The Chair of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), has been awarded one of the highest civilian honours in Australia. On January 26, 2011 – Australia Day – Dr. Strasser received notice that he has been named a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

The Order of Australia recognizes the achievements and service of Australian citizens, with nominations submitted directly from the community. The honour bestowed on Dr. Strasser is specifically for service to medicine, through improving the health care of people living in rural and remote communities in developed and developing nations as an educator, researcher, and practitioner.

“On behalf of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s Board of Directors, I extend hearty congratulations to Dr. Roger Strasser on this occasion of esteemed recognition of his hard work and distinguished contribution to rural medicine and medical education,” said Dr. Brian Stevenson, President of Lakehead University and Chair of NOSM’s Board of Directors. “As Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Dr. Strasser has brought exceptional leadership and expertise to the development of the Medical School and the delivery of innovative education and research for a healthier North,” he said.

Mr. Dominic Giroux, President of Laurentian University and Vice-Chair of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s Board of Directors, said, “It is exciting to see Dr. Roger Strasser recognized with this great Australian honour. Dr. Strasser’s rural health achievements are highly regarded worldwide, and he has had made significant contributions to ensuring the Northern Ontario School of Medicine works to achieve its mandate of educating high quality physicians and health professionals who have the leadership, knowledge and skills to practice in Northern Ontario, and beyond,” he said.

Prior to his appointment with NOSM, Dr. Strasser was Professor of Rural Health for Monash University and Head of the Monash University School of Rural Health, in Australia. Between 1992 and 2004, Dr. Strasser also had an international role as Chair of the Working Party on Rural Practice of Wonca, the World Organization of Family Doctors. In November 2002, he was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners in recognition of his world leadership in the field of rural health and in March 2003, Dr. Strasser received the Louis Ariotti Award for excellence and innovation in rural and remote health in Australia. Dr. Strasser is also the recipient of the prestigious award, Fellow of Wonca, presented in October 2004, in recognition of his outstanding service to Wonca and family medicine around the world. In 2006, Dr. Strasser was named the inaugural winner of the Small, Rural and Northern Award of Excellence by the Ontario Hospital Association in Canada and also received the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Life Fellowship Award for outstanding and meritorious service to Rural and Remote Medicine in Australia.

For further information, please contact:

news@nosm.ca

Lakehead University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) are pleased to accept substantial gifts from Barrick Gold Corporation – Hemlo Mine. The value of the Barrick Gold gift is $150,000, but with matching funds from the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS), the total value of the gift is raised to $235,000. This donation makes a significant contribution to learning and healthcare in Northern Ontario.

The gift will be used to establish an endowed Barrick Gold Graduate Scholarship valued at $100,000, with $50,000 coming from Barrick Gold and $50,000 from matching funds through OTSS. This Scholarship will be awarded to a Lakehead graduate student with financial need who is focused on mining issues with preference given to persons of Aboriginal heritage.

As well, a total of $100,000 will go to support the work of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. This portion of the gift is made up of a number of components:

• Creation of a $10,000 Learner Suite in Marathon with exam rooms, office and study space, and a Learner/Resident suite;
• A technology infrastructure upgrade of $15,000 at the Wilson Memorial Hospital and the Marathon Family Health Centre in Marathon;
• A NOSM Student Bursary of $70,000 (with $35,000 coming from Barrick Gold and $35,000 in matching funds from the OTSS), which will be available to NOSM learners with roots in Marathon;
• A $25,000 Award to help fund recruitment initiatives for family physicians who wish to set up a practice in Marathon; and
• $15,000 to support a Rural Remote Health Medical Conference.

