Spring 2023 | {View as Webpage}

Welcome to the Spring 2023 Edition of the NRC Faculty Focus newsletter. This monthly e-newsletter will bring you news and events related to the Niagara Regional Campus. If you have any suggestions or would like to submit an article or event, please contact Jennifer Tran

The Niagara Regional Campus is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigenous reconciliation and social justice in all that we do. 

To further deepen our understanding of these topics we also have purchased some focused reading in these areas that will be available for borrow from the NRC library and will focus on one of these books each month. This month the focus is on From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada by Jody Wilson-Raybould. This book is a collection of reflections from speeches made over a ten-year period by Jody Wilson-Raybould, a prominent Indigenous Canadian who has held the position of Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for British Columbia, Member of Parliament and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. This writing outlines actions that must be taken by governments, Indigenous Nations and all Canadians to achieve true reconciliation in this country.



Niagara Health continues on its journey towards improving the quality and safety of care for Indigenous patients. The Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation Team is working to address systemic barriers and bias that can lead to negative Indigenous patient experiences and engaging with the community about how best to support and care for Indigenous Peoples. The implementation of this team is an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to make NH a more culturally sensitive and inclusive organization. 

MacEssentials Tutor Training

We are excited to announce the latest addition to our MacEssentials Tutor Training: our new e-modules! These asynchronous modules offer academic credit and are designed to complement our revamped virtual workshop, now offered four times a year and shortened to 90 minutes. Our e-modules are available to both new and experienced tutors and can be accessed here. Aspiring tutors are required to complete MacEssentials Tutor Training as a prerequisite to joining the UGME program.

Interested in becoming a tutor with the UGME program? For more information or to register for our next MacEssentials workshop, scheduled for May 10, 2023 at 6pm via Zoom, please email Dagmar Todd. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your tutoring skills with MacEssentials Tutor Training!

CALL FOR UGME ELECTIVES PRECEPTOR

URGENT CALL FOR ELECTIVE CAPACITY

The Undergraduate Medical Education program has an urgent and unprecedented need for elective capacity. Electives are a core curricular component of the program; inability to provide adequate experiences puts UME accreditation in jeopardy and could result in delayed graduation of our students.

We are in urgent need of at least 50 spots per rotation for:

• July 3 - 16, 2023
• July 17 - 30, 2023
• July 31 - August 13, 2023
• August 14 - August 20, 2023

If you/your group have capacity to supervise elective learners during any of the above elective blocks, please sign up below!

15 Years: The Big Move, Cancer Ride

Save the date for the Big Move Cancer Ride Sunday, September 10th, 2023. White Meadows Far is excited to host the 15th annual event in support of the Walker Family Cancer Care. Join hundreds of Niagara residents as they take to the roads of Pelham for the Big Moves 25K, 50K, 85K, or 12K family ride.

The McMaster Adjuvants have raised over $120,000 to date, in support of providing needed services locally. A combination of faculty, students, family members and supports help by riding and/or raising funds. Volunteers are needed! Please consider joining the McMaster Adjuvants team in whatever way you are able to do so!

Dr. Michael and Mrs. Janice Brent MD Bursary

Congratulations to Kelsey Allen, Class of 2025, a proud Mi'kmaq woman, and first-generation university graduate, for being awarded the Dr. Michael and Mrs. Janice Brent MD Bursary. This bursary, established in 2022, is intended to support an Indigenous MD student through their three years of training. The decision to award the busry was made by members of the UGME Program, the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge, and the Indigenous Student Services.

"I am honoured to be the inaugural recipient of The Dr. Michael and Mrs. Janice Brent MD Bursary. This bursary is an investment in both me and my community and will support me in advancing my education. I would like to thank the outstanding community of Indigenous women who have gone before me, who have paved the way for me to be in this profession, and who continue to help me walk this path."

As the current VP of Indigenous Health on the McMaster Medical Student Council, Kelsey is an advocate for integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and two-eyed seeing into medical education. She aims to create a learning space that amplifies Indigenous voices and empowers Indigenous students to pursue their passions. The bursary will undoubtedly have a significant impact on Kelsey's ability to focus on her studies and achieve her goals.

McMaster Medical Student Research Excellence Award (MAC RES)

Congratulations to Muizz Hussain, Class of 2025, for receiving one of the 2023 annual MAC RES awards!

Project Title: Global Health Education in Canadian Anesthesia Residency Program: A Survey of Opportunities and Attitudes

Supervisor and Department: Daniel Cordovani, Anesthesia

"Truthfully, I was quite shocked that I was one of the winners for the MAC RES award! However, I'm so grateful for it since it will not only help me work on my research centered around current global health initiatives in Canadian anesthesia residency programs, but will also be a means to further my mentoring relationship with the project supervisor, Dr. Cordovani!"

Your innovative research and dedication to advancing medical knowledge is truly inspiring. Congratulations on this well-deserving achievement.

Niagara Health Medical Staff Association (MSA) Medical Student Scholarship

The Niagara Health Medical Staff Association (MSA) Medical Student Scholarship is awarded annually to members of the graduating class of the Niagara Regional Campus who show commitment to eventually practicing in the Niagara Region.

The Niagara Regional Campus is thrilled to announce Josiah Coolen and Mario Hanna, Class of 2023 as the recipient of this award.

It is with great joy that both Josiah and Mario will be returning to Niagara for their family medicine residencies and hope this is part of the path to future practice in Niagara.

Niagara Regional Campus Leadership Opportunities

CLINICIAN SCIENTIST IN FAMILY MEDICINE

The Niagara Regional Campus is seek to fill the position of Clinician Scientist with a family physician who has a Niagara-based practice, and who has, is developing or has interest in developing a program of research within equity-deserving and underserved populations that will provide benefits to care in the Niagara region.

