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Season’s greetings! Thankfully, the end of 2020 is nigh.

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I am continuing with my tradition of sharing laughter and lessons learned from holiday movies. Now that there is a little snow in Northern Ontario, it feels festive. As we head into the holiday season, it seems like a good time to hunker down and get into the holiday movie-watching mood. If you ask me, even the bad ones are pretty amazing. With most of us staying home during the pandemic this year, why not make it more joyful with some NOSM-themed cheer and these movies.

The Holiday (2006)

In this lovely flick, Cameron Diaz plays a neurotic movie trailer editor and Kate Winslet plays a British newspaper reporter who decides to swap houses shortly before Christmas. Winslet’s character ends up in L.A. where she befriends an aging screenwriter, but (spoiler alert!) she eventually falls for a kind-hearted composer played by Jack Black. Meanwhile, Diaz’s character winds up in Surrey, England, where she unwittingly hooks up with the brother of Winslet’s character played by Jude Law. The movie has a harlequin-romance quality, but it also has an undeniable, nap-friendly, tryptophan-like charm as four beautiful people overcome the ridiculously small hurdles keeping them from getting together in two photogenic environments. It’s essentially a two-person bubble in the making in each country—like the two NOSM main campuses in Thunder Bay and Sudbury.

The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

As Christmas approaches, all is not well for David Niven, a Protestant bishop trying to raise funds for the glorious new cathedral of his dreams—a project that’s led him to neglect his wife, Julia (Loretta Young) and daughter. The cathedral project causes him to lose sight of his roots as a minister to those in need. Enter Dudley (Cary Grant), an angel determined to set Henry on the right path. The only trouble is that he finds himself increasingly wanting to spend time with Julia instead. Young and Grant’s chemistry smooths over some rocky parts where things don’t make sense–like how can an angel fall in love? The Preacher’s Wife, the 1996 remake starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston, is a decent alternative to this very monochromatic version. Both movies remind me of the NOSM angels in this pandemic: the facemask makers, the students gathering PPE, and the helpers running errands for front-line workers. Kudos to you all.

Love Actually (2003)

Few movies have been embraced and rejected, then rejected and embraced, with the ferocity of this 2003 holiday mash-up of new love, old love, political love, and naughty love. It’s so clichéd but every time it comes on, I drop everything and watch it. I have seen it 20 times. Just hang in for the tale of infidelity starring Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. Or, the quintessential Bill Nighy performance as a washed-up rock star who is remaking an old tune as a holiday carol. And of course, the divine Hugh Grant dances to the song Jump in his tightywhities. Best of all is the take on Andrew Lincoln using placards to tell his best friend’s wife that he loves her. This smorgasbord has me thinking of the many stories of happiness, sadness, challenges and victories across all NOSM units. UME accreditation wins the prize this year for the ups, downs, quick changes, challenges and victories.

 

 

Die Hard (1988)

Yes, this is one of the best action movies ever made. Yes, it was on my list last year. Yes, it’s endlessly quotable. And yes, it transformed Bruce Willis into a major movie star. Believe it or not, it is a holiday movie. New York cop John McClane has to save a corporate high rise in L.A., and barefooted, he takes down a bunch of pseudo-European terrorists who have taken his wife and her co-workers hostage during the worst holiday party ever. Die Hard could be the theme for 2020—it doesn’t matter what was thrown at us this year, like John McClane, we survived and found a way to be resilient! Yippee Ki Yay NOSM!

 

Elf (2003)

On paper it sounds silly, but in actuality Elf is pure holiday magic, especially if you love Will Ferrell’s particular brand of over-the-top slapstick comedy. It’s based on the story of a human baby who is raised in the magical world of Santa’s workshop. Elf plays up Ferrell’s man-child side with delightful style as he leaves the comfort of his childhood home in Santa’s workshop to journey into real-world New York City to track down his biological father. Finding our way back to our primary mandate and being true to our form at NOSM has manifested into an awesome new strategic plan: The NOSM Challenge 2025. For an at-home adventure in between movie watching, take the NOSM Trivia Challenge.

 

The Santa Clause (1994)

In this one, divorced businessman Scott Calvin rediscovers the love of son Charlie when he dons Santa’s red mantle after an unfortunate accident that kills Santa. The sleigh, the elves, and the magic all seem to denote a dream, but ten months later, Scott can’t stop himself putting on the pounds, growing a fluffy white beard and craving cookies and milk. He reads the small print and finds The Santa Clause. Lovely, thousand-year-old, red-cheeked elves and a warm ending recreate all of our efforts this year at baking sourdough bread, banana bread, Irish soda beer bread, corn bread… well, you get the picture. It’s reminiscent of those of us who’ve gained pandemic pounds.

