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In this month's Short Report, hear from Dr. Christine Short on Administrative Professionals Day, RIQ Week, Parkinson Awareness Month, and OPOR readiness
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Recognize Administrative Professionals Day and explore key community health awareness dates for April
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Read a powerful feature story from Dr. Stephen Workman on living and practicing with Parkinson’s disease
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Learn how the Division of Geriatrics is improving access to care for older Nova Scotians
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Celebrate recent achievements across the Department, including a Professor Emeritus appointment and PhD milestone
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Catch up on Department highlights in the news – including advancements in food-based prescriptions, like blueberries, and expanding neurology care
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Join upcoming CPD learning opportunities, including this month’s Medicine Interactive Webinar on ILD Exacerbations and Clinical Currents podcast
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Review highlights from RIQ Week and learn who this year's award winners were
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Attend upcoming events and save the date for June’s Awards Extravaganza and Spring Party
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Submit nominations, access OPOR resources, and explore additional learning opportunities
| | The "Short" Report from Dr. Christine Short | | |
I’d like to start our April newsletter by wishing all of our administrative professionals a very happy Administrative Professionals Day today!
I want to let all of you know how grateful we are for each of you and how critical you are to the success of our department. Our department simply doesn’t function without you. You are often the first point of contact for patients, learners, and colleagues – you keep our clinical and academic schedules organized while also supporting our broader teams and staying on top of the huge volume of important communications that cross our virtual and actual desks each day. You anticipate the needs of those around you, and you make it possible for the rest of us to do our work well. When our department talks about strengthening our “Foundations for Success,” this is exactly what we mean. Your work is that foundation, and we appreciate everything you do.
I also want to take a moment to recap the Department’s Research, Innovation, and Quality (RIQ) Week (April 13-17). We held events on Tuesday and Thursday last week, and it was a delight to attend and see the breadth of work happening across our department. From student and resident-led projects to more established research programs, the range, quality, and thoughtfulness of the presentations were impressive. Thank you to everyone who contributed – our presenters, judges, organizers, and attendees – and congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients. It’s something to be proud of.
There are also a number of important health awareness themes this month, which you’ll see highlighted just below. One in particular is Parkinson Awareness Month. Parkinson’s disease affects a significant number of individuals and families, and its impact extends well beyond the clinical setting. I would strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to read the narrative piece by Dr. Stephen Workman featured in this issue. It’s a thoughtful, honest, and very moving reflection that reminds us of the human side of the work we do.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the significant effort across the Department related to One Person One Record (OPOR). I know how much work has gone into preparing for this transition, and I appreciate the time and energy people have been putting in to get ready. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to review the tips document for physicians that was recently circulated by email earlier this month (you can also find it on our department SharePoint site here: OPOR Guide for DoM Physicians.pdf) and to take advantage of the available learning opportunities. Even just a few minutes a day will have us that much more prepared for go-live on May 9th.
There is a lot of information coming through email right now related to OPOR, but if there are a few things to prioritize, I would highlight the weekly (and sometimes daily) updates from Central Zone Medical Affairs and those from Dr. Nicole Boutilier. These updates have been clear, practical, and very helpful in navigating what’s ahead.
Thank you all – I look forward to connecting again in next month’s newsletter.
Warmly,
Christine
Christine Short, MD, FRCP(C), FACP
Professor & Head/Chief, Department of Medicine
Dalhousie University / Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health
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Administrative Professionals Day, April 22
Today, on Administrative Professionals Day, we recognize and thank the administrative professionals across our department, Nova Scotia Health, and Dalhousie University whose essential work keeps our teams, divisions, programs, and services running.
From coordinating meetings and clinics, managing schedules and communications, supporting patient flow and learner experiences, to keeping our teams organized and connected, your contributions are truly foundational to what we do every day.
We’re grateful for the care, judgment, and consistency each of you bring to your roles — and for the impact you have. Thank you!
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World Immunization Week
World Immunization Week (April 24–30) highlights the importance of vaccines in protecting people of all ages from preventable disease and supporting healthier communities.
Learn more: World Immunization Week 2026
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IBS Awareness Month
Did you know irritable Bowel syndrome affects an estimated 13-20% of Canadians? In April, learn more about IBS and its impact on daily life.
Learn more: IBS Awareness Month - badgut.org
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Parkinson Awareness Month
April is Parkinson Awareness Month, offering an opportunity to better understand Parkinson’s disease and the lived experiences behind it.
Learn more: Parkinson Canada | Home
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Rosacea Awareness Month
April is also Rosacea Awareness Month, drawing attention to a common but often misunderstood skin condition that affects nearly 3 million Canadians.
