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In the Spotlight, Spotlight on Research

Celebrating the Centre for Social Accountability

“Welcome to the inaugural celebration of the Centre for Social Accountability!” An enthusiastic and heartfelt welcome from the Centre’s director, Dr. Erin Cameron, began a landmark event that included stories of success so far, and a promising future yet to come.

NOSM University’s Centre for Social Accountability (CFSA) was officially celebrated on Friday, June 24, 2022 with an event jointly hosted online and in-person in both Thunder Bay and Sudbury. In addition to sharing success stories and highlighting important partnerships and collaborations, the event included comments from Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM University President; Dr. David Marsh, Associate Dean, Research, Innovation and International Relations; Dr. Alex Anawati, CFSA Clinical Lead; Dr. Joseph LeBlanc, Associate Dean, Equity and Inclusion; and, Dr. Natalie Aubin, Vice President Social Accountability at Health Sciences North (HSN).

After words of welcome and introduction from the Centre’s director, the event included an introduction by artist, educator, and Odawa Knowledge Keeper Randy Msheekehn Trudeau. In his encouragement to begin in a good way, Randy likened the inauguration of the Centre to welcoming a child into the world and celebrating the early stages of its life. Following Randy’s opening comments and his request to “the Creator to walk with us when we walk together,” Dr. Verma offered her encouragement of the Centre’s vision.

Describing the Centre’s first year as an amazing journey, and praising “this inaugural event of the first multidisciplinary, but really interdisciplinary, research centre,” Dr. Verma provided a brief look into the history of the Centre and exclaimed that “this is the only centre of its kind!” Her remarks concluded with a call to continue the Centre’s work, suggesting that we have the opportunity to step into a gap through service to the community and advocacy.

Dr. Marsh then shared his enthusiasm for the Centre’s connection with research and its key focus on the obligations that health-care providers have to the communities they serve. He called those involved in the Centre to continue demonstrating the impact of socially accountable medicine and emphasized that social justice is at the heart of the empowering work of the Centre.

The Centre’s Clinical Lead for Policy, Leadership, and Advocacy, Dr. Anawati, then shared how—after working toward this goal for over ten years—the CFSA’s work has become the architecture for understanding his work as an ER physician. His question for the attendees was: what does social accountability mean to you? As participants wrote their responses on sticky notes, Dr. Anawati described how social accountability should be a force for “positive disruption” in health care and health education.

Dr. Aubin shared further about how the work of social accountability hits the ground amidst the ongoing opioid crisis, and a touching video and guest appearance of a former patient of the Addiction Medicine Unit at HSN brought these insights into focus. A key part of the story shared in the video was the recognition that the patient felt when a nurse who worked with addictions thanked her for her story. This patient testimonial showed in a powerful way how socially accountable care has the potential to save lives.

Following Dr. Aubin’s presentation, Dr. LeBlanc shared how the Centre for Social Accountability’s work resonates deeply with the University’s Equity Strategy, especially in its development of a network of researchers who can respond to requests from the community. Dr. LeBlanc lamented the lack of health data in Northern Ontario and noted that “politics is the number one determinant of health”— an idea that animates much of what social accountability is all about.

Concluding remarks from Dr. Erin Cameron included a call to applaud the team because “social accountability is a team sport,” and Mr. Trudeau’s closing remarks provided a challenging and thought-provoking meditation on the ways that his people have practiced unique forms of social accountability for centuries through love of “the earth, the Creator, and the people who are here.”

The Centre for Social Accountability at NOSM University is doing exciting work in research, community engagement, and social justice. Please consider getting involved by becoming a Friend of Centre (receiving information and invitations) or an Affiliate of the Centre (individuals, organizations, academics, and community members). If you have ideas you would like to discuss, or a project you need assistance with, consider booking a discovery meeting.

Web: nosm.ca/cfsa

Email: cfsa@nosm.ca

Twitter: @nosm_cfsa

Northern Routes

Drum roll please…

Anticipation of a new academic year

I cannot believe it is August already!  This summer has been awesome, and as we get ready for it to wind down, I can already feel the anticipation that comes with what’s next. August means that summer is still in full swing, and people are prolonging their summer vacations and starting to prepare for fall and the back-to-school season.Along with preparing for a new academic year at NOSM University, and the excitement that comes with our continued evolution, one of the most beautiful seasons is coming, too. Soon, great swaths of trees across the North will turn into spectacular shades of vibrant yellow, rich orange and fiery red. With another spectacular Fall on the horizon, let’s spend a bit of time acknowledging the harvest.

Autumn marks the end of a growing season when energy begins to turn inward. Reflecting on the growth and change that has taken place over the last year can help move us forward in the ways that are working and help us to recognize what we want to work on, change, or transform.

  • What seeds did I plant this past year, and what has grown?
  • Reflecting on the “harvest” of this growing season, what has changed? What am I grateful for? What has been challenging?
  • How might I celebrate my ability to navigate these changes?

So, as we look at the (traditional) start of the academic year, let’s celebrate our achievements as NOSM University. Since my last blog, there has been much to celebrate at NOSM University! The entire community has been active with our many programs as we continue our transition to becoming a university, and we have some new and aspiring health-care professionals to highlight!

