December 2018 Newsletter
From all of us to all of you
The Department of Family Medicine would like to wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season. Our office will close for the holidays on Friday, December 21 and reopen on Thursday, January 3, 2019.
Chair's Message
As we approach the end of the year I want to sincerely thank all the clinician teachers, graduate studies teachers and primary care researchers across our whole network in Southwestern Ontario for all that you do to support our Department of Family Medicine in achieving our strategic goals. Many department staff in various roles contribute to that success and I thank you all for that as well.
Postgraduate Program Report
Congratulations on a great Enhanced Skills match. We are thrilled that top ranked candidates were accepted into our program and will continue on their family medicine career with Western. The CaRMS recruitment weekend is rapidly approaching. We can’t showcase our great residency training program without your help. Learn More.
Graduate Program Report
Congratulations to Dr. Sajitha Rahman (India) who has recently completed the requirements of the MClSc program. Dr. Rahman will be graduating in absentia in February. As we near the end of 2018 we wish to express our sincere gratitude to our new and continuing Graduate Studies Faculty for their time and commitment to the MClSc and PhD programs. We look forward to a busy and productive year in 2019. Our sincere Best Wishes for the Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
In Memoriam: Dr. Joshua Shadd
With sadness, we share news of the passing of Dr. Joshua Shadd, formerly of our Department of Family Medicine and, at present, a faculty member in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster.- Award: Dr. Jamie Dr. Wickett recognized by CAME with Certificate of Merit
Congratulations Dr. Jamie Wickett on receiving the 2019 Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Certificate of Merit Award for Western University. 
Family Medicine celebrates the holidays
The Department of Family Medicine and the Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine community kicked off the holidays with the Chair's Christmas Celebration Reception, hosted by Dr. Stephen Wetmore. Celebrating the season of festivity, kindness and giving, guests attended the reception wearing their most festive hat, and brought donations to support the United Way.
New UME curriculum emphasizes experiential learning
The new medical school curriculum, which rolls out in September 2019, emphasizes integrated, experiential learning, and aims to engage students through the early integration of clinical experiences and case-based learning. Learn More.
New teaching opportunities on the horizon
As Schulich Medicine rolls out their redesigned UME curriculum in September 2019, new teaching opportunities will be presented to Family Medicine faculty as first year students are immersed in clinical experiences in communities throughout Southwestern Ontario. Stay tuned.
In the media: Western exercise study targets hypertension and cognitive decline
Kinesiology doctoral candidate Narlon Boa Sorte Silva and Western University family medicine professor Robert Petrella launch study examining the link between high-intensity exercise, blood pressure reduction and cognitive health with community-based exercise program. Learn More via LFPress.
Are enhanced skills programs undermining family medicine?
Dr. Daniel Grushka, director of the enhanced skills program at Western University, shares his thoughts on the sentiment that fewer family doctors want to provide comprehensive “cradle to grave” care. Learn More via CMAJ News.
Congratulations Andrea Petrella
Congratulations to Andrea Petrella on successfully defending her Masters thesis on December 11 under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Heath. The title of her thesis is “A 10-Minute Single-Bout of Moderate to Very-Heavy Intensity Aerobic Exercise Improves Executive Function in Older Adults”.
Department of Family Medicine staff volunteer with the Ronald McDonald House London
Administrative staff from the Department of Family Medicine got into the holiday spirit by spending a Thursday evening volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House of London's Meals From The Heart kitchen program, baking snacks for the families of the House.
Recent Additions to Lifestyle Research Team
We welcome three new members to the Lifestyle Research Team, Brooke Bliss, Andrea Petrella and Marisa Kfrerer. There was significant interest in the Heart and Mind Study and Hockey FIT Trial among Western undergraduates. Over 70 first year Western students attended two separate evening information sessions to learn more about how they can be a part of our research and how to volunteer.
Moira Stewart receives Certificate of Achievement in Primary Health Care Research
Moira Stewart attended a joint pan-Canadian meeting of CIHR-funded Community-based Primary Health Care Teams and SPOR Primary and Integrated Health Care Innovation Networks and received a Certificate of Achievement in Primary Health Care Research for the uniqueness of her mentoring; the originality of her research; the inclusivity of her leadership; and her eagerness to both teach and learn.
New Patient Engagement in Primary Health Care Research online training program launched
The Patient-Oriented Research Training and Learning – Primary Health Care program (PORTL-PHC) is designed to meet the learning needs of stakeholders (patients, researchers, clinicians, and decision-makers) who are interested in engaging in, or using, patient-oriented primary health care research. The training program is free, self-directed, and available online now.
Diabetes Clinical Trials Update
The 4th annual Diabetes Clinical Trials Update (CTU) comes to London, Ontario, January 12, 2019. Speakers from Canada and the United States will meet to present findings and developments on emergent therapies in diabetes. The accredited CME program will feature a series of open panel discussions and a keynote presentation on the Real world evidence and what they could tell us by Dr. John B. Buse from the University Of North Carolina School Of Medicine. Registration is free.
2019 Awards of Excellence: Nominate a deserving individual today
Help recognize the outstanding contributions of your fellow faculty and staff. Nominate a deserving individual today for an Award of Excellence today. Nominations due February 25, 2019.
Meet our residents
Meet various residents from across our 12 teaching sites in this engaging video series.
December 2018 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.
Events
Join us for Faculty Development - Teacher Series: Encouraging Exemplary Behaviour and Remediating Lapses on January 9, 2019, and Family Medicine Grand Rounds – Integration of Point of Care Ultrasound in Family Medicine on February 6, 2019.
Top stories from our November newsletter
Missed the November e-newsletter? Take a moment to read the top stories: Western captures second place in the SIM Olympiad, Chair's Message – 50th Anniversary, Postgraduate Program Report.