“As a part of the communities where we operate, Barrick Gold seeks to help build the priorities those communities set for themselves,” said Jamie Sokalsky, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Barrick Gold Corporation. “So it’s very satisfying to support the expansion of expertise and delivery in health care. I know that health care is a major priority in Northwestern Ontario, and I am confident the projects announced today will make a difference to a wide number of people across a wide part of the region. Operations like our Hemlo mine give us roots in this community, and so this opportunity was one we were happy to have. Barrick Gold has a long tradition of supporting higher education. Having been born, raised, and educated at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, it’s very satisfying to me personally to be able to announce this investment today on behalf of Barrick Gold.”

“The availability of significant financial support is often the single most influential factor for students of excellence when choosing a university. Lakehead is uniquely positioned to offer Northwestern Ontario students advanced training in fields that will benefit the current mining renaissance taking place throughout the North. Barrick Gold is demonstrating real leadership in the field and in the region with this comprehensive gift,” says Dr. Brian J.R. Stevenson, President, Lakehead University.

Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, is grateful to Barrick Gold for helping to advance the dream of a healthier North. “Contributions supporting NOSM’s distributed model of medical education and student bursaries are long-term investments in better health care for Northern Ontarians.” He continued, “We are very grateful to Barrick Gold for being part of the solution, and for the support they have shown NOSM, our learners, our partners in Marathon, and the Medical School’s mission to educate high quality physicians and health professionals.”

Lakehead University is pleased to partner with corporations like Barrick Gold that share its belief in responsible resource development and in improving access to education and services throughout Northern Ontario.

Media: Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean, Northern Ontario School of Medicine; Dr. Andrew Dean, Dean, Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, Lakehead University; Dr. Brian Stevenson, President, Lakehead University; and Jamie Sokalsky, EVP and CFO, Barrick Gold; are available for media interviews. To arrange interview times, please contact Janine Chiasson, Communications Officer, at 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada’s Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Exemplary Faculty, Preceptors and Learners Recognized at Board Dinner

The Board of Directors of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held a face-to-face meeting in Sudbury on December 2 and 3, 2010.

On the first day of the two-day meeting, Board members participated in a tour of the Hôpital régional de Sudbury Regional Hospital (HRSRH), followed by a Board orientation session and a presentation by NOSM’s Interim Associate Dean of Continuing Health Professional Education, Sue Berry, on “Health Sciences and Interprofessional Education: Building on NOSM’s Partnerships.” Board members also welcomed special guest Dr. Claudia Adkison, Executive Associate Dean Emeritus and Professor of Cell Biology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, to speak about the topic of conflict of interest, and the influence of relationships and interactions between industry funding and the professional and personal integrity of academic medicine, research, continuing education, and administrative practices.

Later that evening at the Board dinner, Awards of Excellence were presented to learner recipients Louisa Marion-Bellemare, Tiffany Parsons, Allison Sweeney, and Zachary Veitch, and faculty and faculty/preceptor recipients Dr. Yvon Gagnon, Dr. Tom Kovala, Dr. Richard Kvas and Donna Newhouse by Dr. Gerry Cooper, Associate Dean, Learner Affairs.

On the second day of the meeting, Board members were able to participate in a tour of NOSM’s Medical School Building at Laurentian University.

At the formal Board meeting following the tour, the Directors received reports from Board Committees, including the Finance and Audit, Board Executive, Quality Monitoring, Governance, Nominating, and Advancement Committees. The Directors also received reports from the School’s Academic Council, Aboriginal Reference Group, and Francophone Reference Group.

The Board of Directors approved a Financial Report from the Finance and Audit Committee for the six-month period ending October 31, 2010.

Dr. Brian Stevenson, President of Lakehead University and Chair of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s Board of Directors, noted that the two-day meeting accomplished several important objectives. “Group cohesion and opportunities for interactive sessions and discussions are enhanced when Board members are able to meet in person. This two-day meeting was a great success. It included a governance orientation for Board members, thought-provoking presentations, and celebration of the outstanding contribution of learners, faculty, and preceptors,” he said.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled to occur on March 9, 2011.

For a complete list of Board members, please visit our website at www.nosm.ca.

Media Contacts:

news@nosm.ca