Bienvenue dans le nouveau site Web de l’EMNO. Même si nous sommes en train de créer un site complètement bilingue, veuillez noter que seulement certaines pages existent en français en ce moment.
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is the first medical school in Canada to experience a new virtual accreditation of its MD program. The traditional accreditation, originally scheduled for spring, was postponed to October 2020 due to the pandemic.
Dr. Brian Ross, NOSM’s Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education, says this is a new, peer review model of accreditation, with more question-focused meetings planned. “We are piloting a new virtual accreditation process, which could potentially be the new normal moving forward,” says Dr. Ross. “NOSM is a leader in distributed learning, so working virtually comes naturally to us.”
With in-person meetings and travel temporarily suspended at NOSM, some expected benefits of the new virtual model include cost savings, more accessibility to remote communities, more focused question and answer meetings in smaller virtual group settings, and less disruption to clinical schedules for busy Northern clinicians.
An interesting and exciting learning curve for everyone involved, the Accreditation Core Team is working through the changes and new processes that will be put in place. Typically, the logistical planning for an on-site, full visit begins two years in advance and includes document preparation, scheduling, and is detail-oriented. These are details that will be significantly different for a virtual site visit.
A research study titled, Studying Accreditation Innovation at NOSM and Toronto (SAINT), will evaluate the new virtual two-phase Accreditation process. Led by researchers Dr. Erin Cameron (NOSM) and Dr. David Rojas (University of Toronto), the project will provide evidence around the strengths, limitations, and impacts of the new process, and will help inform future accreditation practices.
John Friesen, Senior Director of the Undergraduate Medical Education at NOSM says, “Our team is well prepared and we know what elements we will discuss with the accreditors. We anticipate follow-up virtual meetings and we’re looking forward to the experience.”
In Canada, accreditation of MD programs is undertaken jointly between the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Full accreditation reviews of each medical school occur on an eight-year cycle. This process allows the institution to review its strengths and weaknesses and to suggest important recommendations to achieve its goals. This process can ultimately help the school further define and revise its MD program and shape the short- and long-term directions.
My name is David Marsh, Clinical Sciences Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and an Addiction Medicine physician. While I have held various leadership positions at NOSM over the past ten years, since early 2020 I have been the Associate Dean, Research, Innovation and International Relations. Dr. Verma asked me to contribute to her blog this week to discuss the importance of research at NOSM.
It has been a difficult several months for many of us with the global pandemic having an impact on our daily lives. Research activities at NOSM were temporarily halted in March and I want to express my appreciation and thanks for the hard work of staff and faculty, which allowed the majority of research studies to re-start while ensuring the safety of our medical students, residents, graduate students, faculty and research participants.
Research, along with teaching and clinical service, is a core activity at any medical school and NOSM is no exception. Facilitating an active research program allows the school to attract the highest quality faculty members. Having faculty who are engaged in research ensures that the curriculum in our educational programs are informed by the most current evolving scientific knowledge. It also allows our learners to become familiar with the principles of research, critical appraisal and evidence-based care while fostering intellectual curiosity and critical thinking.
While there is a wide breadth of research studies being conducted by NOSM faculty, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight work being done by Indigenous faculty members in the Division of Human Sciences who lead studies in the area of Indigenous Health.
Dr. Christopher Mushquash is Associate Professor at NOSM and the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University. Dr. Mushquash is a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction, and Chief Scientist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. His over 70 peer-reviewed publications have been cited more than 1000 times in the past five years. In recent publications, he’s examined critical topics including the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and executive function in children; prevention of substance use in Indigenous adolescents; the relationship between mental health disorders and substance use, and the evaluation of an on-reserve methadone maintenance program for First Nations members with Opioid Use Disorder.
