June 2014

Chief Operating Officer

Dwayne Martins

  • Thanks to all who were able to join us for the Faculty/Staff BBQ in London.
  • A number of researchers have been working hard to apply for significant grants from the major granting agencies throughout the country this summer, we wish them success and look forward to hearing positive news in the near future.
  • Please be reminded that a number of people are away throughout the summer for a well-deserved summer vacation and that it is important that you leave vacation messages on your phones and computers letting everyone know when you will be returning and who to contact while you are away.

Media Relations

Crystal MacKay

  • Kathy Wallis retired on June 27 and we wish her all the best in this new and exciting chapter of her life. Crystal Mackay moved into Kathy's post on July 1. Please contact Crystal if you have stories or publications that would be of interest to media.
  • This month we had extensive national coverage in the media on Dr. Sisira Sarma's research paper showing a correlation between living in fast-food dense locales and obesity. The story was covered in the National Post, Globe and Mail, CTV and Global News, CBC and others.
  • Dr. Evelyn Vingilis' paper showing a link between Ontario's tougher speeding penalties and a reduction in traffic fatalities also garnered national news coverage.

Facilities

Kevin Inchley

  • HSA 101 renovations are underway and proceeding well. Completion is scheduled for late August.
  • MSB 384 renovations will begin soon and are expected to be complete in late August.
  • MSB 016 through 029 renovations will begin soon and are expected to be complete in late August.

Research

Mady Hymowitz

  • We are working with Research Western, Lawson, and other Western faculties to coordinate and implement a city-wide integrated process for support of the CIHR Foundation Pilot applications.
  • June was a very busy month for grant applications, with deadlines for Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) and Ontario Research Fund - Research Excellence (ORF-RE).

Basic Medical Sciences

Basic Medical Sciences Undergraduate Education (BMSUE)
Dr. Candace Gibson

  • Plans are underway for the second annual "Welcome and Information Session for Medical Sciences First Entry" during O-week. Using twitter and interactive activities, representatives from all the Basic Medical Science departments will provide a brief introduction to their discipline.
  • Approximately 850 students have been admitted to the new "Medical Sciences First Entry" program for 2014/15, many of whom will pursue modules leading to a BMSc degree or the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience. More students have been admitted to Medical Sciences First Entry than originally predicted and enrollment in Medical Sciences 1 is higher than in 2013/14. The acceptance rate for Medical Sciences First Entry is the highest of any faculty or program in Year one at Western for 2014/15.
  • Enrolment in basic medical science courses for 2014/15 is underway and will be ongoing until early September. Enrolment reports are being sent weekly to departments.
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Dr. Andrew Watson

  • Dean Strong has announced a second Dean's award. This award will be offered in a new decanal Schulich Graduate Student Scholarship for recruited PhD students to Schulich Graduate Programs starting from May 1, 2014 until April 31, 2015. This scholarship, valued at $2,000.00 per year for the full duration of their residency, will be provided annually as a PhD student stipend support.
  • July 18 is the deadline date for Thesis Defense Only status - Fall is fast approaching!

Communications

Jennifer Parraga

  • As part of the School's website redevelopment project, we successfully launched three new websites in June: Undergraduate Medical Education, Biochemistry and a brand new Strategic Plan website.      
  • We are continuing to work with our 26 Phase Two departments, programs and groups. Throughout the summer months we will be working with them on developing their new website map, training, building the frame of their new website and starting content migration.
  • Plans are underway for See the Line - a full day of educational presentations through a CME and Symposium.
  • Homecoming activities are in planning mode. Learn more here.

Information Services

Sergio Rodriguez

  • The graduate student lab in Epidimiology and Biostatistics was recently migrated from desktop computers to virtual desktops (VDI) - virtual desktops provide a more flexible environment and lower cost of ownership in terms of computing equipment for the lab. There are also significant power consumption savings with the new devices which helps to lower the schools (and Western's) overall energy footprint. Beginning in mid-July, the VERC facility will also be migrated fully (in addition to the 10 device pilot) to virtual desktops providing a better environment in time for the beginning of the next academic year.
  • Room renovations and AV upgrades - HSA 101 renovation is currently on schedule. When the physical renovation is completed, the AV integrator will begin the work of the new AV system installation which is currently scheduled to be completed by mid-august. In addition to the HSA 101 upgrade there are a number of other rooms that are being upgraded in terms of their AV this summer including MSB 384 and CSB 2721.
  • Mobile Printing - The IS Helpdesk working in conjunction with Western libraries have deployed a mobile (tablets and mobile phones) printing solution for the MPH program which is working quite well. IS is also internally piloting another mobile printing solution for users on our Novell network. More on this initiative as it progresses.   

Project Management Office/Strategic Technology Commons

Dale Shelley

  • The PMO is reinstating the administrative operations review for Grad Studies and BMSUE that had to be delayed earlier this year. Appointments will be arranged for July and early August for stakeholders involved in this area of the School. Any questions or comments can be directed to pmo.inquiry@schulich.uwo.ca 
  • Strategic Technology Commons is participating in the evaluation of courses vis-a-vis the Instructional Design Committee, as well as working with IS on various projects related to curriculum delivery. Anyone interested in Instructional Design or Training or for any consultation requests are reminded to contact stc@schulich.uwo.ca for requests.
  • The SOP (standard operating procedures) workshop is back on-line. Please contact susan.morgan@schulich.uwo.ca, or stc@schulich.uwo.ca for more information, to book a session or for advice or guidance.

Education 

John Ruicci

  • Final reports of the ISSTF Sub Committees are nearly complete. The UME Accreditation team continues to finalize the Data Collection Instrument (DCI) including preparation of narrative entries to accompany data and tables, the elimination of all acronyms, integration of the appendices, and a thorough review to identify strengths of weaknesses of the curricular program and of the medical school. The LCME CACMS site visit is April 12-14, 2015.
  • First Quarter Medical Training Day data reports have been compiled and sent to departments for review before being sent to the Ministry under the new Schulich MTD data collection initiative. Under the new system, rather than each hospital producing an MTD report and sending it to the MOHLTC, each medical school in consultation with the hospitals in their region will produce and submit one MTD report. Schulich Medicine and Dentistry is responsible for reporting MTDs for all hospitals within Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) 1 and 2. This new process is to be implemented for the current (i.e., 2014/2015) fiscal year. Schulich Medicine and Dentistry was a leader in Ontario in integrating data sources and preparing for this initiative, and the only school that was fully prepared for full implementation for this fiscal year.