The official newsletter of Obstetrics and Gynecology | Volume 1 - Issue 10
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Dear Colleagues,
I can’t believe it is spring again and it has been a year since I have been privileged to be in the position of your Chair. What a year!!
We will go over our achievements and our challenges in detail at an upcoming executive meeting, but I can’t let this opportunity go by without expressing my gratitude to each and every one of you as we have weathered the storm that we have been faced with.
A huge congratulations to the new grant awards mentioned below. In the last year our department has been awarded $7 million in research grants, two HAHSO grants, and we have increased departmental publications from 16 in 2019 to 67 publications in 2021!
As I write this however, it is not our successes that are top of my mind but the realization that we are where we are a result of sacrifice and cost as the recent departmental well-being rounds revealed.
The wellness committee is developing a detailed response which will be shared with all of you shortly.
There are both challenges ahead and opportunities ahead which will be transparently revealed to all and discussed through the appropriate subcommittees as well as at Town Hall meetings. There is only one way to address these issues - and that is together.
The strategic plan formulated from our strategy hives is almost ready for circulation through the department. The strength of purpose and people that was revealed is what is going to get us through. We will come out together stronger, healthier and poised to be the best that there is.
Best Regards,
Jon Barrett
Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Hidden Impacts: Understanding Antisemitism on Campus
Yavilah McCoy
Dimensions Education Consulting
This training workshop aims to further the discussion about the "growing need to advance justice across interracial, intercultural and interfaith differences on university campuses." The session will focus on how to support Jewish students who may experience antisemitism. Hillel staff will also have an opportunity to learn about how to help students develop relationships with the campus community.
Monday April 4th 2pm-4pm
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Endometriosis Awareness Month
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State-of-the-Art Review for UOG
Mathew Leonardi, Erica Pascoal and Jocelyn Wessells have published a monumental State-of-the-Art Review for UOG - "Strengths and limitations of diagnostic tools for endometriosis and relevance in diagnostic test accuracy research". This has been done with a large international collaborative, raising the profile of Mac amongst colleagues in gynecology. UOG has made it free access for endometriosis awareness month.
See link below to read.
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Dr. Mathew Leonardi
Dr. Mathew Leonardi is a gynecologist who specializes in endometriosis. He works in Hamilton Health Sciences’ endometriosis clinic at McMaster University Medical Centre.
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CIHR Grant
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has granted Dr. Alison Halloway $1,464,975 for 5 years for her project in collaboration the Stoney Nakoda Nation, research scientists at universities in Ontario and Alberta and with Environment and Climate Change Canada. The goal of this project is to address concerns regarding exposure to contaminants from coal mining activities on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies.
The titled: Land-Based Community Monitoring of Selenium in the Canadian Rockies: Stoney Nakoda Women's Health and Well-Being project was ranked number 1 within the committee. Congratulations!
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CIHR Grant
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has granted Dr. Liz Darling, along with Ms. Blais, and Dr. Lawford $1,422,900 for 4 years for their project in Indigenous Peoples health titled: Expanding midwifery services in Canada: Improving equitable access to sexual and reproductive healthcare through midwifery contributions.
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2022 McMaster University Faculty Association Award for Outstanding Service
Congratulations to Dr. Deborah Sloboda for winning the 2022 McMaster University Faculty Association Award for Outstanding Service.
The MUFA Award for Outstanding Service recognizes faculty or professional librarians who have made an outstanding contribution to the mission of the University through the provision of exceptional service to other faculty, staff and students.
In Deb’s case, there was a lot to write about, as she is tremendously active in community-based research, education, knowledge translation, advancing our EDI initiatives, and serving on central University governing bodies. In addition to all this, Dr. Sloboda runs a thriving and spirited research program, and is the Associate Chair, Research in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences where she invests heavily in advancing the research mission of the entire department.
Congratulations, Deb!
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2022 Mohide Lectureship
Congratulations to Dr. Deborah Sloboda on being selected to receive the 2022 Mohide Lectureship!
Her publication “Fetal meconium does not have a detectable microbiota before birth" was selected from a number of high quality nominations. This is Dr Sloboda's second time receiving this honour having received it previously in 2016.
Honourable mentions go to Dr Meredith Vanstone & Dr Sarah McDonald (Reasons for cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation: a qualitative study) and Dr Rohan D'Souza (Prediction models for determining the success of labour induction: A systematic review and critical analysis).
The Mohide Lectureship was established by Dr. Patrick Mohide in 2013 to recognize published work by members of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and/or McMaster University. The goal was to share with other members of the Department, and the University as a whole, key research performed by members of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and McMaster University. Dr. Patrick T. Mohide is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McMaster University and served as Chair of the Department from 1999 to 2010.
Dr Sloboda will present her research on May 4th at Grand Rounds at 0800h which will be held via Zoom. Further details to follow.
Congratulations, Deb!
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Young Trailblazer Nominee
Abi has been nominated for a Women of Distinction Award (Young trailblazer).
