Celebrating the Class of 2027 at the White Coat Ceremony

McMaster UGME celebrated the White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2027—a moment where students donned their white coats for the first time, symbolizing the beginning of their lifelong journey in medicine. Dean Paul O'Byrne opened the event by acknowledging the diverse backgrounds of the incoming class, while UGME Associate Dean Dr. Matt Sibbald emphasized the symbolism of the white coat as they embark on their medical careers. MMSC president Ethan Michalenko also expressed gratitude to the support networks that helped students reach this moment.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the alumni who contributed white coat notes and shared advice and encouragement with the new class. We also extend our thanks to everyone who helped organize the event and those who attended to celebrate and support the learners on this important day.

McMaster UGME Marks TRC Day with Indian Horse Screening

On September 29th, McMaster UGME hosted a special screening of Indian Horse across all three campuses in honor of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The event, held at Landmark Cinemas, featured opening remarks by Vice Dean Dr. Rob Whyte at the Hamilton location, while Chair of Indigenous Health, Dr. Patricia Farrugia, shared an introduction video shown at all three screenings. Attendees generously donated to local organizations supporting Indigenous communities. This powerful event reflected our ongoing commitment to understanding and healing as we reflect on Canada's history and the legacy of residential schools.

Thank You, Dr. Frank Murphy, for Advancing Dermatology Education

On behalf of the Undergraduate MD Program, we would like to thank Dr. Frank Murphy for his contributions to our clinical skills dermatology curriculum and wish him all the best in his retirement. Dr. Murphy has demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching our learners in undergraduate medical education for many years, including playing a pivotal role in teaching dermatology both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Murphy recently helped lead the development of our longitudinal integrated dermatology curriculum incorporating linked American Academy of Dermatology curriculum modules, which will continue to benefit students in the years to come. Thank you Dr. Murphy!

Remembering Reg Quart

The Department of Family Medicine’s inaugural Niagara Site Director, Dr. Reg Quart, passed away unexpectedly on October 1, 2024. Reg had retired to Chicago, but was a long-time member of our department who will be remembered for his passion for family medicine, big laugh, generous spirit, love for animals and family as well as his appreciation for the finer things in life.

We remain very grateful for his contributions to the development of the residency program’s Niagara Site and his enthusiasm for medical education in the region.

First student to complete an Area of Focused Professional Development designation

Congratulations to Nicky Dunn, MMSC President Class of 2025, for earning an Area of Focused Professional Development (AFPD) in Leadership. 

We are thrilled to celebrate Nicky Dunn’s achievement in earning an Area of Focused Professional Development (AFPD) in Leadership.  This accomplishment showcases his dedication to growing as a leader in both the clinical and non- clinical setting. The AFPD is a unique professional development portfolio available to MD students, offering opportunities in Leadership, Health Innovation, Research and Scholarship, and Service-Learning. It allows students to deepen their expertise and enhance their graduating competencies.

Nicky pursued his AFPD in Leadership to strategically develop his leadership skills. This portfolio not only complements his extracurricular leadership roles but also allowed him to strengthen his leadership skills in his clinical work. Reflecting on his journey, Nicky shares: “I think it's helpful to know that doing your AFPD in a given area does not exclude you from participating in activities in other areas,” says Nicky, “For my AFPD in Leadership, for example, most of my work has been in various leadership roles, but I have also participated in medical education research that aligns with the goals of my AFPD and my career aspirations. This can be said for doing an AFPD in Service-Learning as well - most of your work can be doing direct community service, but you can also do research about serving community needs in a given discipline, etc. Be creative with it!”

Nicky's commitment to leadership is inspiring, and we can’t wait to see how he continues to shape the future of medical education. Congratulations, Nicky, on this outstanding achievement!

