- Celebrate African Heritage Month
- Prepare for Ramadan with us
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Read about the critical work of our administrative teams in our annual report highlight
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Join us in congratulating many of our deserving colleagues for their recent awards, honours, and appointments
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Save the date for our inaugural Research, Innovation, and Quality Day - April 10
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Join us for lunch tomorrow to beat the winter blues
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Don't miss NSH's educational session on women's heart health for Wear Red Day, February 13
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The "Short" Report from Dr. Christine Short | |
African Heritage Month - Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance
Each February, Nova Scotia celebrates African Heritage Month, recognizing the important contributions and vibrant culture and history of African Nova Scotians.
This year’s theme, Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance, highlights the achievements and resilience of African Nova Scotians, who have shaped the province's history for more than 400 years. The month-long celebration includes events and activities designed to educate, inspire and build connections across the province.
Learn more about this year's theme and the history of African Heritage Month at the official website of the Nova Scotia African Heritage Month Information Network.
And be sure to visit African Nova Scotian Affairs' events calendar to see all of the opportunities to celebrate and engage throughout the month and beyond.
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Highlight from Foundations for Success, our 2023-24 Annual Report
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Administration: The Village Behind Patient Care
We’ve all heard the adage ‘It takes a village.’ While it most commonly acknowledges the many people involved in raising children, it also applies to the collective effort required in healthcare.
Behind the clinical achievements and research advancements of the Department of Medicine lies a network of dedicated administrative staff who keep operations running smoothly. Their work enables physicians to focus on patient care, research, and teaching by taking on essential, behind-the-scenes tasks.
One standout in this group is Shelley Sani, a seasoned team lead in the Division of Respirology, whose 18 years of experience and comprehensive understanding of both administrative and clinical needs exemplify the invaluable role of administrative support in healthcare. Shelley's journey and leadership highlight how strategic, supportive administration directly impacts the quality of care and collaboration across the Department . . .
Read the full story on page 17 of our report!
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We are proud of all our department members who have been recently recognized for their work. Here are a few highlights! | |
Dr. Amy Trottier Awarded New Health Investigator Grant | |
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We are thrilled to share that Dr. Amy Trottier of the Division of Hematology has been awarded the New Health Investigator Grant to support her work improving access to germline genetic testing for Nova Scotians with blood cancers. We caught up with her recently on this exciting news:
Receiving the New Health Investigator Grant is a remarkable achievement – congratulations! How will this support help your project, and what impact do you hope your findings will have on the future of genetic testing accessibility in Nova Scotia?
This project would not be possible without the support of the New Health Investigator Grant. These funds will be used to help determine the optimal method for performing hereditary genetic testing for blood cancer patients using their nail clippings in place of currently used skin biopsies. If successful, this new method of genetic testing will become standard of care and will allow for non-invasive genetic testing readily accessible across Nova Scotia, with samples being able to be collected anywhere, including within a patient’s own home.
For those of us interested in learning more about your research and its potential impact, where can we follow your work or find updates on your project’s progress?
My work on this and other projects can be followed through my research gate profile as well as periodic Nova Scotia Health media releases to share important results.
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Dr. Allen Tran Awarded 2025 CAME/ACÉM Certificate of Merit | |
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The Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) has awarded Dr. Allen Tran, Co-Division Head of General Internal Medicine, the prestigious Certificate of Merit Award in recognition of his commitment to medical education in Canada.
Nominated by his colleagues, Dr. Tran’s dedication to mentorship, curriculum development, and innovative teaching has had a profound impact on learners and faculty alike. His leadership and sincere belief in medical education continue to shape the next generation of physicians.
This national award highlights Dr. Tran as an exemplary educator, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition!
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Dr. Sultan Darvesh Awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal | |
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Dr. Sultan Darvesh of the Division of Neurology has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his exceptional service to science.
This honour, established by the Government of Canada in celebration of His Majesty’s Coronation, recognizes Canadians who have made significant and enduring contributions to their fields and communities.
Dr. Darvesh’s groundbreaking research in neurology has advanced scientific understanding and earned him induction into the Nova Scotia Science Hall of Fame at the 2019 Discovery Awards. His dedication to medical innovation continues to impact patients, researchers, and the broader healthcare community.
He received the medal alongside other distinguished Nova Scotians during a ceremony at Government House on January 21, 2025. Congratulations to Dr. Darvesh on this well-deserved honour!
