On February 9, 2012, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) celebrated the achievements of the School’s staff members and paid tribute to the important work that all NOSM staff do in pursuit of Innovative Education and Research for a Healthier North .

The Staff Awards of Excellence are held annually. Outstanding staff members are nominated by their colleagues, managers, faculty members, Board members, and NOSM learners, and a volunteer judging panel oversees the selection of the recipient(s). There are five categories in which staff are nominated and then selected for Awards of Excellence: Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Team Effort, and Team Player.

Innovation

The Innovation category recognizes a staff member who is identified as an innovative thinker by peers, has recommended or implemented process improvements or new concepts to the betterment of the School’s objects, and continues to work towards improved efficiency. The recipient of the Innovation award is Julie Pacifico, Admissions Officer at NOSM’s West Campus.

Inspiration

The Inspiration category honours a staff member that interacts with others in a positive, enthusiastic, and respectful manner. They may work diligently “behind the scenes” and encourage the development of others as well as themselves. The recipient of the Inspiration award is Charlie Armstrong, Facilities Operations Assistant at NOSM’s East Campus.

Leadership

The nominees in the Leadership category model leadership qualities by example. They deal ethically in all organizational relationships, demonstrate and encourage commitment to excellence, and motivate others to succeed. The recipient of the Leadership award is Sue Berry, Assistant Dean, Integrated Clinical Learning.

Team Effort

The Team Effort category recognizes a team of individuals who have exhibited the achievement of goals through collaboration, and contribute to the enhancement of School values, operations, and services. The recipients of the Team Effort award is the Communications Team. NOSM’s Communications Team includes staff members Kimberley Larkin, Mathieu Seguin, Melanie Dellaire, and Tammy Dickey, all of whom work at NOSM’s East Campus.

Team Player

The Team Player category honours a staff member who demonstrates the ability to work well and collaborate within a team situation, solicits the input of others who are affected by plans or activities, and demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills. The recipient of the Team Player award is Mike Lenardon, Information Technologist at NOSM’s West Campus.

“Without question, the many successes of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s learners and programs are testament to the excellence of the staff who work for NOSM,” said Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean.  “Congratulations to all of NOSM’s Staff Awards of Excellence recipients and nominees.”

Researchers from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are working to create vaccines that could prevent the spread of two infectious diseases among Aboriginal populations across country, and particularly in Northern Ontario. Working alongside the National Research Council (NRC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), researchers hope to develop a vaccine for the potentially fatal Haemophilus Influenzae Type A and Helicobacter pylori infection. A description and the work being conducted on these two diseases follow:

Haemophilus Influenzae Type A

Haemophilus influenzae often lives in its host undetected and then spreads to those who are elderly and immunocompromised. Across Canada it has been found most prevalent in Aboriginal populations in Northern Ontario. Northern Ontario Aboriginal communities have the highest incidence of this particular infection outside of the North American Arctic. For every hundred thousand people, seven are infected with this serious disease.

This is a very rare disease that has only presented itself in few cases across North America, but in particular has been found in Aboriginal populations such as Navajo and White Mountain Apache in the U.S.A.
“For comparison, before the introduction of a pediatric vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) [the close relative to Haemophilus influenzae type A], the incidence rate of invasive Hib disease in Ontario was 1.42/100,000 population/year,” said Dr. Marina Ulanova, Immunologist and Faculty member at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Dr. Ulanova has found that young Aboriginal children as well as adults with severe underlying diseases, such as chronic lung, kidney or heart disease are at the highest risk of acquiring this infection in Northern Ontario. This infection can be very dangerous and present itself as a blood infection known as sepsis, and meningitis, which is a brain infection that can have severe consequences for further child development. “The development of a vaccine would mean that Aboriginal populations across the North could be better protected against the Haemophilus influenzae bacteria,” explained Dr. Ulanova.

Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is prevalent, infecting more than 50% of the population world-wide. While many individuals remain without symptoms, approximately 10-15% will develop peptic ulcers and 3% will develop cancer of the stomach. Additionally, H. pylori infections have been associated with colorectal, liver, lung, pancreatic and laryngeal cancers.

First Nations members are particularly susceptible to peptic ulcer disease and have a significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori infection in their communities. One study conducted in northern Manitoba, reported a 95% infection rate of H. pylori in First Nations communities. This bacterial infection is of particular concern for Northern Ontario since there is currently no epidemiological data on H. pylori infections in the area.

“We plan to establish a collection of H. pylori isolates from clinical cases across Northern Ontario so we can characterize the strains that are relevant in our area. Analyzing the specific characteristics of these strains will not only allow us to develop more successful treatment plans, but will also help to identify potential vaccine targets for the development of a safe and effective vaccine against H. pylori,” explained Dr. Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, Vice President of Research for Health Sciences North, and Faculty member at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

On January 20-21, 2012, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held its first annual faculty development conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Entitled ” Northern Constellations,”the conference was designed by three planning committees to include an extensive program of workshops and interactive sessions aimed at addressing the professional development needs of NOSM faculty members.

Conference learning objectives included comparing and contrasting current practices at NOSM and continuing to move towards excellence; reviewing best practices of medical education, academic leadership, and scholarship; and, providing recommended changes in medical education, leadership, and scholarship practices at NOSM.

NOSM is nationally and internationally recognized for its leadership in distributed community-engaged medical education and health research. NOSM’s faculty members across Northern Ontario are critical to educating high-quality physicians and health professionals with the leadership, knowledge and skills to practice in Northern Ontario and beyond.

“Faculty development promotes lifelong learning and enhances clinical and teaching competencies, and the overall performance of health-care professionals and faculty. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is pleased to offer learning opportunities that enhance patient-centered care and supports health professional teaching and learning,” said Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean.

NOSM has more than 1,000 stipendiary faculty members that practice medicine in over 70 communities across Northern Ontario. The Northern ConstellationsFaculty Development Conference is an opportunity for NOSM faculty members to develop and enhance the skills necessary to teach medical learners in clinical settings.