DoM November 2024 Newsletter
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- The " Short" Report from Dr. Christine Short
- Important dates
- Member updates
- DoM Research Evening recap
- Halloween costume contest results
- Awards and recognitions
- DoM in the news
- A continuation of our "Conflict and Culture" series
- Research
- Mentoring opportunity
- Learning opportunities
- Quick reference / recurring content
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The "Short" Report from Dr. Christine Short | |
Important Dates for DoM Members | |
Dates in this segment are intended to help DoM members stay up to date on opportunities to engage, reflect, and contribute to both the department’s work and the broader healthcare community — from commemorative days, weeks, and months that highlight important themes in medicine, to operational deadlines and events. | |
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November 30 - Deadline for Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Award Nominations
The Canadian Medical Association’s annual awards celebrate changemakers from across the country for their significant contributions to health, health care and the medical profession.
Recipients of the CMA Awards come from different career stages, specialties and backgrounds, and from rural and remote areas as well as big cities. They also reflect the diversity of the profession and the communities we serve.
The nomination period for the 2025 CMA Awards closes on November 30. Learn how to make your nomination, here.
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December 1 - Deadline for Doctors Nova Scotia Achievement Awards Nominations
Celebrate your dedicated colleagues! Sunday, Dec. 1, is the deadline to nominate someone for the 2025 Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) Achievement Awards, showcasing the hard work and dedication of members in every stage of practice, from medical students and residents to senior and retired physicians.
If you have someone in mind for this, now is the time to make it happen!
Fill out a nomination form by Dec. 1 to nominate a colleague who deserves recognition for their commitment to patients, colleagues and the profession.
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December 5 - Holiday Party
Join us for our annual holiday party on December 5! This festive, drop-in event will be held at the Prince George Hotel from 6:30-9:30 pm. Mingle with your colleagues while enjoying appetizers and two complimentary drinks. All DoM members are welcome, and you are invited to bring a plus one as well.
If you haven't received a save-the-date for the party in your inbox, please email Nicole Chiasson at nicole.chiasson@nshealth.ca and she will forward it to you. See you there!
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December 6 - Medicine Matters
At this full-day, educational event on Friday, December 6, from 8:25 am - 4:15 pm, CHEB, Room 170 (Collaborative Health Building, 5793 University Ave), participants can expect to:
- Learn how to recognize when change is needed, and how to incorporate effective change using change management models
- Understand the basics of harm reduction approach, and the management of bacterial complications of injection drug use
- Be able to summarize the new recommendations based on evidence and expert clinical remarks for screening (ILD in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease, lung cancer), treatment (COPD), medications (obesity), and vaccinations.
- Learn how to integrate the new recommendations and guidelines in clinical practice
- Develop an informed approach to incorporating AI scribes in clinical encounters
- Understand the benefits and concerns of social media in medicine
Register for Medicine Matters here, and view the event program for full details.
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Annual Flu Campaign - Still Underway!
Nova Scotia Health's Annual Flu Campaign is still underway until mid-December. Click here to see the flu clinic schedules.
You can also get your flu vaccination from participating family doctors, nurse practitioners, family practice nurses, pharmacies, public health offices and mobile units. Here are some options for booking an appointment (including for COVID-19 vaccines):
If you receive your influenza immunization in the community, please report it to OHSW.
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Important Dates in the Community | |
In this segment, we highlight commemorative dates and periods of time that are of significant importance for members of our community. Building our awareness of and engagement with these dates, weeks, and months helps us connect to patients and, ultimately, each other, in more open, attuned, and caring ways. | |
November 25 to December 10 - 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and goes until December 10, Human Rights Day. This campaign started in 1991 to call out and speak up on gender-based violence, and to renew our commitment to ending violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.
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November 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
Just over a week ago was Transgender Day of Remembrance, an important day to honor the memory of transgender individuals whose lives were lost to violence.
In the DoM, our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, and accessibility (EDIRA) underscores the importance of fostering safe and inclusive spaces for everyone. As healthcare providers, educators, and advocates, we have a role to play in ensuring transgender individuals receive compassionate, respectful, and affirming care.
To learn more, and for a list of resources relevant for Nova Scotians, visit Transgender Day of Remembrance | Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
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Hindu Heritage Month
With origins dating back more than 5,000 years, Hinduism is the world’s oldest belief system. As the world’s third-largest religion, Hinduism is practised by 1 billion people across all the continents, with nearly 830,000 Hindus calling Canada their home.
Since 1903, when the first Hindu immigrants arrived in Canada, Hindu Canadians have made invaluable contributions to our country. They have enriched every facet of society, from the arts and sciences to medicine, teaching and politics.
Learn more.
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Lebanese Heritage Month
November 2023 was Canada's first-ever national Lebanese Heritage Month, giving us a significant opportunity to celebrate the culture, heritage, and contributions of Lebanese communities to our national fabric for more than 140 years.