 

The NOSM Challenge 2025 Video (2020)

I have watched this about 50 times, and every time I am inspired and choked up by the magnificent landscapes, music and messages of this video. Thanks to Jason Lind and our entire Communications team for making this and showing it so well. Jest aside, I know this has been a tough year for everyone, fraught with anxiety, fear and uncertainty. It has been a pleasure to work with you across this difficult year and to be part of a resilient, thoughtful, kind and respectful community of NOSMites. Thank you and to the entire NOSM team—staff, faculty and learners and our partners—for doing your part to get us through it all.

 

 

Please take a break, get some rest, and please be safe. Let’s continue to hope for a vaccine against COVID-19 to arrive in 2021.

Happy New Year to you all.

Please continue to follow my journey on Twitter @ddsv3 using #WhereisDrVerma.

I welcome input on this blog and other issues you want to bring to my attention by email to dean@nosm.ca.

Happy holidays but please be cautious

Enjoy yourselves this holiday, but above all, please lead by example and continue to heed public health recommendations including social distancing, travel restrictions, and health protocols. Please be safe so we at NOSM are actively helping minimize COVID-19 transmission. Please visit your district public health unit’s website for the latest updates.

NOSM holiday break

The 2020-2021 School closure is from Monday, December 21, 2020 to Friday January 1, 2021 inclusive, with the School resuming normal business on Monday January 4, 2020. Please take this time to rest and recharge. You’ve earned it!

A message from the President of the NOSM Student Council

On Sunday, December 13, the NOSM Student Council held our annual face-to-face meeting, our largest and most important gathering of our council’s year. For the first time, this meeting was virtual. Each year, we use this opportunity to take action on our most important issues. This year has certainly presented us with our most unique set of challenges yet. The theme connecting so many of our discussion points has been advocacy; from our first- and second-year students addressing their new virtual classroom, and our third- and fourth-year students voicing their needs to transition into residency during a pandemic. I would like to extend my thanks to all of our executive council members for their time and dedication not only at this year’s meeting, but continually throughout their already busy year in medical school. On behalf of the entire student council, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the NOSM faculty who took the time to meet with us, as well as Dr. Sarita Verma, Dr. Brian Ross, Dr. Jason Shack, and Kate Beatty. Thank you so much for your time at our meeting. You are all always welcome at the NOSM Student Council.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon,

Joe Boyle
President, NOSM Student Council

Make a difference this holiday

Consider contributing to your local food bank. COVID-19 has had a devastating economic impact on the lives of many families in Northern Ontario. If you are among the fortunate who did not worry about your grocery bill this month, please consider making a gift to your community. Let’s all contribute what we are able to ensure more people have access to healthy food and that no one goes hungry this holiday season.

Healthy Workplace Group holiday community support effort

This year, the Healthy Workplace Group is inviting NOSM faculty, staff, and learners to support our communities. Donations will be accepted until December 17. The funds raised will be shared equally between the following organizations with the aim of meeting some of the basic needs in a few of our communities.

All donations, no matter how small, are welcome. If you would like a tax receipt, Thunder Bay donors can reach out to Cathy Powell at cpowell@nosm.ca and Sudbury donors can contact Natalie Lefort at nlefort@nosm.ca. A heartfelt thank you for your generosity.

Employee and Family Assistance Program

This year has been especially challenging for all of us. If you are having difficulty coping during these times, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). Help is just a phone call away. Our EFAP is available to all employees, students, and residents across NOSM’s wider campus of Northern Ontario. Immediate support is available 24/7/365 at 1-844-880-9142 or online at workhealthlife.com.

 

In the Spotlight

It takes a lot of encouragement to apply to medical school

For Dr. Eli Nix, the road to medical school wasn’t a straight line. It was a winding, uphill path that required encouragement, despite the fact that he was a promising, highly educated candidate.

“It took a lot of people to convince me that medical school was an option for me and it can take a while to decide whether or not it is something worth trying,” says Dr. Nix, NOSM Alumnus (MD Class of 2019).  He is currently a second-year psychiatry resident working in an out-patient mental health clinic for patients from Thunder Bay and across the region.

Dr. Nix, originally from Thunder Bay, says he is happy to be able to get his specialty training at home. During medical school, he represented NOSM speaking to students at Dennis Franklin Cromarty and Pelican Falls High Schools in an effort to encourage more Indigenous youth to consider medicine as a career. Since graduating from NOSM, he has stayed involved by mentoring Indigenous medical students and volunteering to help with an annual welcome event for Indigenous applicants.

When Dr. Nix recently learned about NOSM’s Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program that RBC and the Aubrey and Marla Dan Foundation are supporting in Northern Ontario, he said it is a program that is needed at NOSM. The new pathway will educate and introduce youth in the North to the possibility of a career in health care and the opportunity to study, and eventually practise, in their home community.

“The truth is that Indigenous medical students at NOSM often must work harder to overcome barriers and earn their place at medical school. The School is working on effective ways to recruit more candidates from First Nation communities because they are underrepresented and NOSM wants to reflect the demographic of Northern Ontario.”