Many of us, notably Dr. Sarah Newbery, Associate Dean, Physician Workforce Strategy, has been tirelessly advocating for solutions to the current crisis in health resources in Northern Ontario. Dr. Newbery recently spoke with TVO about the challenges facing family physicians. The long history of limited access to health care and health-care services, the underlying inequities in the system, is now compounded by critical staff shortages especially in nurses, increases in COVID-19 cases, the direct and indirect impacts of COVID over the past two years. Ontario’s Northern regions lag behind provincial averages in quality of health and health care. The 800,000 people living in Northern Ontario are more likely to have worse health, poorer access to health care, and die earlier than people in other parts of Ontario. Meanwhile all over Canada the crises are erupting with closure of Emergency Rooms and reductions in ICU coverage. One way that NOSM University is addressing this is to enhance our numbers with the expansion of our programs.

New doctors are on the way

Who ya gonna call for nutrition advice? A NODIP grad!

NOSM University’s Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program—known as NODIP—is administered in collaboration with multiple preceptors, communities, and facilities across Northern Ontario. NODIP is a nationally-accredited, professional program that provides practical, hands-on dietetic experience that enables students to obtain the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice, required of an entry-level Registered Dietitian. To date, NOSM University has graduated 15 classes, comprising 178 Registered Dietitians. Ninety-six graduates (54%) are practicing in Northern Ontario, including 9 of our 10 graduates from July of 2022.

Congratulations to our newest NODIP grads, and to Cara Green and her team for the great work they do to make it the best program in Canada.

New faculty are joining NOSM University

 

CampMed

Another way to build a sustainable health workforce: Start young.

In July, NOSM University hosted the 17th annual CampMed for high school students who want to explore a career in health care. For the first time since 2019, students converged on our Thunder Bay and Sudbury campuses—and this year we added the virtual option again for those unable to travel. CampMed is founded on four pillars of learning: interprofessionalism, leadership, culture, and clinical skills. Those attending CampMed gain knowledge, tools and a feel for the experiences they can expect if they choose a career in health care.

Here is what some of our CampMed students said this year.

Thank you to everyone: our staff, faculty, learners and especially you, the people of Northern Ontario. You are what makes us the best medical University in the world.

NOSM University’s Centre for Social Accountability 

Do you want to make a difference in health care and research through the lens of social accountability? 

NOSM University’s Centre for Social Accountability (CFSA) is the only such centre of its kind in the world. It seeks energetic friends and affiliates who want to explore solutions and advocate for change to address local priority health and social needs. The Centre invites scientists, scholars, researchers, and practitioners to join in the CFSA’s work towards socially accountable health care in the North. We offer unique opportunities to connect with an active and interdisciplinary research centre that includes NOSM’s Research Toward Health Hub (NORTHH), the Medical Education Research Lab in the North (MERLIN), as well as other community partners and organizations. Connect with the CFSA’s Academic Director, Dr. Erin Cameron at cfsa@nosm.ca.

NOSM University at PRIDoC

PRIDoc logo 2022

The Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) held the 10th Biennial Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress (PRIDoC), from July 10-15, 2022, in Vancouver. The conference was held on the unceded, traditional territories of the Coast Salish: the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. PRIDoC is an Indigenous-led space for Indigenous physicians, residents and medical students, health researchers, health professionals and allies. Led by Dr. Joseph LeBlanc, NOSM University’s Associate Dean, Equity and Inclusion, and Dr. Lorrilee McGregor, NOSM University students, residents and faculty participated strongly. Dr. McGregor spoke at a panel on medical education and Dr. LeBlanc presented on the social determinants of health.

 

In the Spotlight

Dr. Travis Marion named NOSM University’s new Program Director of Orthopedic Surgery

NOSM University announces Dr. Travis Marion as the incoming Program Director of the Orthopedic Surgery residency program, effective July 1, 2022.  Dr. Marion will be working in an associate capacity during the month of August and will take on the full Program Director leadership role on September 1, 2022.

Dr. Marion is an orthopedic surgeon who has been practicing at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and regional centres since 2017. He is an Assistant Professor at NOSM University and is the current TBRHSC Spine Surgery Medical Lead.

Originally from Thunder Bay, Dr. Marion completed his MD and orthopedic residency at the University of Ottawa before pursuing fellowship training in Combined Complex Spine Surgery and Orthopedic Trauma Surgery at the Universities of British Columbia and Calgary respectively. He is an active member in multiple medical societies including the Canadian Orthopedic Association, Canadian Spine Society, Canadian Orthopedic Trauma Society, and the Orthopedic Trauma Society.

In addition to a busy clinical practice throughout Northwestern Ontario, Dr. Marion has been an active academic member within NOSM University. He has been involved in curriculum design, served as postgraduate site director, residency program committee member, and the Chair of Surgical Foundations. The recipient of divisional and institutional teaching awards, Dr. Marion has international clinical experience and actively participates in various multinational studies. As the recipient of multiple grants, his research interests include adverse events, and quality improvement as it pertains to delivery of orthopedic and spine care within Northwestern Ontario. Dr. Marion has presented his work nationally and internationally, and his research has garnered multiple awards.

On behalf of NOSM University, we extend our thanks to Dr. Kurt Droll, outgoing Program Director, who will remain in a supportive role during this transition until September 2022. Dr. Droll’s commitment to the residents, dedication to the program, and contributions to the profession are sincerely appreciated.

NOSM University