When we collectively choose to celebrate a heritage month, we help communities feel more at home in Canada and create space for many Canadians to reconnect with their heritage and share their stories. We're grateful for the Lebanese legacy here.
Learn more.
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We welcome the following members to their new positions! | |
DoM Research Evening Recap | |
A Celebration of Excellence in Research: DoM Research Evening
The 2024 Department of Medicine Research Evening on November 19 was a night to remember, bringing together our community to celebrate research and innovation while overlooking Kjipuktuk’s harbour. The evening highlighted the breadth and depth of research happening across the department, fostering connections and inspiring collaboration along the way.
Attendees were treated to three engaging presentations:
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Dr. Ravi Ramjeesingh (Division of Medical Oncology) explored the challenges and opportunities in “Patient-Centered Care in Cirrhosis.”
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Dr. Amy Trottier (Division of Hematology) shed light on the complexities of “Rheumatic Complications of Immunotherapy: More Questions than Answers.”
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Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie (Department of Medicine) shared important insights into “Lyme Disease in Nova Scotia.”
The evening also honoured excellence in research through the Research Excellence Awards:
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Dr. Amanda Vinson (Nephrology), was recognized for her leadership in kidney transplantation research, for publishing 33 manuscripts in 2023, and for securing over $3.5M in grant funding. Her work on sex and gender in health outcomes is internationally acclaimed.
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Dr. Janet Roberts (Rheumatology) for advancing immuno-oncology and implementation science through her leadership in the Canadian Research Group of Rheumatology in Immuno-Oncology (CanRIO) and for her dedication to mentoring trainees.
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Dr. Michael Stewart (Gastroenterology) for his impactful quality improvement and public health initiatives, including the GUT LINK pilot study and Colorectal Cancer Screening Disparities project.
Thank you to all who came. We look forward to next year!
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DoM Halloween Costume Contest Results | |
And the winner is: Diane Goodwin!
On October 31, we held our second annual departmental Halloween costume contest, and we were thrilled to see everyone's creativity and Halloween spirit on full display.
Among our bedecked crew, we had two avian-inspired costumes of a fully outfitted bird-watcher complete with binoculars and camera, a big yellow bird with an impressive head of feathers, and even the infamous leg lamp from the classic holiday movie A Christmas Story.
Our top contender, however, was Diane Goodwin from Geriatric Medicine who dressed as Mrs. Helen Roper from the hit 80's sitcom Three's Company.
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Congratulations, Diane! You'll receive lunch on us for your win. A big thanks to all who participated. Until next year! | |
River Philip Foundation gives $2.5M to Dalhousie medical research projects, which include projects initiated by members of the DoM
Drs. Ken Rockwood and Leah Cahill, along with Drs. Susan Howlett and Scott Grandy, have been awarded one of two prestigious $1 million Transformational Medical Research Grants to launch their groundbreaking STRONG study. These grants fuel research poised to make a significant impact locally and beyond. You can learn more about their study in the video above.
Dr. Nikil Thomas has received one of six Sustaining Excellence Grants for his innovative work investigating bacterial tyrosine kinase and screening molecules for drug development to combat enteric pathogens. These grants support earlier-stage researchers as they scale up to qualify for major national research funding.
Dalhousie University and the River Philip Foundation recently announced these 2024 River Philip Awards, which represent two grant programs: the Transformational Medical Research Grants and the Sustaining Excellence Grants.
Huge congratulations to Drs. Rockwood, Cahill, Howlett, Grandy, and Thomas! Read more about their historic wins in Dalhousie's Remedy Magazine.
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'Faith for the future': 82-year-old man living with stomach cancer shares his journey
In this article, Dr. Stephanie Snow speaks to CTV News Atlantic about her patient Frank Marshall's surprising journey with stage four stomach cancer to help raise awareness for Stomach Cancer Awareness Day, coming up on November 30. After discovering a 13-centimetre tumour, he underwent chemotherapy treatment that remarkably shrunk his tumour to less than 6 centimetres.
As journalist Stephanie Tsios writes, "He's considered a miracle patient with the way his cancer has responded to different treatments." She goes on to quote Dr. Snow, who says: "He's a perfect example of somebody who's living his best life with his cancer . . . When I first met him, of course, the diagnosis of an incurable cancer was hitting him and his family pretty hard, but now they've kind of settled into a routine."
Read the full article here.
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Threshold Singers bring comfort to patients in palliative care through simple, supportive song
In this article, Nova Scotia Health highlights how Basia Solarz (far right), one of the DoM's externally contracted consultants on conflict and culture (along with Brennan Dempsey and Diane LeBlanc), gives back to the community by doing something she loves. As co-founder of the Nova Scotia Threshold Singers, Basia and her group bring comfort and connection to patients on the QEII VG site’s palliative care unit through their weekly “comfort singing": soft, gentle, and universal songs that sounds like musical lullabies.
