Symptomatic testing for Nova Scotia Health care workers 1-833-750-0632
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DOM MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 7, 2021 |
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The SHORT Report
Newsletter Survey
Member Updates
- Welcome
- Farewell
- Promotion
- Interim Co-Division Heads
- Recruitment
Feature - Did You Know?
- Katie Barkhouse, Education Manager and Entrepreneur
Kudos
- World Expert in the Aged
- Dr. Stephen Phillips named as the 2021 Hnatyshyn Lecturer
- More 2 Eat: Screening for malnourishment
- Dean Anderson shares vision for Dal Med School
- The Deep Dive with Drs. Anderson and Barrett
In the Media
- Temporary (30 day) hold on referrals to MAID - Dr. Gordon Gubitz
Events
- Oct 28 - How Nova Scotia Revolutionized COVID-19 Lab Testing
- Nov 5 - Medicine Matters
Reminders
- UIMRF Funding Opportunities
- Reminder: Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation Opportunities
- Reminder: Application for Clinician Investigator Program (CIP)
COVID-19
- Nova Scotia Cases
- Monthly timeline
Quick Reference / Recurring Content
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Hi everyone,
I appreciate we are all running on empty as we head into our 4th wave of COVID.
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It may seem hard to find the time to ground ourselves and recharge our batteries as it seems to be more and more difficult to the find time for ourselves and our own wellness. Please make sure you are taking some time to take care of yourselves. Also take a moment to be kind to someone else. We all need self-care and kindness more than ever. |
One way to ground and re-energize is to take a moment to start your day, or reset your day, with a few moments of gratefulness. As we head into Thanksgiving let us challenge ourselves to start each day with a moment and give thanks whether in your thoughts or prayers for all that we have. Despite the challenges of these difficult times, grounding ourselves in gratefulness sets the pace and the energy of our day.
I hope you find the content of this newsletter interesting and energizing.
Don’t forget to send us your story ideas.
Keep well,
Christine
Christine Short, MD, FRCP(C), FACP
Associate Professor & Head/Chief, Department of Medicine
Dalhousie University / Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health
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Over 140 people requested orange shirts in recognition of the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The additional shirts were sent to MTU for MTU, ED, and SI staff. Several people stated that they thought it was great of the department to do this.
Thank you to Mary Synette for organizing this project.
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Request for newsletter feedback
We want to hear from you. In order to keep our newsletter user-friendly and informative for our members, please take this 5 question survey.
Survey closes: October 31
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We welcome the following members to their new positions:
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Dr. Mohammed Al Qahtani started a 2 year fellowship on September 1 in the Division of Infectious Diseases; Antimicrobial Stewardship (year 1) and Infection Prevention and Control (year 2).
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Janice Hong started on September 9 as Administrative Assistant to Drs. Searle and Rockwood in the Division of Geriatric Medicine.
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Melissa Chaffey returned from leave on September 17 to her Team Lead position in the Division of General Internal Medicine. Andrea Oster will continue working as an admin in the Division of General Internal Medicine.
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Dr. Daniel Belliveau rejoined the Division of Cardiology on September 27 for a 6 month locum.
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Michelle Weihers Ashby started on September 27 in the Division of Neurology as Education Program Admin and assistant to Dr. Woodroffe.
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Dr. Nadine Hewitt started in the Division of Palliative Medicine started on October 1.
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Dr. David Lee rejoined the Division of Cardiology on October 1 for a 6 month locum.
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Annalee Cutler will join the Division of Cardiology (Drs. Sapp and AbdelWahab) (start date TBD).
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We are grateful for having these team members in our department. We say farewell and best wishes to:
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Lindsay Anderson resigned on September 24 from the Division of Neurology as Education Program Admin.
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Matthew Rockwell resigned on October 1 from the Division of Hematology & Hematologic Oncology as Education Program Admin (term position).
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Rachel Hemsworth is leaving her administrative assistant role for a research position in Cardiology on October 12.
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Gift Madusha is leaving on October 15 from the Division of Respirology as Education Program Admin.
