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Temerty Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

June 16, 2021 | Volume 29, Number 20

In this issue: The Class of 2T1 reflects on medical school; biologic therapy could help reverse diabetic retinopathy; and new research may help people with spinal cord injuries achieve greater independence.

Photo by Diana Tyszko

Congratulations to the Class of 2021

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to congratulate the MD Class of 2021, which officially received their degrees. They will soon be followed by graduates of other programs from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, including students from Medical Radiation Sciences and research-based graduate programs, who will join the rest of the University of Toronto in marking Spring Convocation on June 23. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these students have experienced a learning environment that few could have envisioned. It has meant lessons shared from a distance, a clinical learning environment under extreme pressure, and thesis defences conducted online instead of in-person. One skill many of these learners have certainly now mastered: donning and doffing personal protective equipment.

Read the message from Dean Young

Trevor Young
Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions

News

Class of 2T1: Highlights from Medical School

As the first MD graduates of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, the class of 2T1 crossed the virtual stage during convocation ceremonies on June 15th. Graduates Akshdeep Bhatia, Maddy Rudolph, Vincent Tang, Asia van Buuren, Prem Nichani, Airiss Chan and Imaan Javeed reflect on their time at Temerty Medicine.

New Antibody Therapy May Reverse Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Eye Conditions

A new biologic therapy developed by U of T researchers has potential to reverse this diabetes complication, which causes blindness and affects about 30 per cent of people with the disease.

Balancing Act

A research team led by professors Kristin Musselman and Kei Masani has created a unique rehabilitation program that can help people who live with a spinal cord injury achieve greater independence.

AI Outperforms Humans in Creating Cancer Treatments, but Doctors May Not Always Trust It

The study, led by professors Chris McIntosh, Leigh Conroy, Ale Berlin and Tom Purdie may also have broader implications for artificial intelligence in medicin e.

U of T's New Precision Medicine Program Offers Training in Cross-Disciplinary Science

The Collaborative Specialization in Next-Generation Precision Medicine opened for enrolment this month. It will provide PhD students with advanced education in interdisciplinary biomedical research.

CCRM Turns 10: What Does This Mean for Cell and Gene Therapy in Canada?

Since the commercialization partner of U of T's Medicine by Design launched in 2011, the global market for regenerative medicine has grown at more than three times the rate predicted a decade ago.

Forecasting Lung Transplant Fibrosis

Professors Ana Konvalinka and Tereza Martinu led research that identified molecular markers that can predict which patients will develop a complication known as chronic lung allograft dysfunction following their lung transplants.

Job Shadowing Goes Virtual for Mississauga MD Program

When pandemic restrictions limited clinical shadowing opportunities for MD student Max Solish and his fellow learners, he looked to create a new option. The result is a virtual experience that allows students to watch live surgical procedures via videoconference.

Celebrating 75 Years of Scientific and Medical Art

Since it was established in 1945, graduates of the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications program have helped scientists and physicians share their work through illustrations and visualizations using everything from carbon dust and watercolour art to augmented reality.

Recent Appointments

Inaugural Martha Rogers Chair in Heart Failure Education and Training

Professor Michael McDonald

Inaugural Krembil-Rossy Chair in Molecular Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Professor Antonio Strafella

Virtual Events

How to Use Social Media to Effectively Share Complex Information

June 23, 1:00 p.m.
Online

This webinar will be led by Kevin Parent, social media lead at Ottawa Public Health. Participants will learn how to reach their targeted audience, consider social media best practices, design content and amplify their research globally.

View more upcoming events on the Temerty Faculty of Medicine website.

Call for Applications

2021 Catalyst Grant Competition

This year's theme is Engaged Research for Child Health Equity. Awards of up to $75,000 will support multidisciplinary teams develop or use unique concepts, approaches or methodologies with potential to meaningfully improve outcomes and address inequities for children and their families.

#UofTGrad21

MD Program valedictorian Abdulrahman Jad addresses his fellow graduates during virtual convocation ceremonies on June 15. "No matter the challenges we may face, wherever our journeys may take us, we'll be able to handle them if we hold onto merits such as advocacy, inclusivity and compassion," said Jad.

MedEmail

Next issue publication date:
June 30, 2021

Content submission deadline:
June 23, 2021

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Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto June 16, 2021 | Volume 29, Number 20