Dr. Abi Kirubarajan is currently a first year Obstetrics and Gynaecology resident at McMaster University where she advocates for vulnerable populations, including BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and incarcerated patients. She graduated medical school at the University of Toronto as one of the top students in her class, receiving the Golden Stethoscope Award for strong clinical performance. She simultaneously completed a Masters of Science in Health Systems Leadership and Innovation to work towards improving issues at the health systems level. Her passion for health and medicine extends to founding a local nonprofit organization aimed at supporting the needs of newcomers to Canada.
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Please join me in welcoming the new team members to our department
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Dr. Samantha Wilson
Incoming Assistant Professor
Dr. Samantha Wilson received her B.Sc, Honours Specialization in Genetics from the University of Western Ontario. She subsequently received her Ph.D. in Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Wilson’s doctoral work focused on characterizing DNA methylation profiles of placentas from pregnancies with preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Dr. Wilson completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, shifting her research focus to non-invasive prenatal screening and computational biology. Her work at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre focused on developing non-invasive methods of assessing placental health using epigenomics, bioinformatics, and machine learning approaches. Dr. Wilson’s research program at McMaster build off her current work to develop non-invasive methods to assess fetal and placental health and understand the etiologies of placental dysfunction.
Welcome Sam!
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Andrea Storey
Administrative Assistant to the Chair
Andrea has joined the department, on a temporary 1-year career-growth, supporting Dr. Barrett as Administrative Assistant to the Chair while Katie Naccarato is off on maternity leave. Andrea is an internal hire, having worked at McMaster since 2018 in the department of Family Medicine as a Billing Assistant and then moving to an Admin Assistant/Medical Secretary in 2020.
Welcome Andrea!
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Shannon-Leigh Chandler
PT medical secretary
Shannon-Leigh will be supporting our MFM physicians as a part-time medical secretary working 4 days weekly. Shannon-Leigh brings experience from Hamilton Health Sciences where she works as a medical secretary in the Corporate Scheduling Office. She has also worked at Crown Point Family Health Care as a Medical Administrator. Shannon-Leigh completed medical transcription and medical office education from Mohawk.
Welcome Shannon-Leigh!
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Faculty and Staff Spotlight
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Eran Ashwal
Tell us your story:
Once upon a time, in a deprived neighborhood, 2-bedroom apartment, sharing a room with his 3 siblings, a shy child who saw his family struggling to make a living, and who learned, first hand, the value of hard work and the value of money.
During the summer time, this nerdy kid was working as a waiter, a mailman and a cleaner in malls and what not…just to be able to raise some pocket money, and eventually, by doing so, he purchased his own TV set at the age of 14y. What a joy.
Always deep down, there was the everlasting ambition to excel, to overcome, to reach higher and further from his ‘programmed growth potential’. To prove it to others, and to prove it to himself.
This motivated teenager was so lucky to meet his better half at the age of 17 (literally by chance) and never let this extraordinary fulfillment go, not for a moment, for the last 24 years and keep counting…
In order to pay for his university fees, he started teaching private lessons at nights, continued and taught small groups in a place he rented, and eventually, he founded a private school with over 200 students and 6 teachers…So, he always believes that if there is a will, there are so many ways.
As taught by his father, he learned to criticize (in a pragmatic and not annoying way) almost everything, and question the dogmas. Never afraid to stand against the consensus.
This man was never afraid to explore and take risks, mostly calculated ones. For the last few years, together with his family, he has been experiencing the most tremendous adventure of his life - being an island, away from his comfort zone, in a completely different arena – absolutely incredible journey.
How did you decide that MFM was for you?
MFM combines all worlds, as if you can pick endless flavors to your ice-cream cone. A beautiful mosaic of internal medicine, radiology, genetics, research and surgery. All in one. There is never a routine.
MFM interacts with the most significant and sacred peaks in families’ lives – pregnancy and birth and, likewise, interrelates with most grave and difficult decisions during that time point.
As an MFM, you are privileged to step into this holy of holies, and together with the families impact the fate and the health of so many lives.
What do you love about it?:
I love the complexity. I love aiding the families’ journeys towards the most precious gift God granted us – children.
Mostly, I love the interaction with people. I always consider myself a person, a husband, a father and then a physician. I always try to counsel my patients as if I counsel my family member. I believe in honesty and integrity, and most of all compassion - one cannot fake that. It is embedded within your true self.
Never afraid to say my opinion (without being too directive). Never afraid saying ‘I do not know’, but always promise to do my very best to acquire that knowledge.
What is your favourite food?
I am happy/embarrass to say that I know nothing about food. Every time my colleagues mention restaurants or meals’ names, it astonishes me, how ignorant I am in this field.
I am a very simple person – Chicken shawarma and French fries will make my day, any day.
What is your favourite thing to do on a summer weekend?
Spending time with my beautiful partner – Yahalom, and my three crazy kids – Shoam, Noya and Toar. Either camping or road trips – can never have enough!
What movie have you watched many times and still enjoy? Patch Adams.
What is on your nightstand? My laptop and my smartphone. Sorry.
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