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Temerty Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

March 24, 2021 | Volume 29, Number 14

In this issue: Researchers create a rapid test for COVID-19 immunity; lobbying by food industry may have undermined the Child Health Protection Act; and St. George campus hosts a new vaccine clinic.

Photo by Irwan on Unsplash

Advancing Our Medical Education Environments

Can we deliver a world-class education where learners face disrespect, mistreatment and feel unsupported? Can we prepare tomorrow’s health care professionals in environments where concepts like anti-oppression, social justice and advocacy are not integrated into our curriculum as well as our operational policies and practices? Can we improve the quality of our teaching and teachers without effective teaching evaluation tools?

In short, the answer is no.

Since I undertook my role as Vice Dean of Medical Education last July, I’ve been seeking ways to improve our learning environment across the continuum of medical training in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Read the message from Prof. Houston

Patricia Houston
Vice Dean, Medical Education
Temerty Faculty of Medicine

News

Researchers Develop Rapid Low-Cost Test to Measure COVID-19 Immunity

A test developed by Professor Igor Stagljar and colleagues in the Donnelly Centre can count coronavirus antibodies in a drop of blood in less than an hour.

Food Industry Lobbying Intense on Failed Bill to Limit Marketing to Children: U of T Study

Researchers in the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition have found that food industry interactions with government heavily outnumbered non-industry interactions on the Child Health Protection Act, which died in the Senate in 2019.

Volunteers Step Forward as U of T Hosts Downtown Vaccine Clinic on St. George Campus

A new vaccine clinic on U of T's St. George campus has begun vaccinating health-care workers and patient-facing learners from Temerty Medicine, Pharmacy, Social Work, Nursing and other faculties.

Public Event to Mark U of T’s Discovery of Insulin and Map Future of Diabetes Care

The University of Toronto will co-host a public celebration this spring on the impact of insulin, one of several Insulin100 events that will mark the centenary year of a discovery that has saved millions of lives.

Gene that Affects Iron Metabolism Linked to Improved Performance in Athletes

A genetic variation that regulates iron metabolism may enhance athletes’ endurance performance, researchers led by Professor Ahmed El-Sohemy have shown.

Temerty Medicine Honoured with Eight PARO Awards

Several faculty members and trainees were recognized by the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario for their work in medical education, including Professors Umberin Najeeb and Sheldon Singh.

Continuing Professional Development Recognizes Faculty Members

Several faculty members including Professor Yvonne Buys were honoured with Temerty Medicine CPD awards , which annually celebrate research, teaching and commitment to professional development.

James and Louise Temerty Named Philanthropists of the Year

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter has named James and Louise Temerty as Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year for 2020.

Honours & Awards

Professor Patricia Houston

2021 Ian Hart Award for Distinguished Contribution to Medical Education, Canadian Association for Medical Education

External Appointments

Professor Lisa Robinson

2021-2022 President-Elect, American Pediatric Society

Calls for Applications

Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education

The Faculty has struck a committee that will soon convene to advise Dean Trevor Young on the appointment of the next Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education.

View details on this job here. Closing date is April 21.

Director, Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations

Candidates for this role must be eligible for a full-time clinical academic appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor at U of T.

View the full job posting here. Closing date is April 19.

Anti-Semitism Working Group

Consultation Survey

The University of Toronto's Anti-Semitism Working Group is inviting faculty, students and staff to complete a survey to share experiences, feedback and recommendations, toward building a more inclusive environment.

500 Women Scientists

Speaking Fee Survey

500 Women Scientists is crowd-sourcing speaking fees and honoraria received by STEMM professionals. Fill out a 10-minute survey to share your experience with these fees.

Events

MITO2i Research Symposium

April 8 and 9, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Online

This inaugural symposium will highlight the importance of mitochondrial medicine and explore new research areas.

Keynote by Professor Rita Horvath from the University of Cambridge, 'Targeting the cellular metabolism to treat tissue-specific mitochondrial diseases.'

Aerospace Medicine Talks

March 29 from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Online

Family physician and engineer Dr. David Saint-Jacques will talk about his 204-day mission to the International Space Station, among other topics.

Hosted by the U of T Aerospace Medicine Club.

Dialogues in Diversity: Centring EDI in Medical Research

April 1 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Online

The second session in this CPD series will focus on 'Allies in Immunology: An Examination of Structural Inequalities in Health Care.'

Featuring Professor Upton Allen, Division, Head of Infectious Diseases at SickKids, and Professor Charu Kaushic, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity.

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

In Memoriam

Professor Emeritus Marvin Gold

Professor Emeritus Marvin Gold passed away in October, 2020. Professor Alan Davidson remembered Prof. Gold on the Department of Molecular Genetics website.

Professor Lucas Murnaghan

Professor Lucas Murnaghan passed away yesterday after being diagnosed with a rare case of cholangiocarcinoma in February. Professor Peter Ferguson wrote about Prof. Murnaghan on the Division of Orthopaedics website.

Professor Douglas Gordon Potts

Professor Douglas Gordon Potts passed away on March 6. Professor Alan Moody remembered Prof. Potts in the Department of Medical Imaging newsletter.

Mourners leave flowers at one of three spas in the Atlanta area (photo by Megan Varner via Getty Images)

U of T Leaders Express Solidarity with Asian Community after Atlanta Shootings

President Meric Gertler and other U of T leaders condemned anti-Asian racism and violence against women following mass shootings in Atlanta that killed six women of Asian descent.

The slayings came as anti-Asian racism has intensified in North America amid the pandemic. Asian Canadians and Asian Americans have reported a growing number of racist incidents, including several violent attacks against elderly Asians.

MedEmail

Next issue publication date:
April 7, 2021

Content submission deadline:
March 31, 2021

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Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto March 24, 2021 | Volume 29, Number 14