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Congratulations to Dr. Leah Cahill on her promotion to Associate Professor as of July 1, 2021. Leah's promotion is governed by a "limited-term" process vs "continued-term" process; therefore it wasn't previously announced. |
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INTERIM CO-DIVISION HEADS |
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Effective September 6, 2021, Dr. Ian Epstein and Dr. Steven Gruchy were appointed co-Division Heads in the Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy. |
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Dr. Ian Epstein is a Gastroenterologist at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Originally from Toronto, he obtained his medical degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2004, where he stayed for his Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology residencies. He has been on Faculty at Dalhousie since 2009, currently appointed as an Assistant Professor. Academic interests include medical education and the humanities. His clinical practice includes areas of focus on GI motility, functional GI disorders and IBD. Since 2013, he has been the Program Director for Core Internal Medicine at Dalhousie, as well as the Chair of the Internal Medicine Program Directors IMPDC PGME Committee for the Department of Medicine. Since 2020, he has been the chair of the Canadian Association of Internal Medicine Program Directors. Dr. Epstein holds several other administrative positions including President of the Atlantic Association of Gastroenterology and Chair of the Nova Scotia Health Nutrition Support Committee. His scholarly activity includes numerous oral presentations, workshops and posters on GI or medical education topics, as well supervising multiple trainee projects. |
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Dr. Steven Gruchy earned his medical degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency. He went on to complete his Residency in Gastroenterology as well as a Fellowship in ERCP / Therapeutic Endoscopy at Dalhousie University. In addition, he obtained a Masters of Clinical Epidemiology Degree (MSc) at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2009. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University and a member of the Division of Gastroenterology since 2007. He is an active member on many regional and national committees including serving as the current Vice President Education for the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, the Royal College Gastroenterology Subspecialty Committee, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia Hearing Panel. He is a current member of the DoM Strategic Plan Steering Committee and is Chair of the DoM Financial Management Committee. Dr. Gruchy has previously served as both Gastroenterology Program Director and Medical Teaching Unit Director (MTU) for the Department of Medicine. From a research perspective, he has participated in several publications and peer-reviewed journals. |
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We also would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Kevork Peltekian for all the support he has provided to the Department and the Health Authority in his role as Division Head in Gastroenterology / Digestive Care and Endoscopy. |
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Medicine - Research Facilitator
The Department of Medicine (DoM) at Dalhousie University/Nova Scotia Health in Halifax, Nova Scotia, seeks applications for a full time Research Facilitator based at the QEII Health Sciences Centre site.
Advertised until: 2021-11-08
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Research Implementation Scientist
The Department of Medicine (DoM) at Dalhousie University/Nova Scotia Health in Halifax, Nova Scotia, seeks applications for a full time PhD Research Implementation Scientist, based at the QEII Health Sciences Centre site.
Advertised until: position is filled
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Endowed Chair in Palliative Care Research
We have completed our shortlist for the Endowed Chair in Palliative Care Research and interviews will begin shortly. Please keep an eye out for upcoming presentations.
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Did You Know?
Starting September 2021, we launched a feature called "Did You Know?" The purpose of this feature is to celebrate what our members do when they are not at work. It takes many unique individuals to make up a great Department and we really want to share those special stories with everyone. We welcome all members to share their accomplishments.
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To: All DoM Members
Do you have a talent or accomplishment to share?
Email it to:
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Katie Barkhouse, Education Manager and Entrepreneur |
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Katie Barkhouse, DoM Education Manager and Postgraduate Education Coordinator, is very proud of her side hustle. She started Iron Pony Crochet in 2016 as a hobby. It has since grown into a small business located in Upper Rawdon, East Hants on the new Barkhouse family farm.
Katie designs and produces all of her own pieces – everything from hats, scarves, blankets and leather wrap bracelets but is most known for custom crochet ponies/unicorns and farm animals! She specializes in custom ponies to match real life pets.
When asked if we could add the bit about 5000 chickens, couple pigs, roosters, bear, coyote, racoons, and deer? She said, absolutely...we are basically the modern ‘Green Acres’ hahaha.
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Check out @IronPonyCrochet on:
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Dr. Kenneth Rockwood recognized as "World Expert in the Aged"
Dr. Kenneth Rockwood is a professor of medicine, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research investigator, and an active staff physician. He is also the Kathryn Allen Weldon Professor of Alzheimer Research at Dalhousie University.
In September, Dr. Rockwood was celebrated by Expertscape - an online portal detailing information about the geographical location of medical experts - as a "World Expert" in geriatric medicine. Dr. Rockwood was identified by Expertscape's PubMed-based algorithms which placed him in the top 0.1% of scholars writing about the Aged over the past 10 years.
A leading authority on frailty, Dr. Rockwood has more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and nine books to his credit, including the eighth edition of the Brocklehurst’s Textbook of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology. He is a member of the executive committee of the Canadian Collaboration on Neurodegeneration in Aging, and leads it's Quality of Life theme, and The Knowledge Translation platform. A native of Newfoundland, he received his MD from Memorial University, and completed internal medicine training at the University of Alberta and geriatric medicine at Dalhousie University.
From:
Two Minute Medicine (Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie)
September 10, 2021
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2021 Hnatyshyn Lecturer - Dr. Stephen Phillips |
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Heart & Stroke, the Canadian Stroke Consortium and the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery are proud to announce that Halifax stroke neurologist Dr. Stephen Phillips is to deliver the 2021 Hnatyshyn Lecture, and patient advocate Ms. Jennifer Monaghan is to give the inaugural Louise and Frank Nieboer Lecture.
Dr. Stephen Phillips has been selected by his peers as the 2021 Ramon J. Hnatyshyn Lecturer in stroke. He is currently a Professor of Medicine in Neurology at Dalhousie University and the Medical Director of the Central Zone Stroke Program of the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
Dr. Phillips is a highly respected leader and mentor who has been instrumental in creating and advancing stroke systems of care in Canada over the past three decades, leading to better treatment and outcomes for people with stroke and their families.
