The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Laura Piccinin to the role of Assistant Dean, Learner Affairs.

Dr. Piccinin, who has been actively involved in medical education in Northern Ontario for more than a dozen years, is an MD graduate of McMaster University and completed Family and Emergency Medicine residency training in Northeastern Ontario.

Dr. Piccinin has taught extensively at the medical undergraduate and postgraduate levels, both academically and clinically in the Emergency Department at Health Sciences North. At NOSM, Dr. Piccinin has been the Assistant Director and Program Director of the PGY-3 Family/Emergency Medicine residency program. As Assistant Dean of the Learner Affairs Unit, Dr. Piccinin will be working from the East Campus in Sudbury.

Learner Affairs at NOSM is operated in consultation to the academic program, and offers services and support to learners personally and financially. It also has a primary role in orientation, career development, and support for student initiatives. Learner Affairs works with faculty and administration to facilitate a positive learning environment based on mutual respect.

“A positive and supportive learning environment is essential for learner success in medical school. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is pleased to welcome Dr. Laura Piccinin to the role of Assistant Dean of Learner Affairs,” expressed Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. “Her clinical and academic expertise and familiarity with NOSM’s programs are strong attributes for this role, and will inform her guidance of Learner Affairs to enhance learner services.”

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s (NOSM) is pleased to announce the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (CACME) has voted to continue full accreditation of the School’s Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) program for a five-year term. The Office of CEPD underwent an Accreditation Site Visit at both NOSM’s East Campus in Sudbury and the West Campus in Thunder Bay in November 2011. NOSM Dean Dr. Roger Strasser recently received a letter from CACME confirming the positive outcome, which reinforces the calibre of the program. The program will be reassessed in 2017.

“Upon presentation of the survey report, which was prepared by CACME’s visiting survey team, it was very apparent that the Northern Ontario School of Medicine has developed a reputation for high quality education programming,” explained Dr. Roger Strasser. “This outstanding accreditation outcome is the result of the hard work and contributions from many, particularly those working in the CEPD Portfolio. Congratulations to everyone involved,” he said.

The CEPD Office is responsible ensuring and providing quality continuing medical education that meets the standards of the national accrediting bodies and of discerning health-care professionals in Northern Ontario. These programs offerings promote lifelong learning and enhance competency and performance of health-care providers, NOSM faculty members and learners, and advance their ability to meet the needs of the people and communities of Northern Ontario.

The survey team identified a number of institutional strengths which included a new standard for interprofessional programming, well-developed policies and procedures for program development and accreditation, and well-established mechanisms, such as the NOSM website, to notify, connect and engage professionals across the North.

For more signs of NOSM’s success, please visit: www.nosm.ca/signsofsuccess

Members Tour North Bay Regional Health Centre,
Join Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) for Dinner

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held its annual Board of Directors face-to-face meeting in North Bay, Ontario from May 10 to May 11, 2012.

On the first morning together, NOSM Board members enjoyed a tour of the North Bay Regional Health Centre, where every year NOSM learners undertake training as part of the School’s distinctive distributed, community-engaged learning and research model. The new, state-of-the-art hospital provides acute care services to North Bay and surrounding communities, and specialized mental health services to all of northeast Ontario.

In the evening, NOSM Board members joined members of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) for dinner. Mr. Dominic Giroux, Board Chair, brought greetings on behalf of the Board to all attendees, thanking all communities from across Northern Ontario for their continued support of NOSM and the School’s learners.

During the two-day retreat, Board members participated in several presentations and interactive sessions on the topics of fiscal sustainability, advancement, and governance. On the second day, the Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Minister for FedNor and Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka visited the Board to commend NOSM for taking the commitment to engage with communities across Northern Ontario seriously, and for the work the School is doing to address health professional shortages across the North.

Also on the second day, Board members heard the inspirational stories and perspectives of several NOSM learners, including fourth-year students Vanessa Ellies and Alexandra Mantha, residents Drs. Doris Mitchell and Alex Anawati, physician assistant Britton Sprules, and dietetic intern Julia Freeman.

At the formal Board meeting on the final day of face-to-face meeting, several Board members who will be completing their terms in September 2012 were recognized for their exemplary service and valuable contributions to NOSM. These members included Dr. Adam Exley, Dr. Todd Spencer, Jesse Zroback, Arie Hoogenboom, Neil MacOdrum, Austin Hunt, and Lou Turco.

The Directors received reports from Board Committees, including the Finance and Audit, Board Executive, Quality Monitoring, Governance, Nominating, and Advancement Committees. The Directors also received reports from the School’s Aboriginal and Francophone Reference Groups, and an update from Academic Council.

The Directors received a Financial Report for the 11-month period ending March 31, 2012 from the Finance and Audit Committee. The Board approved a recommendation from the Finance and Audit Committee that tuition fees for the 2012-2013 academic year be adjusted by 8% for first year medical students, and 4% for years two, three, and four.

In addition, the Board approved the proposed balanced budget of $40.65 million for the fiscal year May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013, as presented.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled to occur on September 19, 2012.

For a complete list of Board members, please visit our website at www.nosm.ca.

Contact:

news@nosm.ca