Social media plays a major role in today’s world—instant communications, opportunities for engagement and the creation of networks of communities that one could never reach in conventional ways. I have made friends with people through common values and thoughts that were shared on Twitter and Instagram, yet I have never met some of them in person.

Being online 24/7 has its advantages, but for me, a judicious presence is important to my well-being. I have observed behaviours on social media that have been informative and poignant, but I have also seen racism, nastiness, and unfettered behaviours that worry me.

Over the past 18 months, social media has enabled us to keep in touch with one another throughout the lockdowns. The scientific community came together from around the globe to quickly translate knowledge to health-care providers and to develop vaccines in an unprecedented collaboration. Social media has, for many, become a lifeline to the world outside of their home or community, especially as people who are unable to travel freely look for ways to remain connected.

Health professionals are using social media tools in lots of innovative and creative ways—to build and improve social and professional networks, to share health-related information and to engage with the public and colleagues to influence health policies and priorities, like vaccination campaigns. Many NOSM stakeholders stay connected on Twitter and Instagram as well on LinkedIn. Facebook groups play an important role in creating communities of practice and networking.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario recognises social media is a serious topic and is consulting widely. This is a proposed mandatory professional conduct policy with which all physicians will be required to comply. Expectations around professionalism, maintaining boundaries with patients, safeguarding confidentiality and showing respect for colleagues are the same when using social media as they would be in person.

I believe we have come to a turning point to be better, and do better, on social media. Earlier this year I called 2021 the year of social justice and climate change at NOSM. I encourage each of us to diversify our social media feeds. Having a diverse feed enables us to see differing perspectives, learn from others’ experiences, and learn more about climate change and social justice—themes that will remain relevant even after this year ends. Some examples of interesting people to follow are:

Autumn Peltier (@autumn.peltier) from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, has become a global advocate for access to clean drinking water in Indigenous communities across Canada and uses her platform to speak on humanitarian causes. Candace Linklater (@relentless_indigenous_woman) is from Moose Cree First Nation and describes herself as pushing the envelope when discussing issues caused by colonization and racism and its impacts on Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit and non-binary people. Desmond Cole (@DesmondCole), author of The Skin We’re In, sparks conversation and inspires activists after exposing racism after being stopped dozens of times under the controversial practice of carding.

Drs. Glaucomflecken (@DGlaucomflecken), Pimple Popper (@SandraLeeMD), and Jen Gunter (@DrJenGunter) are examples of medical leaders who have transformed the engagement of students and the public in discourse on evidence-based medicine and diagnosis. I also like to read what André Picard (@picardonhealth) thinks about health care and leaders in medical education (#MedEd) like Dr. Theresa Chan (@TChanMD) and Dr. Jason Frank (@drjfrank).

Interestingly, none of our main MedEd institutions (CFPC, RCPSC, MCC etc.) have a strong social media presence and I wonder if we don’t make an effort to keep up on these platforms, we may become more disconnected from society and our key constituents. Is it that the MedEd faculty age group is older and less technologically proficient? Do they use email more than Twitter, and PowerPoint rather than Tik Tok for teaching and connectivity? Are we using obsolete tools? Even this blog comes out on email. Is there a better way to communicate and connect across our vast pan-Northern campus?

Social media has transformed the world. Information and news can be spread within a blink of an eye. Used judiciously, it can be an effective teaching, sharing and word-spreading tool. Social media has evolved into a space where we can choose to engage in social justice issues. I would love to know who you follow on social media to learn from perspectives other than your own.

Did you know that some physicians are advocating for equitable access to quality health care in Northern Ontario?

Miigwetch, thank you, marsi, merci,

Dr. Sarita Verma
Dean, President and CEO
Northern Ontario School of Medicine

If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at dean@nosm.ca and follow me on twitter @ddsv3.

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NOSM announces return to campus plan

Starting September 7, 2021, all on-campus activities for learners will resume at the medical school buildings in Thunder Bay and Sudbury. All learners, researchers, faculty, staff, and visitors who intend to access the medical school buildings in Sudbury and Thunder Bay are required to have received their full vaccination or the first vaccine dose by September 7, 2021 and must be fully vaccinated by no later than October 7, 2021. These requirements are aligned with the advice of public health authorities across Northern Ontario, government directives and are consistent with NOSM’s peer organizations. Learn more.

Join Dr. Verma and @OntariosDoctors for an OMA talk about
the impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Additions

Wednesday, August 25 at 6:30-8 p.m.

The pandemic has taken its toll on peoples’ mental health. As we look forward, it is imperative that we continue to focus on mental health. Join @OntariosDoctors for the next #OMATalks virtual event “COVID-19 Impact on Mental Health and Additions.” Register here.

The 2020 Summer Olympics was held from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in Tokyo. It took a year longer than expected, but the opening ceremonies looked much like any other—athletes from around the world marched in with the flags of their countries and Japanese culture and artistry was on display.

Here’s a sample of how Canada performed, and as always, the moments of achievement that make us all proud and verklempt with joy.

