October 2016 Newsletter

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    Meet the Chiefs

    The chief residents in the Family Medicine program at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, serve as an important resource to the department and the resident body. They provide ongoing support and leadership and operate as mentors and advocates for the program. Meet the 2016/2017 Chief Residents (L-R): Drs. Aaron Sacheli, Kristin Chow, and Steve Cornish.

  • decorative imageChair's Message – Bill 41 Legislation
    The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in Ontario has reintroduced the Patients First Legislation, now known as Bill 41... A key goal of the legislation is better coordination of primary care services at a local level and better access for patients. It behooves us all as family physicians to take advantage of local efforts to bring doctors together and to engage with LHIN planners and help design a system that will work for us all.

  • decorative imagePostgraduate Program Report
    It’s that time of year again. The Faculty Advisor (FA) plays a very important role in the resident’s personal and professional development. The faculty advisor meetings are also an opportunity for mentorship. This is an opportunity to review the resident’s progress and ensure that they are on track.

  • decorative imageGraduate Program Report
    Our 39th year of the Graduate Program launched with our two week on-site, which commenced on September 19th. We welcomed four new MClSc students and one PhD student. Fifteen graduate students participated in various classes during the on-site.

  • decorative imageCommunity News
    Family Doctor Week in Canada (FDW) will be recognized from November 7–12, 2016. This celebratory week provides governments, health care organizations, colleagues and the public an opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by family doctors to improve the health and well-being of their patients.

  • decorative imageDr. Stewart Harris reappointed as the Ian McWhinney Chair of Family Medicine Studies
    Dr. Stewart Harris has been reappointed as the Ian McWhinney Chair of Family Medicine Studies for the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021.

  • decorative imageChanges to the Family Medicine Clerskship rotation
    The undergraduate program is excited to announce changes to the Family Medicine Clerskship rotation. New this year, students will have the opportunity to attend two academic half-days during their six-week rotation, made up of topics from the Shared Canadian Curriculum in Family Medicine (SHARC-FM) program as well as key learning objectives in addictions and palliative care.

  • decorative imageRegistration for the 20th annual Resident Retreat is now open
    The FMRW annual Fall Retreat is an interactive conference designed to provide a forum for the exploration of practice opportunities, as well as the presentation of leading-edge information in legal, professional and business issues as they relate to medical practice. It is also a fun weekend that encourages networking and socializing with your fellow residents. Register Today.

  • decorative imageDr. Helena Hamdan is continuing the tradition of sharing lessons in patient care
    Alumnus and family physician, Dr. Helena Hamdan is using the lessons she learned from some of Schulich Medicine’s outstanding faculty as she recruits, teaches and mentors learners. By Jennifer Parraga.

  • decorative imageFamily Medicine celebrates second annual Dr. Ian McWhinney Lecture Series
    The department celebrated Dr. Ian McWhinney, the founding father of family medicine in Canada, with the second annual Dr. Ian McWhinney Lecture Series on September 21, 2016. Dr. Marie-Dominique Beaulieu delivered the keynote presentation, "The Perils and Promise of Proximity."

  • decorative imageDr. Jeff Blackmer discusses medical assistance in dying
    Dr. Jeff Blackmer, Vice President, Medical Professionalism, Canadian Medical Association, discussed medical assistance in dying with Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry's Senior Media Relations Officer, Crystal Mackay, following the Lecture and Expert Panel Discussion on Periscope TV.

  • decorative imageThe R.E.A.L. Life Project
    In the first installment of the R.E.A.L. Life photo essay series, we get an insider’s view of the learning that takes place in the Cardiac and Intensive Care Unit at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. Follow faculty member Dr. Timothy Burns and three Schulich Medicine & Dentistry residents, including Family Medicine resident Dr. Mark Mousseau, as they complete morning rounds...

  • decorative imageFamily Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) Mix & Mingle event
    The annual FMIG Mix & Mingle event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 22 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at The Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine. Medical students will have a chance to meet residents and physicians in a relaxed atmosphere in which they can converse about residency programs, family medicine practice, and anything else they choose. Please email the FMIG co-chairs if you can attend...

  • decorative imageDr. Henry Chapeskie publishes paper in Canadian Family Physician
    Dr. Henry Chapeskie published his paper, "Evaluation of the safety of epinephrine in digital nerve blockade - Retrospective case series analysis of 1334 toe surgeries" in Canadian Family Physician. The study demonstrates the safety of adjuvant vasopressor use in digital nerve blockade of the toes within a large, diverse population.

  • decorative imageDr. Samuel Appavoo and his Goderich colleagues publish paper
    Dr. Samuel Appavoo and his Goderich colleagues published their paper, 'Community emergency department utilization following a natural disaster (the Goderich Tornado)' in Rural and Remote Health journal. The article examines the utilization of an Emergency Department during the subacute period following a natural disaster...

  • decorative imageNew Grant Funding
    Principal Investigator, Moira Stewart, received new grant funding for Transdisciplinary Understanding and Training on Research - Primary Health Care (TUTOR-PHC). Co-Investigators: Ashcroft R, Beaulieu MD, Brown JB, Burge F, Dolovich L, Fortin M, Goudreau J, Haggerty J, Harris S, Kothari A, Martin-Misener R, Quinlan E, Ramsden V, Reid G, Sampalli T, Terry A, Thind A, Thomas R, Vingilis E, Wong S.

  • decorative imageTUTOR-PHC is now accepting applications
    TUTOR-PHC (Transdisciplinary Understanding and Training on Research - Primary Health Care) is a one-year, pan-Canadian interdisciplinary research capacity building program that has been training primary and integrated health care researchers and decision-makers from family medicine, nursing, psychology, epidemiology, social work, education, policy and many other disciplines since 2003.

  • decorative imageDepartment Spotlight: Obstetrical Skills Day
    First year family medicine residents will attend the third annual Obstetrical Skills Day on November 16. A dedicated group of staff and faculty will come together under the leadership of Dr. Laura Lyons to run an informative 1/2 day workshop with hands-on rotating work stations covering everything from the mechanics of a normal vaginal birth to diagnosing and treating a shoulder dystocia.

  • decorative imageOctober 2016 Research and Publications
    The department of family medicine is at the forefront of research in primary health care. Among the areas of focus for research are patient-centered care, clinical practice guidelines, health promotion, population health, care of the elderly, health services and information technology.

  • decorative imageEvents
    Mark your calendars for the annual Family Medicine Forum on November 9-12, 2016. Save the date for the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) Annual Meeting on November 12-16, 2016, and the Ontario College of Family Physicians 2016 Annual Scientific Assembly on November 24-26, 2016.

  • decorative imageTop Stories from our September newsletter
    Postgraduate Program Report, Community News: Dr. Susan Batten.