robert Petrella appointed Head (Chair), Department of Family Practice at University of British Columbia and Resident Graduation photos.
