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Learn about Asian Heritage Month and Red Dress Day
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Feel the love from our Administrative Professionals Celebration
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Celebrate significant recognitions, including Dr. Alex Legge's recent appointment as Quigley Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology
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Read about rare disease and the importance of collaboration in our annual report highlight
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Celebrate the award winners of April's Research, Innovation, and Quality (RIQ) Week
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Save the date for the DoM Awards Extravaganza and Spring Party
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Check out a new wellness resource available to NSH staff
| | The "Short" Report from Dr. Christine Short | |
May is Asian Heritage Month
May is Asian Heritage Month, and this year’s theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity,” speaks to the strength found in cultural diversity and how Asian Canadians have shaped, and continue to shape, the fabric of our society.
Within the Department of Medicine and across our healthcare system, Asian Canadians have long made invaluable contributions as physicians, researchers, educators, and leaders. One inspiring example is Dr. Tak Wah Mak, the Canadian researcher of Chinese descent who discovered the T-cell receptor in 1984. This discovery transformed immunology and cancer research worldwide.
Follow these links to learn more about Asian Heritage Month and Dr. Mak's indelible impact.
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May 1 - National Doctors / Physicians Day 🩺
National Doctors / Physicians Day recognizes and honours the hard work and dedication of doctors providing care to patients across Canada. Our health system is a source of national pride and a beacon of Canadian identity, and our doctors are at its heart.
We thank each and every physician in the Department of Medicine and beyond for dedicating your lives to the care and health of others.
| | Administrative Professionals Week Celebration | | |
Thank You Again to our Amazing Administrative Professionals!
Administrative Professionals Week 2025 was truly one to remember. We are grateful to everyone who came to celebrate this vital and talented workforce with us for our Administrative Professionals Celebration on April 24th.
As a very small token of our appreciation for the administrative professionals who have chosen to build their careers with and lend their skills to the Department of Medicine, we wanted to offer an afternoon of joy, fun, and – of course – delicious treats. After a heartfelt introduction from our Department Head and Director of Administration, we held a prize draw and spent time laughing and mingling together.
The warmth of the event could be felt in all corners of the packed room. We all left feeling uplifted with the kind of energy you can only get from coming together with great people. Thank you again to our administrative teams for all you do – we can't wait to build on this tradition next year.
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In this segment, we share a few highlights of department members recently recognized for their outstanding work and dedication.
If you'd like to share a recent success or recognition in a future edition, please send a photo and details to Candice at candice.albright@nshealth.ca.
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Dr. Alex Legge Appointed Quigley Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology
We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Dr. Alex Legge has been appointed the Quigley Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology – a prestigious and influential role supported through the generosity of donors to the QEII Foundation.
This five-year, renewable appointment is a testament to Dr. Legge’s contributions to the field of rheumatology. As Chair, she will lead innovative research to improve outcomes for current and future patients living with arthritis and related conditions, expand access to leading-edge treatments, and strengthen research capacity in Nova Scotia and beyond.
In this role, Dr. Legge will also serve as a mentor and leader in rheumatology research across Atlantic Canada, fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at local, provincial, regional, national, and international levels.
Please join us join us in congratulating Dr. Legge on this significant honour!
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Master of Science Student Aran Thanamayooran Awarded Governor General's Gold Medal in Sciences and Engineering for 2025
We are thrilled to share that Aran Thanamayooran, a Master of Science student supervised by Department of Medicine physicians Drs. Leah Cahill and Karthik Tennankore, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Governor General’s Gold Medal in Sciences and Engineering.
This national honour recognizes Aran as one of Canada’s most outstanding master’s graduates. His thesis, "Effects of Pre-Transplant Hemodialysis Timing on Post Kidney Transplant Outcomes," was praised as one of the best ever seen in the graduate program.
Aran has already authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, demonstrated exceptional skill in biostatistics and research leadership, and earned acclaim from faculty as an exemplary scholar and colleague.
Congratulations, Aran!
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Correction: Dr. Steven Soroka Awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal
In last month's edition, we congratulated Dr. Steven Soroka for his well-deserved King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to renal care and health system leadership.
We would like to offer a correction to provide a more accurate and up-to-date biography:
Dr. Soroka is a Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie and Nephrologist with Nova Scotia Health. He has held senior leadership roles across the health system and currently serves as Senior Medical Director for the Renal Program and Pharmacy Services. His contributions have been recognized with the Making Waves Leadership Excellence Award – Physician Leader, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, and now the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Congratulations again to Dr. Soroka!
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Read the Latest Highlight from Foundations for Success, our 2023-24 Annual Report
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Uncommon Connections: Dr. Luke Chen’s Collaborative Approach to Rare Disease Treatment
For the Division of Hematology’s Dr. Luke Chen, “everything begins at the bedside of the patient.”
For 17 years, he developed an interest in rare blood diseases at the University of British Columbia before moving to Dalhousie in the summer of 2023. Every month, he meets patients with rare immune-mediated diseases, such as Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), lgG4- related disease, histiocyte disorders, and VEXAS in Atlantic Canada. These patients can easily fall through the cracks because their diseases are rare and treatment strategies poorly understood. Dr. Chen feels a calling to ‘adopt’ these ‘orphaned’ patients and modernize their care
Bringing the best that twenty-first century medicine can offer to these patients requires highly specialized knowledge, which makes good collaborators essential. Dr. Chen believes that when specialists from different centres band together, they can bridge knowledge gaps to advance patient care. He feels fortunate to work with amazing collaborators, both nationally and internationally...
