The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Kathleen (Kate) Beatty to the position of Director of Equity and Quality, effective March 24, 2009. The newly created role of Director of Equity and Quality includes the development and implementation of a comprehensive framework of programs, processes and internal consulting support for NOSM’s equity and quality initiatives and activities.

Ms. Beatty has worked for more than 20 years in higher education and social services in senior management positions, and as a consultant. She was responsible for various equity and diversity initiatives, including the creation of an Access Centre for students with disabilities, the development of Aboriginal Student Services, and the delivery of employment assistance programs to professional immigrants, women in trades, and youth with disabilities. She has participated on two business missions with the Premier of Ontario to China and India.

Through effective collaboration with faculty, staff, students and NOSM’s community stakeholders, the Director of Equity and Quality will provide NOSM’s Dean and Executive Group with guidance with respect to quality enhancement in the Medical School’s activities, and the promotion of equity in its relationships with stakeholders, individuals, and organizations.

Ms. Beatty earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Science degree from the University of Guelph. She is currently completing her doctoral research in quality assurance of international education at the University of Toronto.

Using a combination of videoconference and teleconference connectivity across Northern Ontario, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held a regular meeting of the Board of Directors on Wednesday, March 18, 2009.

At the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors approved the appointment of Derek Debassige to the Board of Directors. Mr. Debassige was nominated by the Union of Ontario Indians.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean, addressed the Board about two recent landmark achievements for NOSM: the first, that NOSM has received full accreditation of its undergraduate medical education program, and the second, that all undergraduate students in its Charter Class have successfully been matched to Canadian residency programs on their first attempt.

Kim Daynard, NOSM Director of Communications, gave a presentation on the celebrations now being planned to mark the historic occasion of NOSM’s first graduation of medical school undergraduates, and the completion of its first group of family medicine residents from the Family Medicine Residents of the Canadian Shield program.

Members of the Board approved the Financial Report for the eight- month period ending December 31, 2008.

The Directors received reports from several Board Committees, including the Finance and Audit, Quality Monitoring, Executive, Governance, Nominating, and Advancement Committees.

The Directors also received reports from the School’s Academic Council, Research Portfolio, Archives Reference Group, Aboriginal Reference Group, and Francophone Reference Group.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors is the Annual Board Retreat scheduled for May 7 – 9, 2009 in Dryden, Ontario.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and the Government of Ontario are pleased to announce that NOSM, the first new medical school in Canada in over 30 years, has been granted full accreditation of its M.D. education program.

In Canada, accreditation is granted by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), two organizations that work together to set, maintain, and approve of the standards for undergraduate medical education at all Canadian medical schools.

Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Founding Dean, says news of full accreditation marks a significant accomplishment that was made possible by the efforts of many people over several years. “Receiving full accreditation of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s M.D. program is a crowning achievement in a multi-year process aimed at meeting all expected standards. I extend my congratulations and thank you to Dr. Joel Lanphear, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, and staff, students, faculty members, physician clinical teachers, community members, Academic Council members, Board members, host universities, and government supporters-everyone who worked so hard to achieve this wonderful success.”

“I’m pleased that our government is continuing its strong support for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine,” said Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan. “NOSM is special because it can focus on the unique and specific needs of Northern Ontario. It will play an important role in training doctors and in helping to deliver quality health care closer to home.”

“The importance of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to the quality of healthcare in Northern Ontario, and Ontario as a whole, cannot be overstated,” said Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North. “This announcement will help to ensure that the school continues to supply highly trained, quality medical professionals for decades to come.”

“The Northern Ontario School of Medicine provides extraordinary learning opportunities for students in Northern Ontario,” said Rick Bartolucci, MPP for Sudbury. “With this full accreditation, our students will be well positioned to becoming tomorrow’s health care leaders.”

Accreditation is one significant milestone in a year of many for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Another landmark of achievement for NOSM will occur this spring, when the School celebrates its first graduation of medical school undergraduates, and the completion of our first group of family medicine residents from the Family Medicine Residents of the Canadian Shield (FM RoCS) program.