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Drs. Nikhil Thomas and Amanda Vinson Awarded CIHR Project Grants | |
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A huge congratulations to Drs. Nikhil Thomas (pictured left) and Amanda Vinson (pictured right), principal investigators from the Divisions of Microbiology & Immunology and Nephrology, respectively, for receiving Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants!
They are among five Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine researchers who were successful in the latest competition. CIHR grant competitions are highly competitive, awarding deserving health researchers for their innovative and impactful work across all disciplines, from discovery to application.
Dr. Thomas was awarded for his work studying novel bacterial enzymes for development of new antimicrobials to combat zoonotic pathogens. Dr. Vinson was awarded for her work studying gender differences in objective and subjective measures of frailty in patients with end-stage kidney disease and
impact on kidney transplant referral. Dr. Karthik Tennankore joins Dr. Vinson on her project as co-investigator.
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Dr. Bruce Colwell Appointed Senior Medical Director, Cancer Care Program | |
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Nova Scotia Health has announced that Dr. Bruce Colwell, Division of Medical Oncology, is the new Senior Medical Director of the Cancer Care Program, effective January 7. He succeeds Dr. Helmut Hollenhorst, who retired on December 31, 2024.
Dr. Colwell brings extensive leadership experience to this role. As the former provincial medical director of systemic therapy, he has played a key role in advancing cancer treatment across the province. He also designed and launched the Residency Training Program in Medical Oncology, serving as program director for 13 years, and led the Canadian Association of Medical Oncology (CAMO) as president.
With a distinguished career in clinical research, medical education, and policy development, Dr. Colwell’s leadership will help shape the future of cancer care in Nova Scotia. Congratulations, Dr. Colwell!
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Nova Scotia Health Celebrates the Official Opening of the New Geriatric Medicine Clinic at Dartmouth General
Nova Scotia Health’s Geriatric Medicine Clinic has expanded its services from two locations to three with a new location on the Dartmouth General Hospital campus.
This new clinic location means patients in Dartmouth and along the province’s Eastern Shore now have the option to access a clinic closer to their community. This past fall, the Geriatric Medicine Clinic began seeing patients at a new location at 18 Acadia St. who were experiencing frailty, dementia, increased falls or other age-related health issues such as changes in memory or thinking.
On January 22, the Dartmouth General Foundation invited donors, Barb Adams, MLA for Eastern Passage and other guests to tour the facility and officially celebrate the opening of this new clinic.
Learn more in this article from Nova Scotia Health, and congratulations to our Geriatric Division!
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Save the Date! DoM’s Inaugural Research, Innovation, and Quality Day – April 10 | |
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Mark your calendars! On April 10, the Department of Medicine will host our first-ever Research, Innovation, and Quality Day, highlighting department members' unique and overlapping contributions and collaborations across these three areas.
This year’s theme, “Research, Innovation, and Quality Improvement: Synergies and Collaborations,” will underscore the powerful ways these fields intersect to enhance patient care. The event will be hybrid, with an in-person gathering in Halifax and a virtual attendance option.
Expect engaging presentations spanning:
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Cutting-edge research
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Insightful case reports
- Quality improvement projects
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Groundbreaking innovation
Whether you’re a resident, faculty member, medical student, or healthcare professional, this is a prime opportunity to:
- Gain exposure to state-of-the-art research
- Discover available research and quality improvement resources
- Learn new methodologies and skills
- Build valuable professional connections for future collaborations
At the event, we'll also present our Research Staff Awards and our new Quality Award! Stay tuned for award application details and event registration details – you won’t want to miss this!
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February 28 - Killam Scholarship Deadline (Internal Deadline February 14)
Killam Postgraduate Medical Scholarships are awarded to postgraduate students in their third, fourth, or fifth year of training in one of Dalhousie Medical School's clinical departments.
Selection by the Faculty Awards Committee is based on the recommendation of the Department Head that the candidate is likely to contribute to the advancement of learning or to win distinction in their specialty and could be recommended for appointment to the faculty of a medical school on completion of training.
Download the application form here. Please submit your application to DoMResearch@nshealth.ca by February 14 for Department Head review and signature.
When finished, submit your reviewed application electronically to tara.ryan@dal.ca by February 28.