Learn more: Rosacea Awareness Month Archives - Rosacea
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Ongoing Dates to Know
While we would like to recognize all dates, weeks, and months that are important for our wider community, our selections are only a fraction of the many that are deserving of our attention and acknowledgement.
To stay up to date, we encourage you to review the following calendars regularly:
If you have suggestions for particular dates you'd like us to mention, let us know! Email Candice at candice.albright@nshealth.ca with your ideas.
| | | Feature Story: A DoM Physician's Perspective on Parkinson | | |
Rowing to the Moon: On Medicine, Identity, and Parkinson Disease
As we recognize Parkinson Awareness Month, we’re proud to highlight a recent narrative publication by Dr. Stephen Workman (General Internal Medicine) in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
In “Rowing to the moon,” Dr. Workman shares a candid, often humorous reflection on living and working with Parkinson disease. Writing from both physician and patient perspectives, he explores the realities of navigating illness, the role of resilience and humour, and the hope for meaningful advances in care.
His piece offers a powerful reminder of the human side of medicine and the experiences that shape how we care for others.
📖 Read the full article: Rowing to the moon
| | Faster, Closer, Better: How Geratrics is Meeting the Needs of an Ageing Population | | |
When pandemic pressures and long waitlists threatened timely care for older Nova Scotians, the Division of Geriatrics redesigned their approach from the ground up.
"'The waitlist and the moral distress that comes from long wait times drove the work,' says Division Head, Paige Moorhouse. 'We needed to find a way to get people seen earlier, by the right provider, and closer to home.'
The solution was a centralized triage program that reallocated resources to better meet patient needs, making care more accessible while helping to build a more responsive community of care. Referrals are now triaged by a geriatrician, and as Dr. Moorhouse notes, 'many patients’ needs can be met by a non-geriatrician provider; they’re seen faster by a nurse practitioner, social worker, occupational therapist, or pharmacist.'"
Read the full story in our 2024-2025 annual report, Communities of Care (page 28).
| | This segment is dedicated to recognizing department members for their recent awards, appointments, and exciting opportunities – just a few among the many who are meaningfully contributing to the Department of Medicine and Canadian healthcare. | | |
Dr. Allan Purdy Appointed Professor Emeritus
Congratulations to Dr. Allan Purdy on his appointment as Professor Emeritus at Dalhousie University.
This distinction recognizes a career of exceptional academic contribution. Dr. Purdy is internationally recognized for his work in headache medicine, with a longstanding record of leadership, scholarship, and excellence in teaching. His contributions have shaped neurological education and practice both within our department and globally.
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Dr. Ali Carew Successfully Defends her PhD Under the Supervision of Dr. Leah Cahill
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ali Carew on the successful defense of her PhD.
Supervised by Dr. Leah Cahill, the Department of Medicine’s Howard Webster Research Chair, Dr. Carew’s work focused on advancing our understanding of how biomarkers can support more personalized treatment approaches in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention.
While based in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dr. Carew's work reflects the strength of research mentorship and collaboration connected to our department.
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If food is medicine, how about a prescription for blueberries? N.S. researchers hope that’s the future - via CBC News
"'When we think about prescribing, we usually think about someone being sick and needing a medication prescribed,' said Leah Cahill [Department of Medicine Howard Webster Endowed Chair], a registered dietitian and principal investigator on the study, which she’s dubbed STRONG.
'The idea of prescribing lifestyle as a way to prevent people even getting sick, that's where our hearts are.'
Cahill and her team are still looking for more people to join their clinical trial, which will include 240 people in total, aged 65 and older. Out of them, 120 will be in the treatment group, eating antioxidant-rich blueberries every day, while the other 120 will be in the control group, following their usual diets. Everyone will undergo assessments every three months for a year, and then another assessment a year later."
Watch the YouTube video above – which now has over 55,000 views! – to learn more, or read the full article at: If food is medicine, how about a prescription for blueberries? N.S. researchers hope that’s the future | CBC News
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Cape Breton Neurology Team Expands - via Nova Scotia Health News
"Cape Breton recently hit a milestone, with three neurologists serving patients across the Eastern Zone – a record number for this region. We are excited to introduce you to this dynamic team and share what this infusion of expertise and care means for Nova Scotians.
Dr. Laith Shimon joined Nova Scotia Health more than 25 years ago. Originally from Iraq, he started his career in family medicine before shifting gears to neurology in the early 2010s – a dream supported by the then Cape Breton Health District.
He calls neurology the 'art of medicine' and says one of the most rewarding parts of his job is helping patients and families navigate complex and life-altering conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular diseases, Parkinson’s disease and stroke."