Dr. Jennifer Walker is an Assistant Professor at NOSM, health services researcher and epidemiologist. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health at Laurentian University in the School of Rural and Northern Health. She is a Core Scientist and Indigenous Health Lead at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. She played a key role in agreements between ICES and the Chiefs of Ontario and Metis Nation Ontario to allow Indigenous use of health administrative data sets. Dr. Walker has been principal investigator on projects receiving over $26 million in funding from CIHR. Her work focuses on Indigenous use of Indigenous health and health services data across the life span, with a focus on older adults. She collaborates closely with Indigenous organizations and communities to address health information needs.
Dr. Darrel Manitowabi, Assistant Professor of Medical Anthropology at NOSM, was recently appointed the inaugural NOSM-AMS Hannah Chair in the History of Indigenous Health and Traditional Medicine after previous interim appointments as the Director, Indigenous Affairs and Assistant Dean, Graduate Studies. In his role as Chair, Dr. Manitowabi will work to promote the discussion of the inherent, constitutional, Treaty and international rights of all Indigenous Peoples and communities and the protection of traditional knowledge and medicines from appropriation. His research focus will be in the history of Indigenous Health and he will contribute to NOSM’s role in leading scholarly activity in the history of Indigenous Health. An Indigenous anthropologist with research interests in Anishnaabe ethnohistory and oral history, Indigenous gambling, Indigenous social determinants of health, Indigenous healing, Indigenous-state relations and Indigenous self-determination, Dr. Manitowabi’s research and publications examine how the historical legacy of colonialism impacts the health and wellbeing of First Nations communities. His research in the history of Indigenous health situates the place of Anishinaabe language (Anishinaabemowin) and knowledge (kendaasawin) in conceptions of holistic wellbeing (mino-bimaadiziwin) and ill health (maanaaji-bimaadizwin).
Dr. Lorrilee McGregor, Assistant Professor at NOSM, focusses on Indigenous research, pedagogy, strategic leadership and Indigenous community relations. She was recently appointed to the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Reference Group for the Appropriate Review of Indigenous Research. She is also a co-investigator on a five-year CIHR project grant titled Listening to Children’s Voices – Promoting Indigenous Mental Wellness (I am Well). This work focusses on the scale-up and national spread of the Aboriginal Children’s Health and Well-being Measure. Dr. McGregor’s recent publications address improving the response of primary care providers to rural First Nation women who experience intimate partner violence; health profiles of First Nations children living on-reserve in Northern Ontario, and conducting community-based research in First Nation communities.
This is a glimpse into the rich and diverse range of studies being conducted by Indigenous faculty members at NOSM; studies that are critical to the future of medicine and research in Northern Ontario.
Miigwetch to everyone who participated in Orange Shirt Day
Over 380 tees were sold in acknowledgement of Orange Shirt Day on September 30. All funds raised will go to the NOSM Indigenous Student Bursary. Over 96 NOSM community members listened to the stories of residential school survivors Donna Debassige and Edmund Metatawabin. Miigwetch for their courage and for the strength to share their stories with our community.
Please continue to follow my journey on Twitter @ddsv3 using #WhereisDrVerma
I welcome input on this blog and other issues you want to bring to my attention by email to dean@nosm.ca.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
New travel restrictions have been recommended by several Northern health units. Check your regional health unit and follow their advice. Please restrict travel as much as possible.
Mark your calendars for October 26-30 and help NOSM blaze trail for the first Canadian medical school virtual accreditation
Accreditation is of critical importance to NOSM, and our School is the first in Canada to experience a new virtual accreditation of its MD program. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional accreditation originally scheduled for spring was postponed to the week of October 26, 2020. Everyone at NOSM is kindly reminded to please keep that week blocked off to respond to any accreditation related requests.
Announcement of Indigenous Affairs Unit Director
Yolanda Wanakamik has been appointed the School’s new Director of Indigenous Affairs, beginning October 5, 2020. Until recently, she was the Integrated Policy Officer of Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, responsible for conducting research and analysis of local, provincial and national policies, programs, and initiatives affecting the health and well-being of Anishinabek children and families.