Elena Kum (C26) Publishes Research in Respiratory Medicine

Congratulations to Elena Kum, a UGME Class of 2026 and MD/PhD student, on her recent publication in the European Respiratory Journal. Her research introduces the McMaster Cough Severity Questionnaire (MCSQ), a tool developed to assess the efficacy of treatments for chronic cough in clinical trials. The MCSQ is already being used in studies involving conditions like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, and COPD and will also support standardized patient monitoring in clinical practice. Elena’s work is supported by a MAC RES award, a CIHR Doctoral Scholarship, and a HAHSO Innovation Grant, under the supervision of Dr. Imran Satia.

Read the full paper here.

Service-Learning Opportunity: Rock Chapel Tree Planting

McMaster UGME students are invited to participate in a Service-Learning event with Trees for Hamilton and the Royal Botanical Gardens, helping plant trees at Rock Chapel on November 9th from 9:30 a.m. to noon. This hands-on activity provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to environmental sustainability while engaging with the local community. All participants will be involved in planting native trees to enhance Hamilton’s green spaces.

Interested students can sign up using the sign-up form. Don’t miss the chance to make a positive impact on the environment!

DEI and Health Equity Knowledge Exchange Conference

On December 5, 2024, Niagara Health will host Transforming Care: DEI and Health Equity Knowledge Exchange at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre. This event is designed to help organizations integrate DEI and health equity into their practices. Attendees will benefit from keynote speakers leading Ontario's health equity efforts, breakout sessions covering DEI, Indigenous health, sociodemographic data, health equity strategy, and more, as well as a panel discussion.



This collaborative conference offers a virtual morning option for those unable to attend in person.

Learn more and register here.

Class of 2025

With residency applications approaching, Student Affairs' Career Team is available to provide guidance. Second Round Appointments are currently in progress, offering students the opportunity to review residency application strategies and receive feedback on CVs and Personal Statement Letters. The Career Counselling and Resources section on Medportal offers valuable guides and tips to assist in preparing application packages. Key CaRMS deadlines should be noted, and the Career Team is ready to assist with any questions or concerns throughout the process.

Class of 2026

As second-year students gain exposure to different specialties through pre-clerkship electives and prepare for full clinical immersion in clerkship, thoughts about potential career paths may arise. To support this process, second-year students are encouraged to book a 30-minute Career Counselling appointment to discuss ideas, ask questions, and clarify any misconceptions regarding career selection. Assistance with booking appointments is available through the Student Affairs support team.

Additionally, students are advised to save the date for the upcoming "Ask Me Anything" Career Selection Session: Narrowing Down My Medical Interests, scheduled for Friday, November 1, from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. This session will feature physicians from various specialties sharing their career journeys. More details to follow!

Class of 2027

The Student Affairs Career Counselling team is excited to welcome and support the Class of 2027 as they begin their medical journey. Many first-year students have already taken advantage of 30-minute Career Counselling appointments, and all students are encouraged to do the same. MedPortal also offers excellent resources to explore. Assistance with booking appointments is available through the Student Affairs support team.

In addition, the upcoming "Ask Me Anything" Career Exploration Session, Discovering and Assessing Your Medical Interests, will be held virtually on Friday, October 25, from 8 to 9 a.m. This session will provide valuable insights into career exploration.

MedPortal Resources

A new resource, CV Templates for Residency Applications, is now available on Medportal to help students refine their CVs. Developed by the Career Counselling team, this resource incorporates insights from years of experience with McMaster medical students who successfully matched to their preferred programs, as well as the latest trends in CV development.

Students can access the templates on the Career Counselling landing page under Your Career Journey > Tab 4 > CV and Documents. Be sure to explore this helpful tool as part of residency application preparation.

CAPD Mentorship Program Registration Now Open

The Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities (CAPD) Mentorship Program is now accepting registrations. This program connects Canadian medical students and residents who share experiences of disability, chronic illness (physical or mental), neurodivergence, or the need for academic accommodations. By offering confidential support, the program fosters a community for participants to provide or receive guidance based on shared experiences.

Registration is open for both mentors and mentees. For more information, contact Shira Gertsman or Jordana Waserman.

• Mentor Registration Form (2nd-year medical students and above, residents): Sign up here.
• Mentee Registration Form (medical students of all years): Sign up here.

For more details, visit the CAPD Mentorship Program website.