To view the terms of reference, click here

Interested application for this position should submit a cover letter and CV to Melanie Pulling. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. 

UGME Leadership Opportunities

DIRECTOR, CAREER DEVELOPMENT

The MD program is seeking a faculty educator to serve as Director, Career Development. The Director of Career Development will be responsible for coordinating, developing and overseeing formal and informal educational programming related to career exploration and development within the distributed medical education network of McMaster's MD Program. The Director will work with MD program Career Counselors, Chairs of Student Affairs and Chair of Electives to ensure an integrated, programmatic and cohesive approach.

Interested applicants should email their curriculum vitae and cover letter to Jen Lourenco for a complete job description. The position will remain open until May 15, 2023. Interviews for this position will be held at the end of day on May 31, 2023.

CHAIR, STUDENT AFFAIRS

The MD program is seeking a faculty educator and leader to serve as Chair of Student Affairs. The Chair is responsible for overseeing a program to support students' well-being and success throughout the medical program across the distributed medical education network of McMaster's MD Program. The ideal candidate will also be committed to student wellness, and principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Interested application for this position should submit a CV and a letter of interest to Jen Lourenco for a complete job description. The position will remain open until May 15, 2023. Interviews for this position will be held at the end of the day on June 5, 2023.

Program for Faculty Development (MacPFD)

MacPFD Presents: MacPFD16th Annual Day in Faculty Development

When: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 12:00 - 4:00PM

Where: Delivered virtually.

Join us, as we Engage, Develop, and Inspire faculty and health professionals around the world to advance inclusive excellence in their academic, training, and practice environments.

Overall Learning Objectives:

• Describe challenges and opportunities for promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in their respective practice and education environments;
• Identify strategies health professionals and educators can take to support institutional and health professional program EDI goals;
• Address and identify personal actions one can take to support and advance EDI initiatives that recognize facets of institutional culture, power and privileges, and effective allyship

2023 Research in Progress Rounds

The David Braley Primary Care Research Collaborative (PCRC) at McMaster University's Department of Family Medicine advances knowledge to strengthen and advocate for primary care practice, education, and policy through proactive research relevant to the issues of today.

The PCRC works to:

• Build capacity for primary care research, including training, resources, mentorship opportunities
• Generate knowledge through innovative research programs that inform primary care practice, education, and policy
• Facilitate integration of new and existing knowledge to clinical practice, education, and primary care systems and policies
• Enhance health equity by developing and supporting a culture and approach to primary care research that incorporates, values, and enhances equity for Indigenous, racialized, and other equity-deserving groups

At the PCRC, we define research broadly to include all types of inquiry - from applying existing knowledge in new and creative ways to generating knowledge through grant-funded research projects. All these forms of inquiry allow us to better understand the world around us, solve problems, inform decisions, foster innovation, and promote critical thinking.

Niagara Health launches research institute with McCall MacBain Foundation funding

Launched in St. Catharines Tuesday, May 2, the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute (NHKI) is on a mission to lead community hospital-based research in Canada and advance healthcare and health service delivery through research, quality improvement and education. The NHKI will transform healthcare in Niagara through knowledge generation and mobilization, and help position Niagara Health as a national leader in research at community hospitals.

Dr. Amanda Bell said the institute will also offer a "scholarly approach to health professionals' education, by engaging in medical education research, development of curriculum, professional development offerings and collaboration with other educational institutions on academic projects." Click here to read more about the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute announcement.

Niagara Region

New permanent Niagara Region Medical Officer of Health appointed

The Niagara Regional Council, as Niagara's Board of Health, is pleased to share the appointment of Dr. Azim Kasmani (Public Health & Preventative Medicine) as permanent Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner of Public Health and Emergency Services for Niagara Region.

Dr. Kasmani joined the Region as Associate Medical Officer of Health in August of 2021, and since that time has provided sound medical advice and leadership to many key strategic projects within Public Health and Emergency Services and in coordination with community partners. Dr. Kasmani attended McMaster University for his undergraduate degree and medical school followed by Queen's University for specialty training in Public Health and Preventative Medicine. Dr. Kasmani is a Niagara Regional Campus faculty and takes students and residents on public health placements in NIagara.

Congratulations Dr. Kasmani!

REACH Niagara

Seeking New Board Members

Passionate about making a difference in your community? Interested in using your experience to advance a pretty amazing organization? Consider joining REACH NIagara, Board of Directors!

Applications will be accepted from candidates across the NIagara Region.

We welcome applications from a wide range of people with experience in:

• board governance,
• finance,
• community leadership,
• fundraising,
• the not-for-profit sector; and/or
• experience working with the marginalized population

Interested applicants should submit an expression of interest and attached your resume to: Francine Geikie, Nominations Committee.

Health and Safety:

• Guidelines for Managing Student Concerns in UGME
• Guidelines for the Support of Learners During an Influenza Pandemic or Localized Outbreak

Mistreatment:

• Code of Conduct for Faculty and Procedure for Taking Disciplinary Action
• Conflict of Interest Guidelines: Undergraduate and Graduate Studies
• McMaster University Policy on Accessibility
• McMaster Discrimination and Harassment Policy
• Professional Responsibilities in Undergraduate Medical Education
• Violence in the Workplace
• Prevention of Undue Bias in Student Assessment

Professionalism:

• Guideline to Standards of Professional Behaviour and Complaint Resolution for Students and Faculty
• Professionalism Discussion Report
• Professionalism in Practice