A pillar of Francophone health education advocacy in the North, Danielle Barbeau-Rodrigue was recently honoured with the national Une étoile montante (Rising Star) award from the Sociéte Santé en français.

The award recognizes a person whose actions exhibit promising leadership in their field and demonstrate exceptional commitment to the development of Francophone health. Barbeau-Rodrigue accepted the award at the Sociéte Santé en français’s AGM on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

Director of the Francophone Affairs Unit at NOSM University since 2005, Barbeau-Rodrigue has changed the face of Francophone health education in Northern Ontario. This award recognizes her visionary leadership, her unwavering engagement, and her steadfast advocacy. Profoundly rooted in the needs of Northern communities, her work has directly impacted NOSM University’s success in graduating more than 200 Francophone physicians.

“I am profoundly honoured to receive this recognition,” Barbeau-Rodrigue says. “This award reminds me that every action, every initiative can contribute to improve access to equitable, quality French-language health training, services, and care. This work cannot be accomplished in isolation. I am proud to share this award and so very grateful to work with such amazing colleagues within the Francophone Affairs Unit and Equity and Inclusion Portfolio at NOSM University. Receiving this award, for me, is an invitation to innovate and collaborate to continue this important work with a focus on helping ensure that French-language health services are available everywhere.”

Barbeau-Rodrigue has been a constant and relentless advocate for access to quality health education in French, despite the challenges of a minority-language environment—both in Northern Ontario and at NOSM University, an institution that provides instruction in the English language. Her numerous contributions include collaborating on research on Francophone health and Francophone health education, introducing an Active Offer training module to increase equitable access to health care, and helping create the Francophone Curricular Initiative enabling medical students to complete some of their mandatory MD curriculum in French.

For more than 20 years, Barbeau-Rodrigue has been integral to supporting NOSM University learners, with her impact seen in the many graduates now practising as physicians and health professionals across Northern Ontario.

“In the vast and often isolated area of Northern Ontario, Danielle Barbeau-Rodrigue’s name is inseparable from Francophone health education—from Kenora to Hearst, and all the way to Midland,” says Laïla Faivre, Manager, Equity and Inclusion at NOSM University. It was Faivre who nominated Barbeau-Rodrigue for the award. “She has made a rare, authentic, and profoundly transformative contribution to health care in Northern Ontario.”

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NOSM University is Canada’s first independent medical university and one of the greatest education and physician workforce strategy success stories of Northern Ontario. More than just a medical university, it was purpose-built to address the health needs of the region. While advocating for equitable access to care, the university contributes to the economic development of Northern Ontario. NOSM University relies on the commitment and expertise of the people of Northern Ontario to educate health-care professionals to practise in Indigenous, Francophone, rural, remote, and underserved communities. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and advocacy, NOSM University is an award-winning, socially accountable organization renowned for its innovative model of distributed, community-engaged education and research.

For further information, please contact: news@nosm.ca

In the Spotlight

Investing in the North: Bursaries change students’ lives

Gallery Wednesday October 1st, 2025 Alexandra Poling

When fourth-year medical student Cynthia Larche thinks about her journey at NOSM University, one thing stands out: she couldn’t have done it alone.

As a medical student, Cynthia has had the opportunity to learn in communities across Northern Ontario, including completing her third-year placement where she grew up. “It was really special to do a placement in Timmins—my hometown,” she shares. “In every community, I’ve had really great one-to-one learning experiences.”

“I developed an interest in medicine after doing a high school co-op placement at the Timmins and District Hospital,” Cynthia says. “Like many at NOSM University, I pursued more than one degree prior to medical school and found NOSM University to be where many with unconventional trajectories end up.”

Cynthia says she knew NOSM University was famous for preparing people very well to have good experiences and skill sets by the time they graduate. “We are not competing with fellows and as many residents, as is the case in larger cities. I really appreciated that about this program,” says Cynthia.

But along with those opportunities come extra challenges. NOSM University students often have more expenses than just tuition and textbooks. They travel more for their education, attend specialized conferences, undertake research, and cover hidden costs like additional learning resources.

For Cynthia, who hopes to pursue ophthalmology—a specialty in high demand across the North—those costs added up quickly.

That’s where bursaries made a difference.

“Receiving the General Bursary meant a lot to me,” Cynthia says. “It took away the stress of figuring out how to pay for things like conferences and exam prep resources. It gave me the confidence to invest in opportunities that made me a stronger medical student. That kind of support isn’t just financial—it’s empowering.”

