Erin graduated from the Dietetic Practicum Program’s inaugural class (formerly NODIP) in 2008, completing her training based out of Sault Ste. Marie. Originally from Thunder Bay, she earned her B.A.Sc. in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph in 2007. Erin joined the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit immediately after completing her dietetic practical training. Her portfolio focuses on advocacy work related to food insecurity and monitoring food affordability, as well as supporting a wide range of community food initiatives related to sustainable food systems and food environments. In 2024, Erin completed her Master of Public Health: Nutrition and Dietetics – Advanced Standing Program at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Erin graduated from the Dietetic Practicum Program’s inaugural class (formerly NODIP) in 2008, completing her training based out of Sault Ste. Marie. Originally from Thunder Bay, she earned her B.A.Sc. in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph in 2007. Erin joined the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit immediately after completing her dietetic practical training. Her portfolio focuses on advocacy work related to food insecurity and monitoring food affordability, as well as supporting a wide range of community food initiatives related to sustainable food systems and food environments. In 2024, Erin completed her Master of Public Health: Nutrition and Dietetics – Advanced Standing Program at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.
New Urology Specialty Program Brings More Medical Residents to the North
A new residency program at NOSM University will help improve access to urology services in Northern Ontario.
Urologists are physicians who specialize in diseases of the male and female urinary tracts including the kidneys and bladder, and male reproductive organs. The program will train residents in voiding dysfunction, reconstructive urology, oncology, pediatrics, and infertility.
Many Northern Ontario communities do not have direct access to urological services. The program has a strong focus on health equity and will help residents to understand the challenges of offering urological care to rural patients, including patients in Indigenous communities, who may not have a urologist in their home community.
Residents will be based in Thunder Bay and will have clinical opportunities at both the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and Health Sciences North in Greater Sudbury. Additional training will take place in smaller communities and regional hospitals. Physicians will learn to deliver care to rural communities as part of outreach programs, including Teleconsultation clinics. Through an inter-institutional agreement, the University of Toronto will provide additional mandatory rotations with specific training that is not available in Northern Ontario clinical settings.
“NOSM University is pleased to continue to expand our residency programs. Training urologists in the North will encourage more specialists to stay here to practise and to fill regional health-care needs,” says Dr. Rob Anderson, Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education.
The five-year program is now open for applications from medical graduates through the CaRMS R-1 match and will admit its first residents in July 2024.
Dr. Walid Shahrour, inaugural Program Director, Urology, currently serves as the surgical oncology lead for Northwestern Ontario and the lead of urology at TBRHSC. Dr. Shahrour completed a clinical fellowship in reconstructive urology and trauma at Kulkarni Hospital in Pune, India, following medical school and residency at McGill University. He joined the faculty at NOSM University in 2016. Dr. Shahrour’s clinical practice focuses on minimally invasive surgeries and on all aspects of reconstructive urology, including cancer survivorship, urethral reconstruction, men’s health, upper tract, and pediatric reconstruction. His research interests include reconstructive urology and health equity.
“I am very excited to help launch this new residency so that physicians in the North can offer better access to urology services where they are needed most,” says Dr. Shahrour.
The new program is part of NOSM University’s expansion, which will nearly double the number of postgraduate positions by 2028. This will be achieved by gradually adding new residency programs—including Urology—as well as by increasing the number of positions in existing programs. In the same time period, the capacity of the MD program will also gradually increase and nearly double.
Learn more about the new Urology program at nosm.ca/urology/.
NOSM University welcomes incoming Board of Governors Chair, Vice-Chair
Search begins for incoming President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean and CEO
As NOSM University welcomes incoming leadership to its Board of Governors, thanks and praise go to those who sat in the inaugural seats.
Joy Warkentin, NOSM University’s inaugural Chair, will be succeeded by Sue LeBeau effective January 1, 2024. At the same time, Virginia May “Mae” Katt will move to Vice-Chair, succeeding Mark Hurst in the role.
“There really are no words to express my gratitude to Joy and Mark,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean and CEO of NOSM University. “They have been instrumental in guiding this institution through some of its most remarkable periods, including our transition to becoming a university. Their leadership inspires.”
Sue LeBeau, CEO of West Nipissing General Hospital, has been a member of the Board in various capacities since 2019. She is currently Vice-Chair of the Board’s Governance Committee.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as NOSM University’s next board Chair,” she says.
NOSM University welcomes Mae Katt as the new Vice-Chair to the Board of Governors. Mae Katt is Ojibway from Temagami First Nation. She is a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner and holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, a Masters of Education (Curriculum Specialty) and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Trent University. She began her journey with the Board of Governors in September 2020.
After five years of dedicated leadership, Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM University’s inaugural President, Vice Chancellor, Dean and CEO, has declined the offer of reappointment with NOSM University.
Dr. Verma became the second Dean and CEO of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine after Dr. Roger Strasser left the role on June 30, 2019. On April 1, 2022 following proclamation of NOSM University, Dr. Verma assumed the role of President, Vice Chancellor, Dean and CEO.
Dr. Verma concludes her term in June 2024. A search committee will be established by the NOSM University Board of Governors.
For further information, please contact news@nosm.ca.