Read the full story on page 22 of our report!
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Dr. Lori Connors profiled in Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine News: "Leading through learning"
In this piece, Dr. Connors (Division of General Internal Medicine) shares her passion for education and commitment to lifelong learning, as well as the work and experiences that led her to her newest appointment as Associate Dean, CPDME:
"An early exposure to surgery planted the seed for a career in medicine for the newly appointed associate dean of continuing professional development and medical education (CPDME). Her love of science, combined with the intellectual challenge and complexity she later discovered in internal medicine, helped shape her path forward.
'I really liked science and gravitated towards medicine,' she says. 'I ended up in internal medicine because of the complexity of the patient and the amount of thinking required.'" Read the full story.
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Congrats to the Research, Innovation, and Quality (RIQ) Week Award Winners!
Our Research, Innovation, and Quality (RIQ) Week events on April 8 and 10 were a wonderful success thanks to the dedication, thoughtfulness, and creativity of everyone who participated. The ideas and projects shared at these two events were impressive and showed real promise in the delivery and improvement of patient care.
While every podium and poster presentation offered something compelling, there were a few whose combination of delivery, research, and ideas stood out among the rest. We're excited to announce the week's award winners:
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Ayla Rabbis, Best Core Presentation
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Jordan Thorne, Best Subspecialty Resident Presentation
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Maggie Pickard, Best Undergraduate Student Presentation
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Aran Thanamayooran, Best Graduate Student Presentation
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Selena Maxwell, Best Research Fellow Presentation
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David Yabar, Best Research Staff Presentation
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Razan Al-Sharkawi, Best Case Report Presentation
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Natalie Willett, Best Quality Improvement Presentation
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Jayd Adams, Best Innovation Presentation
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Yingying Xu, People's Choice (Tuesday Podium)
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Marihan Farid, People's Choice (Thursday Podium)
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Lucy Eum, People's Choice (Thursday Poster)
Congratulations to all, and thank you again to everyone who presented and took part. Until next year!
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Department of Medicine Awards - Nominations Extended to May 16!
Celebrate our colleagues’ achievements by nominating them for DOM Awards! The deadline for the following categories has been extended to May 16:
Brian M. Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Education
DoM Achievement Award
DoM Clinical Excellence Award
DoM Excellence in Leadership Award
DoM Excellence in Medical Education Award
DoM Excellence in Quality & Innovation Award
Outstanding Resident Award
Resident Research Excellence Awards
Resident Research Publication Awards
DoM Excellence in Administration Award
Department Awards - Department of Medicine - Dalhousie University
Have questions or need assistance gathering the required information for a nomination? Contact Kerri at kerry.purdy@nshealth.ca or Denise at denise.hatchette@nshealth.ca.
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Department of Medicine Committee Nominations - Deadline Extended to May 16!
The Department of Medicine is seeking interested individuals for vacancies in the following committees: Awards & Recognition; Education; Quality, Innovation and Safety; Nominating; Research; Resident Research; and Promotions.
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For self-nominations – please submit your name and statement of interest
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If you are nominating a colleague – please discuss with them so they are aware of the nomination and submit their name and why it would be best for them to join the committee
Contact theresa.steele@nshealth.ca to submit nominations by Friday May 16, 2025.
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Dalhousie Medical School Convocation, May 30
It's that time of year! In May and June, undergraduate and graduate students will be making their way across the stage to receive their well-earned degrees.
The convocation ceremony for graduates of the Faculty of Medicine will take place at 10:00 am on Friday, May 30.
Don't miss this chance to show your support for these future leaders. Details for graduates and attendees can be found at Convocation | Welcome to Dalhousie University.
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May 31 - Departmental Deadline for Academic Promotion Applications
Until May 31, the Department of Medicine is accepting faculty applications for academic promotion to be considered in the 2025-26 academic year.
The deadline for application submission is May 31, 2025. Please contact Heather.Fraser@nshealth.ca if you have any questions about the process or application document requirements.
For more information about promotions at Dalhousie University, visit: https://medicine.dal.ca/for-faculty-staff/promotion_tenure.html
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Save the Date! DoM Awards Extravaganza June 17 and Spring Party June 19
Mark your calendars for two exciting Department of Medicine events next month. During Grand Rounds on Tuesday, June 17, we'll be hosting the DoM Awards Extravaganza, awarding many deserving residents, physicians, faculty, and researchers for their exemplary contributions.
Then, from 6-8 pm on Thursday, June 19, we welcome all members of the Department of Medicine to drop in and join us for a celebration of our award winners at our Spring Party at the Halifax Marriot Harbourfront Hotel.
Details for both events will be shared over email in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes on your inboxes. In the meantime, if you have questions about either event, please contact Theresa Steele at theresa.steele@nshealth.ca.
| | Latest Learning Opportunities | | NSH Wellness Resource - TELUS Health One | | |
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TELUS Health One
Physicians and staff of Nova Scotia Health now have access to TELUS Health One – a platform where you can get confidential support for your mental health and much more – as part of the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
The platform and EAFP include a range of mental health services and wellbeing features tailored to your workplace. Join now to create your TELUS One account and explore all it has to offer.
(In future newsletters, we'll add this resource to our recurring mental health and wellness content below.)
| | | Quick Reference / Recurring Content | | 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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