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DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE UPDATE | JANUARY 7, 2021
In this update:
The SHORT Report
Welcome & Farewell
Change in Division Heads
  • Clinical Dermatology & Cutaneous Science
  • General Internal Medicine
  • Geriatric Medicine

Congratulations
  • Chief Medical Information Officer for Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health
  • Awards

Internal Medicine eConsult Service

Education
  • Teach the Teachers – February 16, 2021
  • DoM Grand Rounds – New Evaluation Link
  • Core Internal Medicine Chief Residents

Research
  • Call for Abstracts – DoM Research Week 2021
  • DoM Research Week – April 26 – 30, 2021
  • Congratulations Dr. Leah Cahill

Nova Scotia Health
  • Privacy and Cybersecurity Learning Course – New & Mandatory
  • Acceptable Use Policy – NEW
  • Privacy and E-Messaging
  • Award category announced
  • Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act – January 18, 2021
  • Let’s Talk Informatics Series

Faculty of Medicine
  • Mini Medical School
  • Diversity and Inclusion

COVID-19
  • Nova Scotia Cases
  • Vaccines and Nova Scotia's Immunization Plan
  • Auto-call Added for Negative COVID-19 Results
  • Virtual Care Options Extended
  • Getting to Know Dr. Lisa Barrett

Quick Reference / Recurring Content
Happy New Year everyone!

As I reflect on the year that has passed and the one ahead of us I came across a quote - “Tough times don’t last…Tough teams do.” I think it sums up 2020 well as our tough teams in the DoM have not only risen above all the challenges of 2020 but also managed to grow and find many new opportunities.

Welcome to our first Newsletter of 2021!

There is much to be hopeful for. Our COVID epidemiology continues to be favorable because of all the hard work that we have been doing. Thanks to so many of our department members for the continued planning and a particular shout out to our Division of Infectious Diseases for supporting the lab, clinical planning and surveillance (Lisa Barrett and the pop-up rapid assessment clinic teams)! Nova Scotia Health and the Department of Health and Wellness have started to roll out our vaccine program and phase zero (the initial roll out) is almost complete. I want to thank Shelly McNeil (Division of Infectious Diseases), the Vaccine Task Force and the Province for the tremendous work they have put into the logistics planning of this role out. All of the health care workers identified as highest priority in phase zero will have completed their vaccinations by the end of January. About 140,000 doses are expected in the province by the end of March for the first phase of a three-phase immunization plan, and another million doses are expected to be delivered between April and June. We are now entering phase one of a three phase plan. Many of our department members have already received vaccine in phase zero and phase one will see most of our department members vaccinated by April, with many occurring in January and February. Within each phase the task force will continue to prioritize sub groups of health care workers and people at highest risk to help facilitate the quickest and most effective use of the vaccine. Dr. Boutilier shared an excellent outline of the three-phase rollout in her provincial physician update this week.

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion working group will have its first meeting in January and our wellness champions are developing some opportunities with Dalhousie and other partners. I am excited to see what new learnings and opportunities these activities will bring to our department.

We will soon release our annual report, which reflects on the many accomplishments we have made together as a department and with our stakeholders in the 2019-2020 year.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Paula Bond for her amazing work as VP Operations for the Central Zone. She has been a great support to our department and all of Central Zone during her over 10 years with Nova Scotia Health and we will miss her greatly in this role. I am excited that we will be able to continue to collaborate with her, in advancing patient care and research, as she embarks on her new role as Associate Deputy Minister Clinical at the Department of Health and Wellness in February.

Enjoy the newsletter and don’t hesitate to contact us with stories and items for next month.

Keep well,

Christine


Christine Short, MD, FRCP(C), FACP
Associate Professor & Head/Chief, Department of Medicine
Dalhousie University / Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health
WELCOME & FAREWELL
We welcome the following staff to their new positions:

  • Kim Pritchard joined the Department on January 4 as the new Billing Manager. She will replace Connie Tone upon her retirement in March 2021.

  • Dr. Erin Morgan, currently with the Division of Medical Oncology, will join our AFP as a full time member on January 1.

