Board Members Tour Anishnawbe Mushkiki Aboriginal Health Centre and Take Part in a Case-Based Learning Exercises 

The Board of Directors of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held a face-to-face meeting in Thunder Bay on November 26 and 27, 2015.

NOSM Board members began their two-day meeting with a tour of the Anishnawbe Mushkiki Aboriginal Health Centre. Established as a primary health care facility within the District of Thunder Bay, the Centre provides primary, traditional, and alternative approaches that work to empower Aboriginal people to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

This year, NOSM’s Board of Directors and Academic Council members participated together in quality monitoring and effectiveness sessions, first looking at the Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), led by Dr. Moira McPherson, Chair of NOSM’s Board of Directors and Lakehead’s Provost and VP (Academic), and Dr. Nancy Luckai, Lakehead’s Deputy Provost. Next, Directors took part in two Case-Based Learning (CBL) exercises typical of NOSM’s student-centred teaching approach. This session was led by Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM’s Dean, Dr. David Marsh, NOSM’s Deputy Dean and Associate Dean of Community Engagement, Dr. Owen Prowse, NOSM’s Assistant Dean of Admissions, Miriam Cain, NOSM’s Director of Admissions, and Kate Beatty, NOSM’s Director of Equity and Quality.

In the evening of the first day, Board members were able to view The Rural Challenge and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, a documentary by Dr. Hoi Cheu, a faculty member and researcher at Laurentian University. The film describes NOSM’s revolutionary rural educational model through the personal experience, insight and humour of the School’s students, graduates, faculty members, community partners, and international associates.

Throughout the two days, Board members received presentations related to NOSM’s socially accountable admissions processes, finance, and advancement, and updates from several Board committees. In addition, Board members heard about the progress made regarding NOSM’s development of a Response to and Prevention of Sexual Violence on Campus strategy.

Angèle Brunelle, NOSM Board member, and Executive Director of L’Accueil francophone, and NOSM’s Dr. David Marsh, provided an overview of the recently held fifth Francophone Symposium where more than 90 health professionals and community partners from across Northern Ontario gathered to explore dimensions of health care related to Francophone populations.

At the formal Board meeting at the end of the second day, the Board approved Financial Statements from the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee for the five-month period ending September 30, 2015.

The Board-approved A Roadmap to 2020: NOSM’s Whole School Strategic Action Plan was circulated to all members, which is a follow-up document to NOSM’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020 that describes exactly how the School will accomplish its strategic goals. NOSM publicly launched its new strategic plan in September, the details of which are available at www.nosmsp2020.ca.

Dr. Moira McPherson, Chair of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s Board of Directors and Provost and VP (Academic) at Lakehead, noted that the two-day meeting in Sudbury was a great success. “As NOSM celebrates its 10th anniversary, it’s exciting to reflect on the progress the School has made in contributing to the health of the people and communities of Northern Ontario,” says Dr. McPherson. “NOSM’s success is truly a collaborative effort, and I am inspired by the Board’s ongoing dedication to governance and fiscal management at the School.”

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled to occur on March 16, 2016.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Catherine Cervin as NOSM’s Associate Dean of Postgraduate Education (PGE) for a second five-year term, effective September 2016.

NOSM’s Postgraduate Education Office is responsible for the oversight, administration and support of all Postgraduate Residency Programs in Northern Ontario. NOSM offers Residency Programs in: Family Medicine and Family Medicine Enhanced Skills in Emergency Medicine, Family Practice Anesthesia, Maternity Care, and Care of the Elderly. Royal College Accredited Programs include Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Psychiatry, Anesthesiology. As well there is a Northern Stream of the Ottawa Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program.

Since joining NOSM in 2011, Dr. Cervin has led a team that works to foster strong collaborations with communities and health organizations across Northern Ontario where residents experience diverse educational, clinical, and cultural opportunities. Under Dr. Cervin’s leadership, the first full on-site accreditation survey visit of NOSM’s residency programs by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the College of Family Physicians Canada (CFPC) occurred in May 2014.  

In 2013, Dr. Cervin received the School’s Award of Excellence in the category of leadership after being nominated by NOSM staff members.

“It is with great excitement that I congratulate Dr. Cervin on her reappointment as Associate Dean of Postgraduate Education,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “Dr. Cervin’s leadership approach and understanding of NOSM’s residency needs will ensure the ongoing enrichment of the School’s postgraduate programs to foster exemplary quality health care in rural and remote communities, consistent with NOSM’s new strategic plan. I wish her much success in her second term.”

Dr. Cervin will also continue in the role of NOSM Senior Associate Dean at Laurentian University.

