Supporting academic work in clinical settings: NOSM and the Hospital renew Academic Affiliation Agreement

Tuesday July 21st, 2020 Alexandra Poling

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (the Hospital) have renewed their affiliation agreement for the benefit of learners, scientists, as well as patients and their care partners in Northern Ontario. The agreement aligns and strengthens academic work in clinical settings and enhances patient care, education and research.

Under the terms of this five-year agreement, the Hospital and NOSM remain dedicated to their long-standing affiliation and shared academic mission to support academic work in clinical settings with a focus on social accountability in Northern Ontario. Both institutions are committed to improving the health of Northern Ontario patients and their care partners through evidence-based care, innovative research and academic integration and a stronger approach to collaborative research, aligning strategic planning initiatives and priorities.

The agreement also commits to develop joint policies to streamline processes and communication for learners, faculty and staff across the affiliated institutions.

“This agreement represents the important, ongoing relationship; namely, between the medical school and the clinical training ground at the Hospital which is a cornerstone for learning physicians,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM Dean, President and CEO. “The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and NOSM are partners in the education of health professionals who will practise in our community and region. Collaboration is critical to the health of all Northern Ontarians, and will continue to be critical in sustaining health human resources in the North.”

“Our Hospital is very pleased to renew our highly valued affiliation agreement with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Learners are integral to the interprofessional health-care teams at our academic health sciences centre; the experience learners gain while at our Hospital is essential to their education,” said Jean Bartkowiak, Hospital President & CEO and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “Together, we welcome, nurture and support NOSM learners to ensure that our future physicians and health-care providers deliver safe, quality health care to patients and their care partners in Northwestern Ontario.”

The agreement underscores the shared responsibility in health professional education, resources, operational effectiveness, quality, planning, health human resources and funding.

Northern Routes

Summer social circles and music to groove to in Northern Ontario.

Tuesday July 14th, 2020 Jason Lind

While we cautiously expand our social bubbles, summer offers new opportunities to safely reconnect in the great outdoors with family and friends. Whether you’re meeting at a distance, on a deck or patio, boating or canoeing, simply enjoying a walk, or gathering around a bonfire, being outside with great company is good for our mental health, wellness and happiness.

NOSM Welcomes New Resident Doctors to Northern Ontario

Tuesday July 7th, 2020 Jason Lind

On July 1, 2020, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) welcomed 64 new resident doctors to Northern Ontario. These doctors—having recently graduated from an MD program at NOSM or at other Canadian medical schools—will practice medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician, while learning about a particular medical specialty.

“This group of resident doctors are some of the best and brightest, and we are honoured to have them join the Northern Ontario School of Medicine,” says Dr. Robert Anderson, NOSM’s Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education. “Residency is one of the most critical times in the development of a physician’s professional identity, and we are excited to help them not only become great doctors but to standout in their field and become change leaders who will create real, lasting impact in communities across Northern Ontario.”

NOSM’s residents will be living and learning in one of 12 communities across Northern Ontario. During medical appointments, you may receive care from a learner from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), supervised by a professional on our team. When you receive care from a NOSM learner, you are helping Northern-trained health-care professionals of tomorrow acquire the skills they need to serve you in the future.

Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM Dean, President and CEO, encourages community members to extend a warm welcome to residents working in their communities, health-care centres and hospitals across the region. “Resident doctors are essential to health-care delivery in Northern Ontario,” says Dr. Verma. “NOSM residents are dedicated to working with patients of all demographics, from infants to the elderly. They deliver health care based on their previous experience and level of training, always with the guidance of a supervising physician.”

Residency programs at NOSM are offered in family medicine and seven other specialties including: anesthesiology, general surgery, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, public health and preventive medicine.

Upon completion of their residency programs, these physicians will transition to independent practice.

– 30 –

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is committed to the education of high-quality physicians and health professionals, and to international recognition as a leader in distributed, learning-centered, community-engaged education and research.

For further information, please contact: news@nosm.ca

NOSM University