Cynthia is a first-generation medical student and admits that the cost of medical school once felt overwhelming. “I came to medical school with debt from two previous degrees, as some do when they start medical school,” she says. “It was really nice to have the financial comfort to invest in pursuing ophthalmology in the ways I felt I needed to.”

Having the support from generous donors across the North reminded her that she wasn’t in it alone. “People are creating bursaries and investing in students like me. That investment comes back to the North when we graduate and practise here. It’s meaningful to feel that connection with donors.”

For donors, that connection is powerful too. Cynthia has seen firsthand how support inspires gratitude and commitment in students. “Every bit of help makes a difference. It doesn’t just lower our debt—it gives us the freedom to focus on becoming the kind of doctors Northern Ontario needs.”

Cynthia plans to practise in family medicine or ophthalmology in the North. With only ten ophthalmologists serving all of Northern Ontario, she knows the need is great—and she wants to be part of the solution.

“Throughout my time at NOSM University, I’ve met a few donors. Whether it’s the Rotary Club or someone’s grandmother, it’s so heartwarming. They are the reason I have less debt and less stress. And one day, I’ll pay that forward in the communities I serve,” says Cynthia.

Because of bursaries, students like Cynthia can dream big, work hard, and bring better health care to the North. “Investing in NOSM University medical students through donations helps more Northerners learn and practice here. The financial support is really appreciated. It’s more than just relieving my mind; it’s also building gratitude in people like me, and it’s pushing me to stay and give back to the community too,” she says.

Donations to NOSM University General Bursary can be made online through the University’s Website or by contacting NOSM University’s Advancement Office at advancementcoordinator@nosm.ca.

Homepage News, News

NOSM University welcomes four new Section Chairs

Thursday September 25th, 2025 Tara Hawkes

At NOSM University, Section Chairs provide academic leadership that is essential to the success of our medical education and scholarly mission across Northern Ontario. They foster excellence in teaching and research by supporting faculty, strengthening clinical and academic programs, and ensuring that learners benefit from high-quality training in their disciplines.

This year, NOSM University welcomes four new Section Chairs whose leadership, expertise, and commitment will further advance our collective efforts to support faculty and deliver on NOSM University’s academic and scholarly mandates.

Dr. Ehsan Mohammadi – Section Chair, Emergency Medicine
With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Mohammadi is an Emergency Physician at Sault Area Hospital, where he has served as Medical Director and now leads simulation-based education initiatives and acts as the education lead for the Emergency Department. He earned his MD and BSc in Bio-Psychology from the University of British Columbia, completed a Family Medicine residency with McMaster University’s Northern Program, and holds certification in Emergency Medicine (CCFP-EM). An award-winning teacher and Assistant Professor at NOSM University, Dr. Mohammadi is widely recognized for his excellence in teaching, leadership in simulation training and contributions to medical education.

Dr. Kona Williams – Section Chair, Pathology
Canada’s first Indigenous forensic pathologist, Dr. Williams is Cree (Peguis First Nation) and Mohawk (Kahnawake). She is a coroner with the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS), Director of the Northeastern Regional Forensic Pathology Unit and serves as the First Nations Liaison for the OFPS. An Assistant Professor at NOSM University and member of Senate, she also contributes nationally as a member of the Advisory Committee on Residential Schools, Missing Children and Unmarked Burials. In 2026, she will begin the Rotman Global Executive MBA in Health Care and Life Sciences, further strengthening her leadership in the field.

Dr. Diana Noseworthy – Section Chair, Anesthesia
An anesthesiologist in Sudbury, Dr. Noseworthy is a dedicated educator, innovator and respected leader deeply dedicated to clinical service and anesthesia education in Northern Ontario and nationally. She trained at Memorial University, completed her residency at NOSM University/University of Ottawa, and pursued fellowship training in Simulation and Medical Education. She serves as Simulation Coordinator for NOSM University’s anesthesiology residency program and has chaired the Canadian National Anesthesiology Simulation Curriculum since 2020, advancing national collaboration in simulation-based training.

Dr. Mariwan Husni – Section Chair, Psychiatry
Dr. Husni brings extensive clinical, academic, and international leadership to his new role. Trained at the University of Mosul and Western University, he has practiced psychiatry in Northwestern Ontario since 1997 and previously served as Chair of Psychiatry at Arab Gulf University. His research spans cultural psychiatry and epigenetics, with numerous publications. A respected clinician and mentor, Dr. Husni is known for his comprehensive, patient-centered and evidence-based approach and commitment to mental health care. His approachable leadership style, strong mentorship of learners, and substantive research make him exceptionally well-suited to this role.

Please join us in congratulating Drs. Mohammadi, Williams, Noseworthy and Husni and welcoming them to these new leadership positions.