The initiative, inspired by Basia’s personal experiences and a larger global model, uses music to create profound human connections, even in the face of life’s most difficult moments. For Basia, this work stems from her belief in the healing power of song, as she experienced when singing for her father during his final days. The Threshold Singers exemplify how small, heartfelt actions can create lasting impacts, providing peace and presence to those they serve.
Read the full article here, and hear the singers talk about their work in this CBC interview with Portia Clarke.
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Conflict and Culture Series | |
To help further the work of our strategic plan, we are focusing on strengthening our toolkit to improve culture and address conflict in our workplace. Content is submitted by our externally contracted culture and conflict experts, Diane LeBlanc, Basia Solarz, and Brennan Dempsey. | |
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Kindness at Work: A Path to Growth and Collaboration
It is easy to underestimate the importance of kindness at work, even in caring settings. Often, in academic and popular literature, our focus is on bad behaviour. Books such as The No A**hole Rule convincingly make the case that organizations and leaders should have an extremely low tolerance for bad behaviour. However, psychological research has repeatedly demonstrated that positive reinforcement is a better way to shape behaviour than focusing on the negative, so we need something more than “don’t be mean.”
Kindness is often seen as an attribute that is nice to have, but not essential; in reality it is a key predictor of individual well-being, organizational success, and effective collaboration. Kindness reduces stress on both ends – the person being kind and the recipient alike show lower levels of anxiety. A culture of kindness reduces interpersonal conflict, making collaboration more common and more productive; when people are kind to one another at work, they tend to be more engaged and motivated.
Learning and growth depend on psychological safety, which is compromised by uncivil and unkind behaviour. But the reverse is also true: when people are treated with kindness, they are more willing to take risks, be creative, and innovate. They can learn and grow. And kind cultures also combat burnout and improve physical wellness, which helps attract and retain talented people.
Organizations can promote kindness in many ways, starting at the top – leaders can model kindness by publicly recognizing employee efforts and showing compassion when the going gets tough. Organizations can also prioritize psychological safety by encouraging and rewarding collaboration over competition and by providing people with multiple ways to communicate about issues. They can also highlight acts of kindness – many institutions try to promote the behaviour they would like to see by lauding and rewarding people. Wellness programs, inclusionary practices, and peer support are also instrumental in creating a culture of kindness.
I’ll give the last word to the novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald: “To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.”
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Dr. Thomas Brothers, who recently joined the DoM's General Internal Medicine (GIM) division, is a co-author on a national opioid use disorder management guideline published in the November 12 issue of the Canadian Medical Associate Journal (CMAJ). In it, he and several co-authors provide a synopsis of the 2024 update of the 2018 National Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder, from the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters.
Following the United States Institute of Medicine’s Standards for Developing Trustworthy Clinical Practice Guidelines and used the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation—Recommendation Excellence tool to ensure guideline quality, this group of researchers and clinicians carried out a comprehensive systematic literature review, capturing the relevant literature from Jan. 1, 2017, to Sept. 14, 2023. They also drafted and graded recommendations according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Development and Evaluation approach.
Read the full article here, and congratulations Dr. Brothers on this great achievement!
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Medical Education Research Roundtables
Held on MS Teams from 12-1 pm, roundtables will be taking place on the following dates:
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December 10: Rigour in Qualitative Inquiry Dr. Jacqueline Torti
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January 14: Developing and revising an interview guide for quality interviews: A real-life example Dr. Dawn Burleigh & Dr. Sarah Burm
(February to June dates TBD.)
For more information, please contact sara.burm@dal.ca.
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UIMRF Competition, 2024
Don't miss out! UIMRF is currently accepting applications for grant and fellowship funding for the following categories and deadlines:
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Matching Research Funds – deadline 4 weeks prior to external application deadline
If you haven't received them already, please contact DoMResearch@nshealth.ca for information and application forms.
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Sign up to become an OPOR Mentor or nominate a colleague!
NSH is looking for advanced users of the One Person One Record-Clinical Information System (OPOR-CIS) to become Peer Mentors to assist peers during implementation. A Peer Mentor has received advanced training in the new systems, and they will support teams by providing basic trouble shooting and issuing triage assistance. Peer mentors are knowledgeable about the OPOR-CIS solution and workflows, support their peers 1:1, in the classroom, and/or in learning labs.
If you are interested or know someone who would make a great fit, fill out the OPOR Peer Mentor Interest Enrollment form.
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Understanding Nova Scotia Health’s Medical By-Laws, Physician Complaints, and Disciplinary Process - December 10
This seminar will provide an overview of Nova Scotia Health's updated Medical By-Laws, the procedures for handling physician complaints, and the disciplinary process. Attendees will gain a thorough understanding of the regulations governing medical practice within Nova Scotia Health, how complaints are managed, and the steps involved in disciplinary actions. This event is essential for healthcare professionals, administrators, legal advisors, and medical students. More information and registration details, here.
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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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