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
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.
