On November 16, 2007, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) hosted a successful Palliative Care conference in conjunction with Pfizer, Purdue and Paladin Labs. Dr. Andrew Knight, local General Practitioner in Oncology, Palliative Care Lead for the Northeast and NOSM Associate Professor, welcomed more than 120 participants and health-care professionals from across Northern Ontario.

An array of notable health-care professionals, including Drs. Deborah Dudgeon and Natalie Kontakos, presented plenary sessions that covered a wide range of issues, such as The Provincial Palliative Care Integration Project and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and The Palliative Performance Scale and Prognostication. The guiding principles of palliative care were discussed in depth to ensure sensitization to, and understanding of, persons living with a life-threatening illness. Participants also had the opportunity to enhance their skills to be better able to respond to patients and families dealing with end-of-life care.

“The Palliative Care conference is a great accomplishment for our community and Northern Ontario as it offered an opportunity for health-care providers to meet, share experiences and learn about topics relating to the important issue of palliative care,” said Dr. Andrew Knight, co-chair of the Palliative Care Advisory Committee. “This conference is a result of the hard work and dedication of a variety of committee members,” he said.

The Palliative Care conference is one of many conferences hosted by NOSM in recent months. The event was well attended and an occasion for all participants to network and draw upon the expertise and experience of palliative care specialists.

On October 24 – 26, 2007, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) hosted the first annual Pan Northern Geriatric Care Conference in partnership with First Link; Alzheimer Society of Sudbury-Manitoulin; North East Mental Health Centre; City of Greater Sudbury; Northeastern Ontario Dementia Assessment and Consultation Services; and, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, and in collaboration with Réseau de santé en français du Moyen-Nord de l’Ontario.

Drs. Joanne Clark and Maurice St. Martin, co-chairs of the event, welcomed more than 125 participants to the first conference of its kind in Northern Ontario. An array of notable health-care professionals, including Drs. Clark and St. Martin, presented plenary sessions on a variety of topics aimed at increasing physicians, nurses, social workers and other health professionals’ knowledge of dementia treatment, falls prevention, nutrition, assessment, healing differences, stroke prevention and pain management.

Access to care for the elderly and the importance of geriatric care to address changing demographics were discussed by Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez during his welcoming remarks. Mayor Rodriguez also thanked those in attendance that work with seniors and the elderly, commenting that it is an opportunity to repay seniors for all they have done in our community.

“The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is proud to have co-hosted this exciting conference,” said Dr. Marc Blayney, NOSM Vice Dean, Professional Activities. “The first annual Pan Northern Geriatric Care Conference is a result of the hard work and dedication of a variety of health professionals and educators who have come together to participate in workshops that focus on important issues affecting seniors in Northern Ontario.” Dr. Blayney also acknowledged the presence of NOSM students as conference participants, and speculated that “the students’ interest in this important area of medicine is a result of the innovative curriculum offered by the School.”

The Pan Northern Geriatric Care Conference was well attended and an occasion for all participants to network and draw upon the expertise and experience of geriatric specialists.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) recently welcomed its first intake of dietetic interns into the new Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP). The program, a joint initiative between NOSM and the NODIP Professional Advisory Committee, involves multiple health-care facilities throughout Northern Ontario, with funding provided by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario.

As with NOSM’s medical students and residents, NOSM’s dietetic interns will be undertaking community-based learning, with placements across Northern Ontario. Graduates of NODIP will have an appreciation for the unique health-care needs of Northern Ontario, as well as the cultural diversity of the people who call it home. Of the ten dietetic interns, three will be based in Sudbury, three in Thunder Bay, two in Sault Ste. Marie, and two in Timmins. Placements will take place in hospitals, public health units, long-term care facilities, and clinics and will be coordinated by Denise Raftis, NOSM’s NODIP Coordinator.

Dr. Marc Blayney, NOSM Vice Dean, Professional Activities, welcomed the new interns at a luncheon during their orientation week at NOSM. “It’s a pleasure to welcome our first class of dietetic interns to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program enhances the School’s commitment to support interprofessional health initiatives in the North,” he said.

The achievement of a sustainable Dietetic Internship in Northern Ontario represents over six years of committed effort by a number of key stakeholders, including Dietitians Canada. Marlene Wyatt, Regional Executive Director of Dietitians Canada, expressed how pleased the dietitians in Northern Ontario are to have an internship program. “Dietitians Canada is very pleased with NOSM’s role and support in the administration of the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program. The first class of interns will feel the tremendous support from their dietitian preceptors,” she said.

The one-year program will permit graduates of university dietetic programs to complete the necessary practical experience needed to obtain their dietitian registration.