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Francophone Features, Homepage News, Media Releases

New Active Offer training module increases equitable access to care for Francophones in Northern Ontario

A new complementary online training module added to the activeoffertraining.ca was created by the Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario (Réseau) in collaboration with NOSM University. This specialized training is designed for professionals working in the primary-care sector and will enhance their ability to provide tailored services to Francophone patients. The module was created as part of a series of sector-specific courses that can be completed individually or as part of the full Active Offer Training.

Diane Quintas, Executive Director of the Réseau explains, “The primary goal of this training module is to empower health-care professionals with the necessary skills and strategies to ensure the active offer of French language health services. The goal of implementing these best practices is to bridge the language barrier and ensure equitable access to health care for Francophones.”

The training module, which is one hour in length, is free of charge and provides valuable insights and practical tools for health-care professionals. Dr. Mélanie Patrie, a NOSM University alumna and family physician who works with Francophones in minority communities says: “This training gives us a good insight into the reality of Francophones living in minority situations and the importance of active offer. No matter what our speciality is, whether we speak French or not, this training enables us to come up with practical and flexible strategies to meet our needs.”

“NOSM University is expanding its efforts to support Francophone medical students who will practise in French, as well as support Francophile and Anglophone medical students in recognising and providing linguistic and culturally sensitive care,” says Dr. Sarita Verma, President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO of NOSM University. “To create a lasting impact, a fulsome Active Offer training is mandatory for all new medical students admitted to NOSM University. This new training module will soon be rolled out to other learners. By raising awareness about the importance of Active Offer and providing all learners with the necessary tools, we are fostering a future generation of care providers who are equipped to meet the needs of Francophone patients.”

NOSM University was founded with an explicit social accountability mandate, which informs how students interact with communities across Northern Ontario through advocacy for equitable access to care. This mandatory online training module is one more way that NOSM University learners are becoming leaders who can help to transform health-care systems and improve population health outcomes.

Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario and NOSM University invite all primary-care professionals to take advantage of this training opportunity by registering at activeoffertraining.ca. “Together, let us strive to enhance the quality of health-care services provided to Francophone communities and promote equitable access to care,” says Quintas.

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The Réseau relies on evidence-based data, the community and the Francophone movement, as well as its collaboration with the healthcare system to ensure active offer and equitable access to French language health services.

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 peoples 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 more information:

NOSM University
Caroline Cox, External Relations Officer
news@nosm.ca

Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario
Katia St-Onge, Communications Lead
kstonge@rmefno.ca or 705-335-1781



In the Spotlight, Spotlight on Research

Researchers at NOSM and Lakehead Universities studying artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of Northern health care

Researchers from NOSM University and Lakehead University are collaborating to better understand artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of Northern Ontario. The AI-NORTH project aims to identify ways that Northern and rural patients and populations are represented in, and benefit from, the global AI paradigm shift.

The project also connects people doing healthcare AI research through a collaboratory—a virtual space to share and discuss current projects happening in Northern Ontario.

Spearheaded by Dr. Erin Cameron, the inaugural Academic Director of NOSM University’s Centre for Social Accountability (CFSA), the project is funded by an AMS Healthcare Compassion and Artificial Intelligence Grant. Dr. Cameron co-leads this project with Dr. Michelle-Marie Spadoni, Associate Professor in Nursing at Lakehead University, along with NOSM University colleagues Drs. Alex Anawati and Joseph LeBlanc.

“Innovation is at the heart of health-care practice in Northern Ontario, and we are interested in how artificial intelligence is already being used and could be used to identify and address health priorities in the future,” says Dr. Cameron. “Artificial intelligence in the North is different, and we hope to begin to articulate how—and in what ways.”

The use of technology in education and health-care delivery in Northern Ontario has increased with the widespread shift to online technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift has helped to catalyze new ways of teaching and learning for many.

