As the academic year winds down, I want to mention a few of the other recent highlights within the Faculty of Medicine. UGME Accreditation took place in early April. We felt the three-day survey went well and are continuing to work towards strengthening and enriching our UGME program. A consultative curriculum renewal process is underway and a very successful curriculum renewal retreat was held in April.

We expect a draft document from the accreditation survey team by early summer and their formal report in late October. I want to thank Dr. Helmut Unruh, who has concluded his term as Faculty Lead, UGME Accreditation, for all of his contributions to the accreditation process and survey visit.

Our Division of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). led by Associate Dean, CPD Dr. Jose Francois, will be undergoing accreditation by the Canadian Association on Continuing Medical Education (CACME) June 6-7, 2011.

We continue to forge new partnerships with the Winnipeg Region in an expansion of the scope of the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation. We are also working with the WRHA as a partner in WAVE magazine to showcase our University of Manitoba researchers within the Faculty of Medicine.

It is my privilege to work with so many dedicated faculty members, and I want to thank all of our teaching staff for their commitment to educating our students and residents and inspiring them to become caring, competent physicians and scientists. We held our first annual Teacher Recognition dinner last March with keynote speaker Andre Picard of the Globe & Mail. This will be an annual event to honour our faculty members so mark your calendars for next year’s dinner: April 3, 2012.

Speaking of privilege, I want to remind my fellow physicians of our fortunate role in the community in which we live and our responsibility to demonstrate our gratitude. One way is through giving to the United Way. I am a member of the 2011 United Way campaign cabinet and co-chair for Universities and Colleges. So expect to hear from me in late summer when university resumes. Inuagural Day exercises and White Coat ceremony for Class of 2015 is scheduled for morning of August 24, 2011.