No Images? Click here December 2018 Personal ICU experience changes teaching and careDaniel Garros, a clinical professor in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, was recognized for his Pediatric Grand Rounds presentation that had a very personal element to it. When Daniel Garros was fighting sepsis in the General Systems Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the University of Alberta Hospital, little did he know that his experience would become a way to teach his colleagues and learners how to improve care for patients. FoMD plans Dec. 11 celebration of life for deanRichard Fedorak, dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, will be remembered for his legacy. A memorial is planned to celebrate Richard Fedorak's life. Fedorak passed away on November 8 after a battle of cancer. Celebration of Life Welcome to new facultySabrina Eliason (l) and Sara Rodriguez recently joined the department. Sabrina Eliason, Clinical Lecturer, Division of Developmental Pediatrics (effective October 15, 2018) Sabrina began her post-secondary education at Queen’s University where she obtained bachelors degrees in economics and biology in 2008. She attended the University of British Columbia for her medical degree and completed her general pediatrics residency at the University of Saskatchewan. She came to the University of Alberta for her developmental pediatrics subspecialty residency and finished her residency in 2018. When she's not busy with her career, Sabrina plays violin in the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra, explores the up-and-coming culinary scene in Edmonton and enjoys an active home life with her young family. She can be reached at eliason2@ualberta.ca. Sara Rodriguez, Assistant Professor, Division of Nephrology (effective November 1, 2018) She can be reached at sara7@ualberta.ca. New report on IBD in Canada shows a significant rise in children's casesCrohn's and Colitis Canada released a report that provides the status of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada. The prevalence of Crohn’s and colitis in Canadian children has risen more than 50 per cent in the last 10 years, says the 2018 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada report. Matthew Carroll, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, is the first author for the pediatric section of the report, prepared for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. Read the story about the report Award-winning mentor Janet Ellsworth still reaches out for advice for her own careerJanet Ellsworth, professor in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, has years of mentorship experience under her belt. For Janet Ellsworth, mentoring means helping learners understand who they want to be as a person and as a physician. “It’s about helping people identify their strengths and their weaknesses and giving them advice and tools on how to develop in terms of their career,” she says. Organ donation and transplant in the newsOrgan donations are vital for children like Lukah Mitchell to survive. Susan Gilmour, department chair and gastroenterologist, was interviewed by Okotoks Online about organ donations and transplants. Lukah Mitchell, a toddler from Okotoks, is waiting for a multivisceral organ donor at the Stollery Children's Hospital. Read Susan Gilmour's interview Next Connecting Through Research to discuss cholesterol homeostasis(l - r) Allein Plain, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physiology, Megan Beggs, PhD candidate in the Department of Physiology, Gary Lopaschuk, associate chair of research, Todd Alexander, professor and Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher, listen to questions at November's Connecting Through Research. Research in calcium balance in pediatrics was presented at the November Connecting Through Research seminar. Todd Alexander, professor in the Division of Nephrology and Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher, Megan Beggs, PhD candidate in the Department of Physiology, Allein Plain, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physiology, each discussed their research regarding new insights into calcium balance in pediatrics. The next presentation will be Cholesterol Homeostasis and Human Diseases on December 17, 2018. Dawei Zhang, associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Shijun Deng, PhD candidate in the Department of Pediatrics, and Adekunle Alabi, PhD candidate in the Department of Biochemistry, are the presenters. Connecting Through Research is a child health research seminar series directed at enhancing collaboration among graduate students, trainees and faculty in the Department of Pediatrics and affiliated partners. The seminars feature the work of trainees and faculty members, with an opportunity to study design, challenges and successes. Cholesterol Homeostasis and Human Diseases View the Connecting Through Research photo gallery Health City features Michael Hawkes in podcastMichael Hawkes's research on solar powered oxygen is one project that is profiled by Health City. Health City, an Edmonton organization that promotes health innovation, has highlighted Michael Hawkes, assistant professor and Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher, on its website. Hawkes' research on solar powered oxygen in the Department of Pediatrics are also featured in a podcast. Translating emergency knowledge for kids with a new appLisa Hartling (l)and Shannon Scott, Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researchers, have released a new app that provides a knowledge network for health-care providers across Canada. A resource tool that helps rural physicians treating children in emergency departments has expanded. The Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids (TREKK) website can now be accessed via a new app. Lisa Hartling, a professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and one of TREKK's co-directors, and Shannon Scott, a professor and co-director of TREKK, have developed tools for parents as well. Both Hartling and Scott are Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researchers. One of the online tools is a short video on ear infections to help parents decide if they should go to the emergency department. The video was recently featured on the Winnipeg Free Press website. Research projects seeking solutions to improve livesJack Underschultz, second year medical student, and Todd Alexander, professor and Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher, are making an impact with their research projects. The Women and Children's Health Research Institute is featuring two stories from the department's faculty and learners. Medical student Jack Underschultz is working with Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher Michael Hawkes to determine the link between specific biomarkers in the blood and pediatric pneumonia. Their hope is to develop a widely available and inexpensive finger-prick pneumonia test for children in developing countries, as well as in their own backyards. Todd Alexander is researching how a new drug, called Tenapanor, could help children living with kidney disease by drastically reducing the amount of medication they take in a day. This new treatment could both increase the quality of life for those living with chronic kidney disease, and reduce deaths caused by late stage kidney disease. Adolescent transition research expands to ruralAndrew Mackie, a Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher, is helping rural cardiac patients become more independent. Teens living with a cardiac condition eventually have to make the transition to caring for themselves. They may face more challenges if they live in rural Alberta. Andrew Mackie, a pediatric cardiologist, associate professor in the department and Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher, is encouraging patients to connect with a cardiology nurse for information sessions through his research study. Remember to bring donations Dec. 7 for the Campus Food BankCome ready to celebrate the holiday season with a hot catered breakfast and live music. Pediatrics Winter Celebration is a chance to mingle with colleagues and learners. We will be collecting for the Campus Food Bank; please bring food and/or cash to contribute if desired. Pediatrics Winter Celebration University campus closed December 25 - January 1On behalf of the Department of Pediatrics, we wish you a restful holiday season. Thank you for all of your contributions in the last year. We hope you all enjoy the Winter Closure and look forward to seeing you in 2019! If you need access to university buildings and the pedways during the closure, please remember to carry your access cards. University of Alberta Winter Closure: December 25, 2018 - January 1, 2019 PublicationsThe Department of Pediatrics is proud to share the published works of its members. Awards and announcementsFaculty and learners are earning accolades for their work. Upcoming Department EventsDecember 7: Pediatrics Winter Celebration December 17: Connecting Through Research December 20: Pediatric Grand Rounds - Christmas Skits Thursdays: Pediatric Grand Rounds Worklife ResourcesThe University of Alberta is a great place to work, with access to many programs, services and resources for faculty and staff. Please visit Human Resource Services Learning and Development for more information or the Learning Shop Calendar for upcoming courses and workshops.
For human resources service in the Department of Pediatrics, please contact Kevin Meleskie at 780.248.5413. Submit your story to the PulsePediatric Pulse is an internal publication for faculty, staff and learners in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. It is published the first Tuesday of every month by department communications staff. The deadline to submit to the January newsletter is December 14, 2018. |