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Gallery, In the Spotlight

New Acute Aortic Syndrome Guidelines Reflect Northern Perspective

A group of clinicians and researchers from Northern Ontario are leading the development of national guidelines for diagnosing and treating acute aortic syndrome. Dr. Robert Ohle, an emergency medicine physician at Health Sciences North and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, received a grant from the Northern Ontario Academic Medical Association (NOAMA) to adapt and improve existing American and European guidelines for acute aortic syndrome. Acute aortic syndrome is a condition caused by a tear in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body. Once the aorta is torn, blood can then leak up or down, blocking the blood flow to the vessels the aorta supplies, and depending on the placement of the tear, a number of the body’s essential organs.

Learn more about Dr. Robert Ohle’s research in the latest issue of The Scope.

Homepage News, Media Releases, News

NOSM’s Medical Physics Residency Program Achieves Full Accreditation

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce that the recently established Medical Physics Residency Education Program (MPREP) has, for the first time, received full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) through to December 31, 2021.

Medical physicists are health-care professionals with specialized training in the medical applications of physics. Their work involves the use of x-rays, ultrasound, magnetic and electric fields, infrared and ultraviolet light, heat and lasers in diagnosis and therapy. Most medical physicists work in cancer treatment facilities, hospital diagnostic imaging departments, or hospital-based research establishments. Through collaborations with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) in Thunder Bay and Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury, faculty members with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are educating medical physicists in the North, for the North.

“After much effort, we are delighted to have received this internationally recognized full accreditation for the Medical Physics Residency Education Program at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine,” says Dr. Peter McGhee, Program Director of NOSM’s Medical Physics Residency Education Program.

During the course of the program, residents (one in Thunder Bay and one in Sudbury) are formal full-time employees of the academic health sciences centres. Through their learning experience, they will gradually develop the practical skills that will allow them to fully and independently participate within the clinical environment. With successful completion of the residency, the graduates are eligible to apply for certification as qualified clinical Medical Physicists.

The program will be recruiting for two new residents with terms starting in October 2019. Successful applicants will enrol in a two-year program addressing all aspects of the clinical subspecialty of Radiation Oncology Physics. The major sections of the training curriculum include evaluation of radiation treatment equipment performance, equipment calibration, radiation treatment planning and delivery, radiation safety, and radiation oncology informatics. In addition, residents are expected to participate in clinically oriented research and be actively involved in teaching. The minimum entry requirement for a residency position is a Master of Science in Medical Physics with preference given to candidates with a PhD in Physics, or a related subject. Graduate course credits are also expected to be CAMPEP accredited. For a copy of the posting, please visit nosm.ca/mprep.

Gallery, In the Spotlight, Indigenous Stories, Spotlight on Research

Research and Reconciliation

Throughout history, health research has largely ignored Indigenous people’s perspectives and knowledge. Outside researchers have often proceeded without engaging with, or gaining informed consent from, the communities or individuals.

The Manitoulin Anishnaabek Research Review Committee (MARRC) serves as a community research ethics board for the First Nation communities of Manitoulin Island.

The committee, chaired by Dr. Lorrilee McGregor, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Health at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, is comprised of representatives from the Manitoulin First Nation communities including Elders, academic and community researchers, and representatives from Indigenous organizations. The MARRC evaluates proposed research projects on Manitoulin Island to ensure they respect Anishinaabek values and reflect the communities’ vision for culturally appropriate research.

“Research is supposed to be about healing; we’re not supposed to be re-traumatizing people,” says McGregor. “When we evaluate a research project, we’re looking at how our communities are going to be protected. What is the researcher’s approach in terms of the Seven Grandfather Teachings? How are they going to act when they’re in the communities? Are there going to be improvements in health as a result of this research?”

Learn more about Dr. Lorrilee McGregor’s work with the Manitoulin Anishnaabek Research Review Committee in the latest issue of The Scope.

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