Season’s Greetings!

December 17, 2012 at 1:44 pm

We have had an eventful and productive fall and I want to acknowledge and thank the Deanery, faculty and staff for all of your hard work and dedication meeting the goals of the Faculty of Medicine.

It is heartening to walk around campus and feel the energy and enthusiasm of our students and know that we, as faculty and staff, have contributed to their positive student experiences at the University of Manitoba.

Despite their busy schedules, our students continue to be trailblazers. Med IV student Tito Daodu represented the University of Manitoba at We Day in October where she inspired 18,000 youth to take action and affect change.

After watching a documentary in first year about hundreds of thousands of children dying from pneumonia in Nigeria, she volunteered to help fight this treatable disease. Tito worked in pediatric emergency in her home country of Nigeria and opened the door for other medical students to pursue international research projects.

Our medical students think both globally and locally. Students are launching a new global health program; started a Rich Man Poor Man Dinner last year to raise funds and educate about food security issues; and have pioneered a new mentorship program for U of M undergrads from under-represented populations.

As Manitoba’s only medical school, it is our responsibility to reflect not only our province’s diverse population; but to educate and train physicians for the entire province. In 2013, we will carry on supporting continuing medical education to physicians in rural communities and will expand our distributed medical education sites.

Health cluster discussions are ongoing and during our consultative period over the next couple of months, I encourage you to review Vice-President (Academic) and Provost Dr. Joanne Keselman’s Town Hall presentation on the Academic Structure Initiative and send in your feedback.

Lastly, we will continue our pivotal UGME curriculum renewal process and will stagger its launch to ensure we have the capacity to deliver the new curriculum effectively. We plan to launch the new curriculum with the Med IIIs in 2013 and the Med Is in 2014.

This holiday season, think about those less fortunate and what we can do collectively to make our community a better place for all.

An information session on the Faculty of Medicine Habitat for Humanity build will take place Jan. 14, 2013 at Noon in Frederic Gaspard Theatre. Attend the session to find out how you can become involved in this worthwhile project scheduled for this spring.

I wish each of you a joyous and safe holiday with family and friends, and all the best for 2013!

What are your hopes for the new year?