“Advances in AI are driving rapid changes in health care, and health professional education programs must adjust and quickly adapt to this reality, all while considering the social and political structures at play in the advancement of technologies that may shape the underpinning ethical and relational tenets of social accountability,” Dr. Spadoni says.

“This is critical for anchoring contemporary health professional ethics, standards of practice, and ultimately shaping the lives of patients, families, communities, and health providers in ways expected and unexpected.

“While technology and artificial intelligence have the potential to drive better, more accessible care, there is a need to explore ways to reorient AI to better address priority health and social needs across the region.”

The project brings together researchers and learners from across Northern Ontario, including Dr. Brian Ross (professor, NOSM University), Dr. Trevor Bruen (family medicine resident, NOSM University), Daniel Lamoureux (medical student, NOSM University), Dr. Muhammad Mamdani (Director, The Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine at the University of Toronto), Ghislaine Attema (PhD student, Faculty of Education, Lakehead University), and Sophie Myles (Health System Fellow, Algoma Ontario Health Team), and the team continues to grow. For a complete list, visit the AI-NORTH website.

In the future, AI-NORTH will explore topics around AI and education, AI and policy, AI and equity, and AI and public health. Anyone interested in being part of these discussions is welcome to contribute and can contact ai.north@nosm.ca or subscribe to the AI-NORTH newsletter.

Northern Routes

Simply the Best

I hope you have been enjoying the lovely month of June!

May was a remarkably busy month for NOSM University. We had many firsts, from the NOSM University Achievement Celebration at Northern Constellations, to a graduation celebration in Thunder Bay, to our inaugural convocation in Sudbury, at which we installed our inaugural Chancellor, Dr. Cindy Blackstock. What a whirlwind of celebrations!

Again: my heartfelt congratulations to all our new doctors!

As many of you know, NOSM University had a cyber-security incident a few weeks ago. Rest assured that our IT team—the best in my books—is still working around the clock. They identified the issue and are gradually restoring our functionality while minimizing our risk. The impact is mostly inconvenience. Luckily, some of us have memories of the days when we were able to do everything without technology, and many of us quickly pivoted to paper and teleconference.

Today, cyber-security is a top concern for everyone, and with good reason. These incidents can be expensive and affect our human capital while destabilising many of our functions. We rely heavily on the entire IT team at NOSM University to keep us safe, and they work long hours behind the scenes, professionally and without complaint. Like many functions in our university, all we may ever see is the “tip of the iceberg.” Respect, compassion, kindness and understanding are needed more than ever.

In the fight against cyber-security threats, our greatest line of defence is you: our staff, students, and faculty.

Ten tips:

  1. Beware of strange emails. Check the addresses of unknown emails.
  2. Check links (Google them) before you click.
  3. Protect your gear (laptops and phones) from being stolen.
  4. Use strong passwords.
  5. Do not use public browsers.
  6. Avoid text messaging for important issues. If you are sharing sensitive information, use the phone.
  7. Update the software on all your devices.
  8. Backup your data.
  9. Do not share your passwords.
  10. Move from a personal account (email with your name) to a portfolio name, such as president@nosm.ca.

I recommend that every portfolio at NOSM University have a backup plan in case of technology failure—especially for critical functions. That means that sometimes it may be necessary to go back to older, manual systems. I also hope that everyone can re-learn how to be patient. We have become a society that demands perfection and immediate action. While I am not suggesting we all go “off the grid,” there is value in doing things the old way (that was just in the 80s, by the way) and in disconnecting from time to time to redevelop old skills. They say that, “when you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you’re disconnected from life.”

Here are some of the things that I do:

Write a letter instead of an email. There’s something so wholesome about letters, and it feels unbelievably warm and fuzzy to receive one. I still write them now and then and cannot recommend it enough. During the pandemic I sent postcards that I had collected over the years to my family. They valued receiving them and I prized the ones sent to me in return.

Call or visit your loved one rather than text. A real conversation is often more insightful than a short one by text. If you are face-to-face, try to keep your expression from contorting when you are in an awkward conversation. It is a lost skill!

