FoMD Education Newsletter - April 2020

No. 18, April 2020

Surely, in the light of history, it is more intelligent to hope rather than to fear, to try rather than not to try. For one thing we know beyond all doubt. Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, "it can't be done"

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Over the past few weeks so many positive things have been done: remote learning and assessment, remote interviews for medical school admissions, incredible acts of generosity and kindness, collaboration and a spirit of innovation that is propelling us forward away from fear and doubt. I am so honoured and humbled to be a part of this team.

Please continue to look after each other and yourselves.

Dr. Mia Lang, MD, PhD
Co-Vice Dean, Education

Passion for translational medicine drives plastic surgery resident and recent PhD in many complementary directions.

Jenna-Lynn Senger has always been a fiercely independent, driven person, but a fainting spell a few years ago taught the plastic-surgery resident and recent PhD an important lesson in finding balance and accepting guidance. More

UAlberta medical school responds to COVID-19 restrictions with remote candidate interviews

Rapid action amidst the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs), one of the last stages of the admissions process, to be conducted with more than 500 medical school applicants from across Canada. Read more

The School of Dentistry is finding the bright side of online learning

While online learning is not new, it has presented some interesting challenges for our dentistry and dental hygiene instructors. An unexpected benefit of the move to online coursework has been for Dr. Anthea Senior's pup, Pablo, seen here keeping her company while she works from home. Read more

Medical students offering emergency child care to physicians and front-line health workers

Third and fourth year U of A medical students have been volunteering to provide emergency child care for doctors and other health-care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

U of A team develops interactive tool for mapping COVID-19 spread

U of A researcher David Wishart (left) and his team developed a data-mapping tool to help the public and health professionals better understand the spread of COVID-19 worldwide.
Learn more
(Photo: Jeff Allen)

Antiviral used to treat cat coronavirus could hold key to COVID-19

Biochemist Joanne Lemieux is working with U of A colleagues to find out whether a compound known to cure a deadly coronavirus-caused disease in cats might also work against COVID-19 in humans. Read more

Online Library Services During Facility Closures

Even though we can’t meet in person, library staff are still available to help. You can connect with us through email or chat reference and make an appointment to meet with one of our librarians virtually for help with searches and other research questions.

If you are just getting started with your research, be sure to visit our health sciences subject guides to find resource recommendations, information on systematic and comprehensive literature reviews, identifying journals for publication and more!

For more information and updates on library services during this closure, please visit our Library Services During COVID-19 guide.

Arts & Humanities in Health & Medicine (AHHM) Program

This past fall Gordon Yao, a 4th year medical student visiting from Queens University, created a short video as part of his 2-week Directed Studies/Art in Medicine elective with the Arts & Humanities in Health & Medicine (AHHM) program. "The Conversation that Never Happened" (2019) was created to promote awareness of, and responsiveness to mental health challenges experienced by Asian Canadian youth. The film was the April 2020 Art with Impact Short Film Competition winner. The AHHM Directed Studies/Art in Medicine clerkship elective is unique in Canada, attracting medical students from across Canada, as well as the US and elsewhere.

The Office of Postgraduate Medical Education thanks everyone involved in residency and fellowship education, for their commitment to supporting PGME trainees through the numerous challenges and changes the COVID-19 pandemic has presented to our community. Communication about these challenges and changes is occurring through regular email updates from the Associate Dean, PGME, teleconferences for Residency Program Directors and Administrators, and our COVID-19 Google site where you can view past communications, recent updates, and FAQs.

2020-2021 McCalla Professorship Recipient

We are so pleased to recognize Dr. Anna Oswald, department of Medicine, as the 2020-2021 McCalla Professorship recipient for the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. Dr. Oswald exemplifies the spirit of the McCalla Professor, as an outstanding academic who has, and continues to make, significant contributions to the integration of teaching and research, and to educational leadership. Congratulations, Dr. Oswald!

Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) 2020 - UPDATE
Given the current environment, AFMC will be moving forward with an asynchronous delivery for virtual CCME 2020. This means that all original plenaries will be recorded and available for an extended period of time for all registered delegates. Registered delegates will receive a login to gain access to the recorded sessions, which will be made available in the coming weeks.
For further information, please visit the CCME Status Page.

VIRTUAL Workshop - Covidence: Streamline workflows to save time in Systematic Reviews
April 28, 2020, 10 - 11 a.m.
Registered participants will receive a link to connect remotely.
Register here

Contact us at fomdvde@ualberta.ca

Subscribe to this newsletter