Read the full article at: Cape Breton neurology team expands | Nova Scotia Health
| | Updates from the DoM Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee | | |
Medicine Interactive Webinar Series: Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Exacerbations, April 30, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Join us this Thursday, April 30 (12:00-1:00 pm), to learn about recognizing and managing acute ILD exacerbations – serious events associated with high morbidity and mortality that require timely diagnosis and clinical decision-making.
Participants will gain guidance on identifying exacerbations, distinguishing them from other causes of respiratory decline, and applying current approaches to investigation, treatment, and supportive care.
Designed for busy clinicians, this one-hour, hybrid webinar includes interactive discussion and a lively Q&A.
Confirm your attendance here: DoM Interactive Medicine Webinar - Attendance Confirmation
And don't forget: if you're attending in person, you can order a lunch on us! See the event invitation in your Outlook calendars for details. We hope to see you there.
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New Clinical Currents Episode: "Acute Kidney Injury – Practical Questions for Internists with Dr. Amanda Vinson"
Acute kidney injury shows up across nearly every area of internal medicine – and often raises more questions than answers.
In this month’s Clinical Currents episode, Dr. Amanda Vinson shares practical guidance on how to approach AKI in real-world settings, including what to prioritize early, when to investigate further, and when to involve nephrology.
🎧 Listen now at Clinical Currents or wherever you get your podcasts!
Each episode can be claimed for 0.5 hours in the Royal College's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, Section 2.
| | Updates from the DoM Research Committee | | RIQ Week award winners with Research Director Dr. Melissa Andrew (far left) | | |
RIQ Week 2026: A strong showing across research, innovation, and quality
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Research, Innovation, and Quality (RIQ) Week events. We were pleased to see a strong turnout across both days (Tuesday and Thursday), with excellent engagement from attendees throughout.
This year’s events featured a wide range of poster and podium presentations that highlighted the depth and diversity of work happening across the Department. The keynote panel on Thursday, Innovation with Integrity: Navigating Industry and Investigator-Driven Research, sparked a thoughtful and engaging discussion on navigating collaboration, funding, and trust in today’s research environment.
Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
Best Presentation Awards:
- Core Resident — Dushanthi Dissanayake
- Subspecialty Resident — Jacob B Michaud
- Undergraduate Student — Manal Qurashi
- Graduate Student — Claie Thiessen
- Research Fellow — Georgia Murray
- Research Staff — Chandi Sehgal
- Case Reports — Mohammad Al-Qadi
- Quality Improvement — Kate Winterson
- Innovation — Mina Gerges
People’s Choice Awards:
- Tuesday Podium — Jennifer Bent
- Thursday Podium — Nicole Wiebe
- Thursday Poster — Basma Hagmusa
Department of Medicine Research Staff Excellence Award:
Thank you to all presenters, judges, and attendees who contributed to making this year’s event such a success. Until next year!
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Research Reminder
Dalhousie is a member of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network. Look up what journals have Open Access Publishing Fees covered through the network here:
https://www.crkn-rcdr.ca/en/open-access
| | | We welcome the following new members to the Department of Medicine! | | |
April
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Adelowo Adebakin, Administrative Assistant, joined the Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation/Rheumatology on Apr 7
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Edward Pramfi, Administrative Assistant, joined the Division of Dermatology on Apr 7
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Aashi Makhija, Administrative Assistant, joined the Department of Medicine on Apr 7
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Hannah Pitt, Administrative Assistant, joined the Department of Medicine on Apr 20
| | Events, Deadlines, & Learning Opportunities | | |
Department of Medicine Administrative Professionals Celebration - Today!
All DoM administrative professionals are invited to join us today (!!) at the Dalhousie Collaborative Health Education Building (CHEB) (Room 170, 5793 University Avenue) for an afternoon of celebration!
Enjoy treats, refreshments, prizes, and thank-you gifts as we recognize the incredible work you do every day — anticipating needs, coordinating the details, and keeping everything running smoothly. We hope you’ll take this time to connect, celebrate, and be celebrated.
Visit our SharePoint events calendar and your Outlook calendars for full details. See you there!
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Save the Dates! DoM Awards Extravaganza (June 16) and Spring Party (June 18)
Two of our favourite Department traditions are just around the corner – opportunities to come together and celebrate our people and their achievements.
Awards Extravaganza (virtual)
- Tuesday, June 16 | 8:00-9:00 am (Grand Rounds)
- Join us as we recognize this year’s award DoM recipients and celebrate our graduating residents.
Spring Party (in person)
- Thursday, June 18 | 6:00-8:30 pm | Halifax Marriot Harbourfront Hotel
- A relaxed, drop-in evening to connect, celebrate our residents, and congratulate award winners and graduates in person.
We encourage all members to take part! Outlook invites and additional details will be shared soon – please keep an eye out.