Learn to move at the speed of a human. Try to content yourself by looking at the sun, the clouds or just lying in the grass instead of defaulting to Tik Tok or Instagram for amusement. I find it relaxing yet also inspiring. Some of my best ideas come when I am just being quiet without the noise of technology.

Try to go one day without your phone. Once a year I turn it off for a full 24 hours. Although it is discombobulating and I feel lost for about two hours, I gradually feel liberated. At least turn off your notifications. They become truly Pavlovian once you are addicted to that chirp telling you there is a new text or email.

Bring out the board games. They are not just for nights at the cottage (or camp) anymore. I love Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and crosswords. They allow us to interact with each other on a different plane. (Giving up my own early-morning addiction to WORDLE is an ongoing challenge, though!)

Best wishes to everyone as we start our summer, and, in the words of the great Tina Turner who passed away this May, you are Simply the Best!

Miigwetch, thank you, marsi, merci,

Dr. Sarita Verma
President, Vice Chancellor, Dean and CEO
NOSM University

If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at president@nosm.caand follow me on Twitter @ddsv3.

The NOSM University Beaded Medallions

The NOSM University Beaded Medallions were gifted to Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Chancellor, and Dr. Sarita Verma, Vice-Chancellor on May 24, 2023, at Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre in Sudbury. These medallions were beautifully crafted by Ravennah Spade, a member of the Loon Clan and Ojibway, originally from Northwestern Ontario and currently residing in Ottawa. Ravennah learned from a young age the distinctive styles of traditional beading from her grandmother and blends her work in modern pieces. Her work is featured on the Pow Wow trail, worn, and carried by drummers, and dancers at ceremony. Ravennah shared that these medallions were beaded with much love, and that she enjoyed the project from beginning to end. The medallion is beaded with a 13” seed bead and, for anyone who beads, they know the challenge with working with small beads of this nature. It afforded Ravennah the opportunity to make the medallion light but also detailed. She pointed out that the fun part was beading the snake and adding the four flowers to represent the four directions. Ravennah wanted the rope to be simple and fancy all at the same time. The backing is completed with deer hide and she consulted family to put the finishing touches together. The medallions are a work of art that will be cherished by everyone at NOSM University for generations to come.

We are incredibly proud of our new residents and those who are completing their residency!

I extend my warmest welcome to 81 new and returning residents to NOSM University. To the new PGY 1 learners joining us on July 1: welcome! You have got this! You are now a licensed, regulated health professional—albeit in a postgraduate training program. You are a doctor! To the returning PGYs, welcome back. You are continuing your training at the best medical university in Canada.

If you’ve just completed your residency, you are now on the road to independent practise. Congratulations! Rest assured; you have been trained to manage anything that comes your way. Please don’t forget us. You are important alumni, and we welcome you back anytime. Stay connected with NOSM University’s Alumni Office at alumni@nosm.ca.

Successful 18th Annual Northern Health Research Conference

Congratulations to the Research Office, Drs. David Marsh and TC Tai, and staff for an excellent Northern Health Research Conference. With 118 participants, this 18th annual event was highly successful. Dr. Hazem Elmansy, Associate Professor and Program Director of the Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery Fellowship Program with NOSM University, was the Keynote Speaker. His keynote address was titled, “Thunder Bay’s new urology research era: Moving from bench to bedside.” The NHRC’s hybrid format featured a wide variety of oral and poster presentations related to NOSM University’s research priorities, which can be explored here.

A Year to Remember

This last year has carried us on an incredible journey of transformation and celebration. NOSM University’s President’s Report: A Year to Remember, is now available at report.nosm.ca in English and French.

Reflections on Research at NOSM University

In NOSM’s first year as a university, we are proud of the collaboration across disciplines that fostered partnerships across Northern Ontario, nationally, and internationally. The 2022 Research Annual Report: Reflections, is also available in English and French at report.nosm.ca.

 

NOSM University