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Resident Wellness Week: February 9-15
Maritime Resident Doctors' (MarDoc) Resident Wellness Week is an annual celebration dedicated to supporting the well-being of resident physicians. Throughout this year's event, residents in Halifax can participate in prize contests, enjoy coffee breaks at the VG, IWK, and HI (Feb. 11-13), and take part in fitness classes, a DIY tote bag painting activity, and Games Night (Feb. 13). The week also features a Family Movie Matinee (Feb. 9) and a Halifax Thunderbirds lacrosse game (Feb. 15).
These initiatives are part of MarDoc's' broader commitment to resident wellness, which you can learn more about at MarDoc's Resident Wellness page.
Join us in recognizing the hard work of residents and encouraging their wellness! To learn more about this year's events, reach out to MarDoc's Communications Manager Daniel Bonner at Daniel@mardocs.ca.
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February 12 - "Beat the Winter Blues" DoM Luncheon
Need a little “pick-me-up”? Winter blues got you feeling blah?
If you're a member of the Department of Medicine, come to our "Beat the Winter Blues" luncheon tomorrow! Take a break, socialize with co-workers and staff, and grab a bite to go – we'll have yummy artisan sandwiches, assorted drinks, and cookies.
When: Wednesday, February 12 from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Where: Veteran’s Memorial Building, Rooms 1613 A/B
We hope to see you there!
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February 13 - Halifax Infirmary Wear Red Day Event
To commemorate Wear Red Day and raise awareness for women's heart health, the Halifax Infirmary is hosting a special event tomorrow.
From 12 noon to 1 pm, Dr. Sharon Mulvagh, Division of Cardiology and Dr. Baharak Amir, IWK Health Obstetrics and Gynecology, will chair an educational session called “The impact of menopause on a woman’s heart.” A patient will also share her experience.
All are invited to attend – either in person or online – and are encouraged to wear red.
Those attending in person can also view and participate in health information booths on the second floor Summer Street lobby of the Halifax Infirmary from 10am to noon.
Learn more about the event and register here!
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February 18 - Last Chance to Leave Feedback on the Drug Information System (DIS)
The Drug Information System (DIS) program at the Department of Health and Wellness is conducting an evaluation of the DIS to determine what is working and what could be improved. Your feedback is essential for shaping the future direction of the DIS program.
By clicking on the links below, you will be taken to a confidential online survey that should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. Please direct any survey questions to dis@novascotia.ca. Survey closes 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2025.
Further information about the DIS evaluation project can be found at Drug Information System Evaluation | Engage4Health
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Academic Promotion - Departmental Application Deadline, May 31
The Department of Medicine is now accepting faculty applications for academic promotion to be considered in the 2025-26 academic year.
The departmental deadline for application submission is May 31, 2025. Information about the application process will be distributed to faculty with continuing academic appointments via email – please contact Heather.Fraser@nshealth.ca if you have 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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Latest Learning Opportunities | |
February 20 - Teach the Teachers 2025 Workshop
📅 Thursday, February 20, 2025
🕛 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 Sir Charles Tupper Building
DoM physicians and nurse practitioners are invited to this year’s Teach the Teachers Workshop, a continuing professional development opportunity.
This year’s theme, “Right Patient, Right Time, Right Words: Navigating Goals of Care Conversations” is designed to enhance skills in leading effective Goals of Care (GOC) conversations with patients, families, and substitute decision-makers (SDMs). What you’ll gain:
- Confidence using Nova Scotia Health’s Patient Priorities and Goals of Care (GOC) form
- Enhanced communication skills for meaningful GOC conversations
- Strategies for teaching and supervising learners in GOC discussions
- Access to valuable resources to support these critical conversations
Check out the event brochure for the agenda and registration details. You can also register at this link: http://surveys.novascotia.ca/TeachtheTeachers_Registration2025.
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2SLGBTQIA+ 2025 Affirming Care Conference - March 18-20
prideHealth, in partnership with Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health, invites healthcare professionals to the annual 2025 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Conference. This event brings together physicians, clinicians, researchers, and advocates to share best practices, lived experiences, and strategies for delivering culturally safe healthcare to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities.
This year's conference is taking place virtually from March 18-20, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, and to learn more, visit NSH's Physician Health and Wellness Portal.
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Quick Reference / Recurring Content | |
Mental Health & Well-Being | |
When you take care of yourself, you take care of others. | |
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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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