On Friday, October 12, to Saturday, October 13, 2012, delegates from the Rendez-Vous 2012 world conference will visit various community organizations and cultural sites across Thunder Bay and area, through a program called Portage Express.

Ranging from Aboriginal and Francophone culture, interactive historical displays and treks in the wilderness to health education, research and technology, Northern search and rescue, and on through hospital-centred care, each of these journeys will introduce delegates from around the world to life in our North. More than 30 locations will receive Rendez-Vous 2012 delegates, with some locations such as Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and St. Joseph’s Care Group welcoming delegates to various departments across the organization.

“The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is known for its unique partnerships with community members across Northern Ontario,” explained Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “Understanding the social, cultural and health determinants of Northern Ontario is an integral part of socially accountable health professional education at NOSM. Community sites participating in the Portage Express will showcase the cultural fabric and services of the region that we serve.”

NOSM’s community partners are integral to our model of distributed community-engaged medical learning and research. Portage Express is an opportunity to showcase partnerships like the one between NOSM and the community of Thunder Bay.”

Conference delegates will have the opportunity to visit sites that include, but are not limited to: Alpha Court, Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, Gammondale Farm, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Fort William Historical Park, The Salvation Army Community and Residential Services, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and the Waabi-ma’iingan (Grey Wolf) Traditional Teaching Lodge.  For a full list of organizations participating in the Portage Express, please visit www.rendez-vous2012.ca/community-visits.

Community Stakeholders and Conference Delegates from Around the World Consider Francophone Health

On Wednesday, October 10, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) welcomed community stakeholders and Rendez-Vous 2012 conference delegates with an interest in Francophone health to the School’s fourth Francophone Symposium, held in Thunder Bay.  This one-day event encouraged participants to examine current best practices and the resulting impact of service, education, and research on the health status of Francophones in Northern Ontario and around the world.

Introduced by Jacqueline Gauthier, Chair of NOSM’s Francophone Reference Group, as “A Francophone for Francophones,” Mr. François Boileau, Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner, acted as moderator.  This year’s symposium included distinguished speakers from Northern Ontario and around the world, who gathered to share their knowledge and expertise on service, education and research, as well as key elements in relation to the impact of social accountability. Notable speakers included Dr. Charles Boelen, International Consultant, formerly with the World Health Organization; Dr. André-Jacques Neusy, Executive Director, THEnet:Training for Health Equity Network; and, Dr. Jan De Maeseneer, Secretary General, The Network: Towards Unity for Health; Dr. Hélène Rousseau, Associate Vice Dean, Distributed Medical Education, McGill University;  Dr. Paul Grand’Maison, Director, Office of International Relations; Director, Collaborative Centre OMS/OPS; Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke.  Participants also had the opportunity to hear from Andrée Robichaud, CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Patrick Legault, a second-year NOSM medical student; Dr. Aurel Schofield, Director at the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, Associate Dean for New Brunswick for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, and, Associate Dean for Medical Education for the Faculty of Health Sciences and Community Services at the Université de Moncton; France Jodoin, Executive Director, Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario; and, Angèle Brunelle, Executive Director, L’Accueil francophone de Thunder Bay.

Throughout this interactive symposium, participants with an interest in Francophone health were engaged in group work, individual conversations, and small group discussions. “Ultimately, it is hoped that participants will be able to take away ideas to enhance the communities and organizations they represent, whether in Northern Ontario or beyond,” explained Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean.

NOSM has a social accountability mandate to contribute to improving the health of the people and communities of Northern Ontario by graduating physicians and health professionals with a unique understanding of Northern health challenges.

The School is pleased to be part of initiatives, such as this symposium, that work to build and strengthen the School’s partnerships with Francophone communities.