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Department of Medicine Committee Nominations - Deadline April 30
We’re seeking members to fill several Department of Medicine committee vacancies beginning July 1, 2026 (with one Promotions Committee role starting January 1, 2027).
Current vacancies (3-year terms, renewable):
- Awards & Recognition Committee
- Research representative (1)
- Department member, Saint John (1)
- Clinical Fellowship Committee
- Education representative (1)
- Nominating Committee
- Department member-at-large (1)
- Financial Management Committee
- AFP member – full-time (1)
- AFP member – part-time (1)
- Division Head (1)
- Promotions Committee (starts January 1, 2027)
- Assistant Professor (1)
Self-nominations and nominations of colleagues are welcome (please connect with your nominee in advance). Please include a brief statement of interest and submit to theresa.steele@nshealth.ca by April 30, 2026.
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Call for Nominations! Department of Medicine Awards - Deadline May 8
Each year, our Department of Medicine Awards (which we award during our Awards Extravaganza) give us an opportunity to pause and recognize the people who shape our work in meaningful ways — through leadership, mentorship, clinical care, research, and service.
These awards reflect what we value as a department and the impact our colleagues have on one another, our learners, and our patients. If someone’s work has made a difference to you or your team, we encourage you to consider submitting a nomination!
Explore categories and submit a nomination here: Department Awards - Department of Medicine - Dalhousie University
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Academic Promotion – 2026-27 Departmental Application Deadline, May 31
The Department of Medicine is now accepting faculty applications for academic promotion to be considered in the 2026-27 academic year. The departmental deadline for application submission is May 31, 2026.
Information about the application process and annual info session has been distributed to faculty with continuing academic appointments via email – please contact Heather.Fraser@nshealth.ca if any questions about the process or application document requirements.
More information about promotions at Dalhousie University can be found at: https://medicine.dal.ca/for-faculty-staff/promotion_tenure.html
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OPOR CIS Learning Library
The OPOR CIS Learning Library is your central hub for CIS training resources!
Whether you're a clinician, support team member, or student, this library is here to support your learning journey with the clinical information system (CIS). Access tailored resources designed to help you gain confidence and proficiency—from initial onboarding to post–go-live success.
Bookmark it and return often: OPOR CIS Learning Library
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OPOR Wave Two: Virtual Practice Labs - Available until May 8
Book an OPOR Virtual Practice Lab session to flex your clinical information system (CIS) muscles! Registration is now open for providers, clinicians and employees who have completed their Wave Two classroom training.
This is your opportunity to build confidence using the CIS and reinforce what you learned in class. You will have up to two hours to practice workflows at your own pace in a supportive training environment.
Visit the Virtual Practice Lab page to register and learn more.
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On-Site & Remote At-the-Elbow Support
At-the-Elbow (ATE) staff are trained OPOR staff who will provide a real-time, hands-on support to CIS and Novari users. They can help troubleshoot and answer technical questions about the system, and will submit tickets through Assyst for issues they cannot address.
The ATE model includes on-site and remote support, depending on the needs of the unit. Regardless of the type of support provided, everyone will have access to At-the-Elbow team members when needed.
Learn more at the OPOR Go-Live Supports page or by downloading this handout.
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ASPIRE Essentials Workshop – May 29, 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
There will be a virtual ASPIRE Essentials workshop taking place on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 10:00 to 14:30 (ET).
The ASPIRE program is a national faculty development initiative dedicated to advancing the teaching and assessment of patient safety and quality improvement (QI) in residency training. This half-day workshop will provide medical educators, program directors, and residents with practical tools and approaches for integrating patient safety and QI education into faculty development and residency programs.
The workshop will be delivered by well-known and highly respected quality and patient safety health care professionals and educators from across Canada.
Date & Time: Friday, May 29, 2026, 10:00–14:30 EDT (English)
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Fees: $200 for medical educators, $100 for residents
Register here: SIGN IN - 2026 Advancing Safety for Patients In Residency Education (ASPIRE) Essentials Virtual Workshop
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DoM Suggestion Box
Have any suggestions for the department? Leave them anonymously here:
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DoM Research
https://sites.google.com/view/domresearch
The page was initially developed for the resident group, but it’s also useful to faculty and their research teams. DoM Research wants to ensure that the link is easily accessible to anyone in the department.
| | Mental Health & Well-Being | | When you take care of yourself, you take care of others. | | |
We Teach, Research, and Serve our patients on Mi’kmaw territory, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. The people of the Mi’kmaw Nation have lived on this territory for millennia, and we acknowledge them as the past, present, and future caretakers of this land. We are all Treaty people.
We recognize that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people whose histories, legacies, and contributions have enriched that part of Mi’kma’ki known as Nova Scotia for over 400 years.
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