An Ojibwe member of the Whitesand First Nation in the traditional territory of the Robinson Superior Treaty, Yolanda holds both professional and lived experience in Aboriginal governance and politics serving as a First Nations Band Councilor. She is in her final year of the Masters of Education Program at Lakehead University and she holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Lakehead University.
Due to ongoing restrictions on mass gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NOSM’s Board of Directors and Annual Meeting of Members was held virtually on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
Juliette Denis, Métis Elder and board member, opened the meeting with a reflection and prayer in recognition of “Orange Shirt Day” providing guidance and inspiration to the meeting.
The Board announced the addition of six Directors: Craig Abotossaway, Virginia May (Mae) Katt, Suzanne LeBeau, Mark Hartman, Dr. Shemer Ratner and John Stenger.
Craig Abotossaway has more than 25 years of experience working on a variety of First Nations health initiatives. As a former elected Chief of his First Nations community of Aundeck Omni Kaning, Abotossaway brings extensive political knowledge of both the provincial and federal levels of government and health issues facing First Nations people, both regionally and nationally.
Mark Hartman has worked as a radiation therapist, Director of the Cancer Centre capital expansion project, and Administrative Director of the Regional Cancer Program. In 2018, he was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Patient Experience and Digital Transformation at Health Sciences North.
Suzanne LeBeau is the CEO of Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital, where she brings a variety of hospital, community and education sector experience to the role.
Virginia May (Mae) Katt is Ojibway from Temagami First Nation. She is a Nurse Practitioner with diverse experience in mental health and substance use, adolescent health, maternal and child health and community health.
Dr. Shemer Ratner is a Nephrologist and Internist in the Nephrology Department at Health Sciences North who serves the Northeastern Ontario region. Ratner brings his medical expertise and years of postsecondary education that has taken him all over the world, including to parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, United States and South America.
John Stenger is a seasoned financial professional with a strong financial background and over 30 years of experience in health care, private enterprise and business and economic development, residing in Elliot Lake.
While the Board saw the introduction of new members, it also thanked several dedicated Directors whose terms were completed; Gary Boissoneau, Ken Boshcoff, Pierre Dumais, George Payne and Lori Flinders were recognized for their contributions and service.
“We are grateful to the outgoing members for the passion and dedication they brought to their roles,” says Dr. Robert Haché, Chair. “Each has made valuable contributions to NOSM’s corporate governance and we acknowledge the time, effort and commitment that they so generously put forward.”
In recognition of service, the Board approved the creation of a Board of Directors Leadership Award. The award will honour a fourth-year student in the MD program who fosters social accountability and demonstrates excellence in leadership by engaging and guiding others in promoting emerging healthcare professionals and living NOSM’s vision, mission, values.
The Governance Committee presented a new Naming Opportunity Policy for approval. This policy will guide NOSM in recognizing donors and other partners whose philanthropic contributions to the School have helped advanced its strategic mandate.
The audited financial statements for the year ending April 30, 2020 and the auditors for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2021 were approved.
Dr. Sarita Verma, Dean, President and CEO, presented NOSM’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. The NOSM Challenge 2025 is the third strategic plan in the School’s fifteen-year history and is grounded in input from nearly 2,000 stakeholders including learners, staff, faculty, partner organizations, and community members from across Northern Ontario. The Board of Directors unanimously approved the NOSM Challenge 2025 Strategic Plan with a new overall mission: To improve the health of Northern Ontarians by being socially accountable in our education and research programs and advocating for health equity.
The Board congratulated Dr. Verma on a remarkable first year as Dean, President and CEO. “The Board is extremely pleased with Dr. Sarita Verma’s work and commitment since becoming Dean, President and CEO of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine,” says Dr. Moira McPherson, Vice Chair. “She has positioned NOSM to withstand challenges and enable key growth in many areas. We congratulate Dr. Verma on a commendable first year at the School and an exciting new chapter for NOSM.”
The next meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2020.
For a complete list of Board members, please visit our website at nosm.ca/board.