About Dr. Catherine Cervin

Dr. Catherine (Cathy) Cervin grew up in southern Ontario, went to medical school at the University of Toronto, finished her family medicine residency at Dalhousie and then practised full-scope family medicine in Northern Ontario (Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie) for seven years before embarking on an academic career in the Department of Family Medicine at Dalhousie. While at Dalhousie, Dr. Cervin took on a number of leadership roles. She became Hospital Chief of the Department of Family Medicine at the Grace Maternity Hospital (now the IWK Women and Children’s Health Centre), she was Residency Program Director for Family Medicine for ten years, and was the Interim Department Head of Dalhousie Family Medicine. As befits a generalist, her professional interests are wide ranging and include social accountability, educating for comprehensive primary care, curriculum development, learning portfolios, communication skills and cultural competency. Her clinical interests include primary maternity care, the patient-centred approach, and chronic disease care.

Recognized by her peers and colleagues, Dr. Cervin received a Certificate of Merit from the Canadian Association of Medical Education in 2009 and also received an Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians in 2010. That same year, she completed her Masters of Medical Education. Dr. Cervin was also recently appointed as a new Director on the Board of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Dr. Cervin also holds leadership roles at the College of Family Physicians of Canada as Chair of the Board of Examiners and Chair of the Research and Education Foundation Board.

From September 24 to 26, 2015, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held its fifth Francophone Symposium at Laurentian University in Sudbury. More than 90 health professionals and community partners from across Northern Ontario gathered to explore dimensions of health care related to Francophone populations.

With a particular focus on mental health and the “active offer” (ensuring that services in French are obvious, easily available, and accessible), the conference provided dynamic presentations, discussions, and a student-led wellness workshop. These activities focused on community networking, capacity building, health practices and services, and collaborative approaches designed to enhance effective health-care delivery for Francophones in Northern Ontario.

The breadth of topics reflected the diversity of challenges in the provision of effective health care for Francophone people and communities. Distinguished speakers included:

• François Boileau, the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, who spoke about the Commission’s 2014-2015 Annual Report and the importance of creating an environment where it is conducive for Francophones to obtain services in their language of choice.
• Diane Quintas, Executive Director of the Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario, who presented detailed information relating to a new Joint Position Statement on the Active Offer of French Language Health Services in Ontario on behalf of the Alliance of Francophone Health Networks in Ontario as well as the Group of French-language Health Planning Entities.
• Philippe Leblanc, Franco Doc Project Coordinator, Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), who discussed the Franco Doc project which aims to support Francophone students studying in English-language faculties of medicine by developing French-language medical resources and additional placement opportunities in Francophone communities by linking Anglophone medical faculties with francophone health networks and francophone communities.
• Denis Vaillancourt, Chair of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, who highlighted the work which resulted in the White Paper on French Language Health Care in Ontario.
• Dr. Marie-France Tourigny-Rivard, Chair, Seniors Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, who discussed the progress made to implement the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission of Canada in relating to accessing francophone mental health services for the elderly in Northern Ontario.
• Dr. Bernard Leduc, Executive Director, Montfort Hospital, who discussed the ways in which NOSM and Montfort can collaborate to provide French-language health professional education for Northern Ontarians.
• Dr. Raymond Tempier, Professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, who reported on the findings of a recent study relating to Franco-Ontarians’ access to in-hospital psychiatric services.
• Louise Bouchard, Ph. D., Professor of Sociology, University of Ottawa, who provided findings on mental health status data relating to the Francophone population of Ontario.
• Dr. Benoit Mulsant, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, who spoke about the services needed to address the needs of the aging population with mental health and addiction issues.

In addition, presentations were given from NOSM’s various educational and administrative portfolios to report back to the Francophone community about the School’s efforts to ensure their activities and initiatives meet the needs of the Francophone community. Most importantly, these presentations included round-table discussions to seek input from participants about how NOSM can continue to improve to meet the needs of Francophones in Northern Ontario.

“At NOSM, we determine our activities in partnership with Northern Ontario communities,” says Dr. David Marsh, NOSM Deputy Dean and Associate Dean, Community Engagement. “That’s what the Francophone Symposium is about: understanding the needs of the francophone community so that we can ensure that our initiatives are tailored to meet those needs. We look to you, as our valued partners and members of the Francophone community, to help us ensure that our graduates are equipped to work in Francophone communities.”

“The members of the Francophone community welcomed the opportunity to hear from the members of the NOSM team in order to better understand and truly appreciate all the work that has been done during the last 10 years,” notes Jacqueline Gauthier, Chair of the NOSM Francophone Reference Group. “They also welcomed the opportunity to discuss with the NOSM team, including Dr. Strasser and Dr. Marsh, future plans and strategies to be developed as the medical school continues to strive to meet the needs of French speaking patients throughout Northern Ontario for years to come.”

“I’d like to congratulate the Northern Ontario School of Medicine on its 10th anniversary,” said Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the City of Greater Sudbury, Ward 12. “NOSM has had a lasting impact on our community and those across the North, where students become familiar with the landscape of our communities, including Francophone culture. Our physician recruitment program has seen much success. I am pleased to report that 45 NOSM-trained family physicians have begun practising in Sudbury, with 15 committed to start here over the next few years. This accounts for approximately 50% of our family physicians, who will care for approximately 83,000 citizens in our community.”