  • Dr. Joffre Munro will locum for the Division of General Internal Medicine from January 1 – March 31, 2021.

  • Sue West is moving from Hematology to Endocrinology in January.

  • Shelbie Stacey Allen is coming from Cardiology to Hematology as education assistant.

  • Anna Gonsalves joined Medical Oncology as an Administrative Assistant.

  • Kelly Watson will be leaving Hematology to join the Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.


We say farewell and best wishes to:

  • Laura MacPherson is leaving Infectious Diseases to take a role with the Research Department.

  • Cheryl Peever has left Palliative Medicine and taken a role with the ambulatory clinics at the HI site.

  • Dr. Drew Bethune, Senior Medical Director of the Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program and Medical Director of the QEII Cancer Centre, retired on December 31 after 38 years of service.

  • Paula Bond, Vice-President, Integrated Health Services, QEII New Generation Project, Cape Breton Redevelopment Project, will be leaving Nova Scotia Health and joining Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness as Associate Deputy Minister Clinical, effective February 1, 2021. Paula has also been Vice President, Clinical with Nova Scotia Lands, the organization with responsibility for oversight of all provincial health projects. In addition to her work in Nova Scotia, Paula has worked in various jurisdictions in Canada and abroad, including time as an Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Health in British Columbia. Paula has an extensive network of relationships and a vast clinical knowledge of all aspects of our health system. She will work across DHW to assist in advancing the priorities, strategies, initiatives and ongoing COVID-19 response.
CHANGE IN DIVISION HEADS
Division of Clinical Dermatology & Cutaneous Science

Effective January 1, 2021, Dr. Kerri Purdy is the Interim Division Head, Clinical Dermatology & Cutaneous Science. Dr. Peter R. Hull served as Division Head since 2015.


Division of General Internal Medicine

Effective January 4, 2021, Dr. Nabha Shetty is the Interim Division Head, General Internal Medicine. Dr. Ashley Miller served as Interim Division Head since April 2020.


Division of Geriatric Medicine

Effective January 4, 2021, Dr. Paige Moorhouse is the Interim Division Head, Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Chris MacKnight served as Division Head since 2015.
CONGRATULATIONS
Chief Medical Information Officer for Nova Scotia Health and IWK
Awards
INTERNAL MEDICINE eCONSULT SERVICE
EDUCATION
Teach the Teachers - February 16, 2021
DoM Grand Rounds - new evaluation link
Core Internal Medicine Chief Residents
RESEARCH
Call for Abstracts - DoM Research Week 2021
DoM Research Week - April 26 - 30, 2021
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
(via Zoom)

Tuesday, April 27
8 - 9:30am

AND

Thursday, April 29
12:30 - 3pm
RESEARCH DAY CONTENT AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Website available: April 26-30
Congratulations Dr. Leah Cahill
NOVA SCOTIA HEALTH
Privacy and Cybersecurity Learning Course - New & Mandatory
Acceptable Use Policy - NEW
Privacy and E-Messaging
Award category announced
Human Organ and Tissue Donation Act - January 18, 2021
Let's Talk Informatics Series
FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Mini Medical School
Diversity and Inclusion
COVID-19
As of January 7, 2021

* December 4, 2020 - total negative tests changed to total completed tests (includes both positive and negative tests). If a person has been tested four times, their four tests will be included in the total number of completed tests.

Rapid testing pop-up locations (changed as needed): http://www.nshealth.ca/content/covid-19-rapid-testing
Vaccines and Nova Scotia's Immunization Plan
Auto-call added for negative COVID-19 results
Virtual Care Options Extended
Getting to Know Dr. Lisa Barrett
QUICK REFERENCE /
RECURRING CONTENT

Nova Scotia Health / Dr. Lynn Johnston
Uploaded: March 13, 2020
Video: 10 min

Nova Scotia Health / Dr. Glenn Patriquin
Uploaded: April 3, 2020
Video: 3 min

Canada.ca
Uploaded: June 15, 2020
Video: 1 min 25 seconds

Canada.ca
Uploaded: July 20, 2020
PDF – 8.5" x 14" poster
"Tough times don't last...Tough teams do!"
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