Andre De Grasse set yet another Canadian record as he ran to the gold medal in the 200-metre final with a time of 19.62 seconds, having already captured the bronze medal in the 100-metre event. Swimming, my favourite watching pleasure, saw Maggie MacNeil get gold, and Kylie Masse get double silvers. The 4×100-metre medley team captured the bronze medal. Penny Oleksiak, who anchored as freestyle in her leg, won the seventh Olympic medal of her career—historically becoming Canada’s most decorated Olympian—also took bronze in the 200-metre freestyle. And it was silver for the women’s 3-metre synchronized springboard. Rowing (a solid sport for Canada) won gold for the women’s eight and the women’s pair received bronze medals. Amazingly, Maude Charron got gold in the Women’s 64kg weightlifting competition and others also claimed the podium for Canada. And, there were more gold medal finishes for Damian Warner in the decathlon and the thrilling victory for the women’s soccer team who defeated Sweden 3-2 on penalty kicks after the teams tied at one.

The Tokyo Olympics will go down in history for many reasons. This was the first Olympic Games to be postponed, the first to be held in the midst of a pandemic, and the first to be held without an audience. They will also be remembered in another first, namely for the mental health challenges of two of the world’s largest sports superstars: gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka.

Mental performance is related to the psychology of sports performance and uses mental skill training to prepare athletes for optimal performance and well being. The problem with mental performance is that it is intangible. With strength training, it’s easy to see physical improvement, but it’s much harder to witness improvements in self-confidence and mental resilience. The achievements of our Canadian team in face of all this year’s challenges and COVID-19 restrictions is nothing short of remarkable.

In our own ways, we have all been in Olympic style training to survive COVID-19. The pandemic has drastically changed life for all of us. Schools and universities have closed, exams and events postponed, and some services have been limited. Socializing with friends and wider family was tough, and in some places even punishable. Living in these circumstances has been hard on everyone’s social, physical and mental wellbeing.

As we play the evidence-based guessing game, it becomes even more challenging to figure out whether to mask or not to mask, to go back to school/work or not, and to anticipate if or when the fourth wave will happen. Add to that the determination of whether vaccination boosters will be needed, especially for those who had mixed vaccinations.

A population survey conducted in April and May 2020, found a three-fold increase in depression since the pandemic began. The researchers examined mental health issues relative to 13 pandemic-specific stressors, including loss of a job, death of someone close to you due to COVID-19, and financial problems. The more stressors people reported, the more likely they were to also report symptoms of anxiety and depression. A Kaiser Permanente survey in July 2020 found that the pandemic was taking an emotional toll, with a majority of U.S. adults (53%) saying that worry and stress related to COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health.

These studies were done early in the pandemic. Yet, here we are now well into the summer of 2021 and the repeated exposure to cortisol (the stress hormone) isn’t letting up. Scientists are tracking a surge in depression with large data sets and international comparisons. A scoping review in April 2021 encourages positive innovations in connecting community-based care with physical and mental health, while accelerating digital services and policy change to address long-standing inequities.

The Olympics highlight the positive effect that exercise has on mental health, and also how poor mental well-being can affect athletic performance. Stress can be a double-edged sword. To cope with the influence of the pandemic brain—a term coined to describe the impact of the prolonged uncertainty and weirdness of our current world—exercise will help, along with good nutrition, sleep and a positive attitude.

Let’s continue to champion one another, the way we do with our Olympians, to help keep spirits high and strive for a healthier future.

Miigwetch, thank you, marsi, merci,

Dr. Sarita Verma
Dean, President and CEO
Northern Ontario School of Medicine

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

We’re evolving: NOSM University update

The evolution of NOSM into NOSM University continues with much enthusiasm and there is work to be done. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine University Act was passed and received Royal Assent on June 3, 2021. We are awaiting Proclamation in Force for this Act, which is reliant on the Minister of Colleges and Universities and several legal and political processes. In the meantime, it’s business as usual. Our partnerships with Laurentian University and Lakehead University are highly valued. We are continually engaged in communications with leaders and stakeholders across the region and are planning a consultation and engagement process this fall. More details will follow regarding consultation, which includes a public survey, meetings, focus groups, interviews and town halls.

$300k gift from McConnell Foundation supports NOSM’s Centre for Social Accountability

NOSM’s new Centre for Social Accountability (CFSA) has received a grant valued at $300,000 from the McConnell Foundation—a private Canadian foundation that supports innovative approaches to social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges. The funds are earmarked for advocacy and research dissemination as well as administrative start-up costs for the Centre. Learn more.

Wasaya Airways supports NOSM students’ menstrual product drive 

People in rural and remote Northern Ontario communities can expect to pay double the price for the same menstrual products found in larger cities in Ontario. Organized by NOSM medical students, a menstrual product drive for the fly-in community of Fort Severn First Nation—the most northern community in Ontario—provided kits for every single menstruator in the community. Wasaya Airways has generously committed to covering all the shipping costs and will be delivering the products to the fly-in community. Read more.

Two new NOSM faculty section chairs