Last week, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) launched its Library Endowment Fund Campaign in support of the School’s Health Sciences Library. The launch took place in both Sudbury and Thunder Bay at the “I ♥  NOSM” Open House, where more than 200 community members, alumni, students, residents, staff, faculty, donors, potential applicants, and partners visited NOSM. The Endowment Fund was established to offset the rising costs of the ​School’s Health Sciences Library. (Watch the video of the Launch in Sudbury on NOSM’s Facebook page.)

Each year, NOSM is involved in the education of more than 900 learners who are becoming doctors, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, speech language pathologists, and physician assistants. These learners are distributed across more than 90 communities in Northern Ontario, taught by more than 1,400 faculty members. NOSM’s Health Sciences Library serves as an important resource to these learners and faculty, who need the most up-to-date health resources for their learning and their practice.

“When I went to medical school, there was no such thing as HIV, AIDS, Ebola, or the Zika virus,” says Dr. Richard Denton, NOSM Associate Professor of Family Medicine, retired family physician, previous mayor of Kirkland Lake, and Library Endowment Fund donor. “New diseases and advanced treatments to existing diseases are being published every day. NOSM’s Health Sciences Library helps keep Northern Ontario physicians and their learners up-to-date on the information they need to serve their patients and community.”

In order to support these learners and faculty across the North, the Health Sciences Library provides electronic access to the School’s collection across NOSM’s wider campus of Northern Ontario.

“As long as students and faculty have access to the internet, they have access to educational resources and information as if they are in a big city teaching hospital, thanks to NOSM’s Health Sciences Library,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “This means that when you receive treatment from a NOSM faculty member and their students, you can be confident that your care is informed by the most recent medical research and guidelines.”

All Northern Ontarians are invited to donate to NOSM’s Health Sciences Library Endowment Fund. An investment in the Endowment Fund is an investment in patient care. Visit nosm.ca/donate to support high-quality care in the North.

Photo Caption: Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean, launches the Library Endowment Fund at the “I ♥ NOSM” Open House last week.

An Affiliation Agreement has been reached between Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI), Laurentian University (LU) and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) to enhance research collaboration between the three institutions. With the shared objective of striving to improve the health of residents of Northern Ontario, Health Sciences North Research Institute at Health Sciences North will be officially affiliated with Laurentian University and NOSM. The three institutions will seek to share resources thereby minimizing unnecessary duplication of any common infrastructure and maximizing research efficiency.

“This agreement is an opportunity to enhance research in the North as we strive together to improve the life of Northerners,” says Dr. Denis Roy, President and CEO of Health Sciences North Research Institute.

Laurentian University, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and Health Sciences North Research Institute will work cooperatively to respond to their changing relationship as leaders in research.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean, says strengthening the School’s capacity to perform outstanding research that aligns with the health needs of Northern Ontario is one of NOSM’s strategic goals. “The Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s partnership with Health Sciences North Research Institute and Laurentian University will further enable our faculty members to continue to conduct valuable health research that will lead to improvements in clinical practice, health care, health outcomes, and education in line with NOSM’s social accountability mandate.”

This Affiliation Agreement allows for important collaboration among researchers at all three institutions working on joint research missions. Sharing resources through technology transfers, research development, and administrative support will help researchers to further their projects here in Northern Ontario.

“Creating synergies to foster innovative research is a priority for Laurentian University,” said Dr. Rui Wang, Vice-President of Research at Laurentian University.  “Working together with NOSM and Health Sciences North Research Institute will provide opportunities to strengthen innovation and discovery that will benefit all parties, Greater Sudbury, and beyond.”

The Affiliation Agreement creates mutual access to research facilities and equipment including animal care. The sharing of resources will advance research in the region and help attract and retain new talent.

About the Health Sciences North Research Institute

The Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) is the affiliated research institute of Health Sciences North. Located in Sudbury, Ontario, HSNRI’s purpose is to contribute to sustainable solutions for health challenges faced by the people and communities of northeastern Ontario.

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates. With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) maintains a commitment to providing information to rural, remote, Indigenous, and Francophone youth about health careers.

This year, the School will host its annual Health Sciences Summer Camp from July 10 – 14, 2017 at NOSM at Laurentian University in Sudbury and from July 17 – 21, 2017 at NOSM at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. These week-long programs provide high school students with an opportunity to explore health-care careers, obtain hands-on experience, and find a student-mentor.

Camp activities include: casting and x-rays; CSI; physiology and anatomy; suturing, Francophone and Indigenous health and culture, and, so much more!

NOSM is currently seeking interested high school students who will be attending Grade 10 and 11 in September 2017. Applications are due by March 31, 2017. Accepted applicants will be contacted by NOSM by April 28, 2017 and will be required to submit a non-refundable registration fee of $400.

Students interested in participating in either camp are encouraged to contact Véronique Poirier, Health Sciences Summer Camp Coordinator, toll free at
1-800-461-8777 ext. 7198 or by email to camp@nosm.ca.