September 2020 Newsletter

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    Road to Recovery: On campus and virtual office hours

    As part of Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Road to Recovery, the Department of Family Medicine has both on campus and virtual availability. Please visit our website for a full listing of our on campus and virtual availability for our education teams and support services.

  • decorative imageWelcome Back – Chair's Message
    It is hard not to think about anything else but the COVID-19 pandemic these days. If nothing else this pandemic has highlighted, more than ever, the importance of family medicine and primary care to our healthcare system. This key role of primary care has been recognized by our provincial government because they have set primary care engagement as a key component of Ontario health team applications.

  • decorative imageGraduate Program Report
    The 2020-21 Family Medicine graduate programs academic year launched virtually on September 14 with sessions running until September 25. This year we welcomed five new MClSc students – Drs. Astha Dhingra, Yvette Emerson, Sundus Kellow, Olivia Reis, Faria Rubab. It was exciting to have our new and returning students from across the globe with us for a few weeks.

  • decorative imagePostgraduate Program Report
    The annual career night hosted by Learner Equity & Wellness (LEW) will take place in a virtual format on September 29. We will also be hosting two virtual CaRMS information sessions on October 7 and November 11 to help promote our program to graduating medical students. CaRMS interviews will proceed in a virtual format in 2021. The CaRMS national interview period is: March 8-28, 2021.

  • decorative imageUndergraduate Program Report
    Welcome to the 2020-21 academic year. Pre-clerkship classes are currently being delivered entirely online. A special recognition to Dr. Darren Van Dam who has been one of the first course chairs to “go-online” with Year 1 Foundations of Medicine. Since clerkship for Meds 2021 was suspended due to COVID, the rotation lengths and dates have been revised. Blocks were shortened from six weeks to four weeks and clerkship has been extended to run until October 11. This has bumped the start of the Meds 2022 clerkship to October 12.

  • decorative image In the media: Canada’s rural residents face thousands in medical travel costs and a patchwork subsidy system
    Dr. Maria Mathews’ work on out of pocket expenses for rural patients accessing health care outside of their communities was featured in Canada’s National Observer on September 14.

  • decorative image In the media: London hockey fan fitness program skates by lockdown, expands out West
    Dr. Rob Petrella and the Hockey FIT project were featured in the London Free Press on August 12. The Hockey FIT program will be starting up in British Columbia, followed by Alberta and Saskatchewan.

  • decorative imageNew Grant Funding
    Congratulations to Dr. Maria Mathews & Co-Investigator team on receiving two Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grants, and to Dr. Shannon Sibbald and Co-Investigator team on receiving a 2020 CIHR Project Grant.

  • decorative imageCelebrating over 40 years of long term family practice
    For over 40 years, Dr. Ken Hook practiced as a comprehensive family physician as part of the group practice in Tavistock, Ontario. And if it were not for a personal health scare and the global COVID-19 pandemic, he would still be doing what he loves, looking after patients and teaching.

  • decorative imageCelebrating our achievements
    Alumni Dr. Forson Chan won the Research Award for Family Medicine Residents from The College of Family Physicians of Canada for his project entitled, “Performance of Symptom Checkers in Patient Triage for Simulated and Adult Patients.” He will present his research with a 15-minute presentation at FMF 2020, and has been awarded up to $1500 to reimburse travel expenses to attend FMF 2021 in Toronto.

  • decorative imageDr. Laura Foxcroft appointed as Assistant Dean, Faculty Wellbeing
    Dr. Laura Foxcroft, Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, has been appointed as the Assistant Dean, Faculty Wellbeing effective October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2025.

  • decorative imagePeer program supports clinician well-being
    The new Peers for Peers Program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry provides one-on-one peer support for clinical faculty, emphasizing empathetic listening and shared experience.

  • decorative image A shared commitment to Indigenous health advocacy
    Sisters Kristin and Cassie Poole hope to become family physicians to improve access, safe and culturally sensitive health care for rural and Indigenous communities.

  • decorative image FMRW Instagram Page
    The Family Medicine Residents of Western have created an Instagram account to provide their fellow residents with helpful information including updates, upcoming events and useful resources. You can request to follow them @westernfmresidents as the account will be kept private.

  • decorative imageEngaging with the media
    Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s communications team supports all media engagement for faculty, staff and students at the School. Please review the School’s Media Engagement Guidelines and contact Communications before engaging with the media.

  • decorative image Return to Campus Questionnaire
    Faculty, staff and graduate trainees must complete the ‘Return to Campus’ questionnaire before each work shift or visit to campus. Complete the questionnaire.

  • decorative imageFamily Medicine Residents of Western Retreat
    Join the FMRW for this year's virtual retreat on Saturday, October 31 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. via Zoom (link to be provided upon registration). There will be 10+ presentations scheduled during the day given by recruiters from various communities as well as insurance companies, investment firms, accountants, etc. Residents can drop in/out and attend as many sessions as they desire.

  • decorative imageDepartment Spotlight: Meet Dr. Adam Loennberg
    Meet Dr. Adam Loennberg, a PGY1 resident in our Windsor Program. "I love every aspect of medicine, so what better specialty than Family Medicine?"

  • decorative imageSeptember 2020 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
    Join us for our virtual Department of Family Medicine Information Session on October 7 at 6:00 pm. Save the date for Family Medicine Grand Rounds: How to think, not what to think on October 7, and Trillium Virtual Primary Health Care Research Day on October 23.

  • decorative imageTop stories from the last few months
    Missed reading our newsletter these last few months. Take a moment to read the top stories: In the media: A family physician or a dear friend?, Announcement: Nicole Kaniki and Bertha Garcia named special advisors on anti-racism, Announcement: Centre for Studies in Family Medicine Leadership Roles.