He understands the challenges firsthand. It took him many years to even consider applying. Dr. Nix first obtained a degree in biology from Lakehead University, followed by a PhD in microbiology from the University of British Columbia.

When jobs in Dr. Nix’s field of expertise seemed scarce, it was his thesis advisor who encouraged him to apply to medical school. Even with impressive post-graduate academic qualifications, Dr. Nix says at the time he still wasn’t sure.

“At first, I didn’t think I had a chance to get into medical school, but I started looking at different programs and volunteering. I knew it would take a couple of years to build up my application,” Dr. Nix says.

“When I got my post-doctoral position in research at NOSM for my mentor Dr. Ulanova, I was able to work while trying to get accepted to the MD program. It offered me a decent living and I was able to use my educational background to strengthen my application.”

After interviewing a few times, Dr. Nix was excited to become a medical student. He speaks fondly of his experience at NOSM and in the communities where he gained his clinical experience. Though he doesn’t recall experiencing systemic racism within the School, he does remember a handful of experiences that happened during his training in the community.

“The School is really inclusive. There is a lot of strong cultural education and the non-Indigenous students seem really open to this,” says Dr. Nix.

Yet, Dr. Nix says sometimes people make associations that aren’t fair. “Some individuals haven’t had the lived experiences to fully understand another person’s perspective, and I have run into a perception that Indigenous people receive an unfair advantage when applying to NOSM.”

He says encouragement is key. Having access to a pathway that is supportive will help students find their way to NOSM.

“It’s important to recognize that many people are on the cusp of applying but may not have the confidence, so it really does take encouragement and support from other people to apply.”

An Indigenous MD graduate perspective

Homepage News, Indigenous Stories, Media Releases, News

NOSM launches new Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program; $195,000 donation from RBC Future Launch kick-starts important initiative

Today, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) launches a new Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program made possible through a generous donation from RBC Future Launch.

Increasing the number of Indigenous health-care professionals in Northern Ontario is a key part in the provision of culturally appropriate care in the region. The Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program is the starting point for Indigenous youth. It will provide educational programming focused on health, life, and human sciences, both in the communities and in larger city centres in the region. The program will educate and introduce youth in the North to the possibility of a career in health care and the opportunity to study, and eventually practise, in their home community.

Dr. Rebekah Neckoway (MD Class of 2013, Family Medicine 2015) is based in Sioux Lookout and travels to remote fly-in communities in Northern Ontario to provide care as far North as Fort Severn First Nation and Eabametoong First Nation. She says this pathway will provide tactile opportunities and role models for Indigenous youth.

“What resonates with me is the hope of providing future generations in First Nation communities with Indigenous family physicians that they will grow up with, who will care for them for years to come,” says Dr. Neckoway. “My hope is that it will remove the ‘visiting’ part from the ‘visiting health professional’ signs that I see in the clinics across the North.”

“When people from First Nations communities go back to their home to work as physicians, they are real, tangible role models and examples of what the rest of the youth can achieve with some hard work,” says Dr. Neckoway. “When I was growing up in Thunder Bay, it took me a long time before I ever met an Indigenous physician—it wasn’t until university. If I had had an Indigenous doctor caring for me as a kid, I wonder if it would’ve improved my self-esteem, or helped curb the shame I used to feel about being Indigenous as a result of the racism I experienced growing up. I am proud to be an Indigenous physician.”

In collaboration with Science North, NOSM has identified 10 rural and remote high schools and five high schools in cities across Northern Ontario where the School will deliver Science Day programming. These high-school students can apply to the CampMed program and be mentored by Indigenous NOSM learners and faculty who may also apply as a professional development opportunity.

“Systemic racism in early education, at the elementary and secondary school levels, has disproportionately disadvantaged Indigenous people, making it even more difficult to get into university and medical school. This pathway is another tool that NOSM is using to address those barriers,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, Dean, President and CEO of NOSM. “We want Indigenous youth to feel embraced by this program and to know that we, at NOSM, care about their future.”

RBC is one of the founding supporters of the Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway with a funding commitment of $195,000 over the span of three years to assist in funding the establishment of the Indigenous Health Practitioner Pathway program.

These funds will also support professional development and networking opportunities to encourage personal growth and connections to other healthcare professionals practicing in  Indigenous communities.

“RBC Future Launch is about empowering today’s youth for tomorrow’s jobs by providing access to knowledge, skills and networks,” says Scott Simon, Regional Vice President, RBC. “We’re excited and honoured to be a part of an ecosystem that NOSM has brought together to help bring these opportunities to high school students in the region through the Indigenous Health Practitioner Program. This is an invaluable program which will help foster Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in health care provided to communities across Northern Ontario.”

There are 96 First Nations communities in Northern Ontario and many other urban and rural communities with large Indigenous populations. This project will support Indigenous youth in any Northern Ontario community.

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The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is an award-winning socially accountable medical school renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for health equity, NOSM relies on the commitment and expertise of the peoples and communities of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practise in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote and underserved communities.

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

 

NOSM University