As the first co-chair of Heart & Stroke’s Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations, Dr. Phillips has been committed to driving evidence-based stroke care and ensuring that the recommendations gained and sustained the momentum needed to drive world-class stroke care in Canada. He was also one of the founding members of the Canadian Stroke Society, the forerunner of the Canadian Stroke Consortium, enabling ground-breaking stroke research, mentorship and training for the coming generation of stroke experts.
The Hnatyshyn Lecture was established in 2003 in memory of Canada’s 24th Governor General, a founding board member of the Canadian Stroke Network and a strong advocate and supporter of stroke research.
Dr. Patrice Lindsay, Director of Health Systems at Heart & Stroke, said they are thrilled to be able to recognize two outstanding individuals who have raised the quality of stroke coordination, care and support to world-class levels here in Canada. Their selfless passion and commitment are shining models for others to follow.
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Dr. Phillips talk is entitled “The Stroke Revolution: A Personal Perspective.” |
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More 2 Eat Program: Screening for malnourishment |
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Screening for malnourishment at the Glace Bay Hospital
Hospital food is often the butt of jokes, but there's nothing funny about malnutrition among patients. Hear about a new program being launched at the Glace Bay Hospital to address that problem. Dr. Leah Cahill is part of a team studying the issue ...
Read more
www.cbc.ca
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Dean Anderson shares vision for Dal Med School |
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As Dr. David Anderson enters his second term as dean of Dalhousie Medical School, he looks to continue his legacy of positive change
by Tara Lee Wittchen
September 2021 | doctorsNS magazine
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The Deep Dive with Drs. Anderson and Barrett |
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In this episode of The Deep Dive, Dr. Saini speaks with Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease expert from our Faculty of Medicine, along with the Dean of our Faculty of Medicine, Dr. David Anderson. They share their perspectives on what we have learned in our response to COVID-19, as well as their perspectives on the future of the pandemic.
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YouTube video:
25 minutes
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Temporary (30 day) hold on referrals to MAID |
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Global News, updated October 3, 2021
“We know that awaiting a MAID assessment or procedure can be a source of increased distress and anxiety for patients, their families, and others who provide support to them, and we want to minimize this as much as possible.”
~ Dr. Gordon Gubitz, Neurologist and Clinical Lead for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
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How Nova Scotia Revolutionized COVID-19 Lab Testing
Learn how technology solutions increased Nova Scotia's COVID-19 testing capacity from 2,500 to 20,000 samples per day.
Let's Talk Informatics
Thursday, October 28, 2021
7:30 - 8:30 AM (ADT)
Zoom
Meeting ID: 849 0317 1442
Passcode: 327535
More information:
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Medicine Matters 2021 - Virtual Healthcare
DoM physicians and residents are invited to attend this annual professional development event.
Friday, November 5, 2021
8:25 AM - 12:30 PM (ADT)
Online (Zoom)
This event will be facilitated by Advanced Systems.
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You must register for the event. https://sites.grenadine.co/sites/pathfinder/en/medicine-matters-2021
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Next, using your registration link for the conference, you'll need to register for the Zoom meeting by confirming your name and email to get a personalized link to join.
Why the extra steps? This process will assist with breakout sessions and assigning CPD credits.
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UIMRF Funding Opportunities 2021
Deadlines for submissions are as follows:
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October 1st
- Research Fellowships (Internal/External, and CIP sponsorship)
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October 15th
- Junior Department Member
- Bridge/Pilot funding
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4 weeks prior to external application deadlines – Matching Research funding
Forms:
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Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation Opportunities
Due Date ~ Monday, October 18, 2021
T. 902-9494-3502 E. dmrf@dal.ca
DMRF Frank and Debbi Sobey Lectureship
- The purpose of this Lectureship is to bring internationally respected experts in one of the following areas of research: Alzheimer's, prostate cancer, or cardiovascular, to Dalhousie University to engage with students, faculty, staff, donors volunteers and/or members of the general public. Up to $5,000 is available annually to support each visit.
Please note that there is a rotation in the field of research - this
year's area of research is CARDIOVASCULAR.
DMRF Gillian's Hope Visitor Scholar in MS Research - Call for Applications
- The purpose of this program is to bring to Dalhousie internationally respected scholars recognized for having made significant contributions to the advancement in the field of MS Research. The award will provide up to $3,250 to support each visit.
DMRF Picchione Visiting Scholar Program - Call for Applications
- The purpose of the Picchione Visiting Scholar Program is to bring to Dalhousie internationally respected scholars recognized for having made significant contributions to the advancement of their respective research fields of endeavour. This program will provide up to $3,250 to support each visit.
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Call for Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) applications - 2022/23
The Dalhousie University Clinician Investigator Program (CIP)
provides a training stream for residents in clinical specialty
programs who wish to pursue graduate-level research training. The
aim of the CIP is to encourage residents to pursue careers as
clinician-scientists and join the academic faculty at Dalhousie or
other Canadian academic medical centers.
Clinical trainees are provided with a minimum of two years of
protected research training in which they can enroll in a thesis-
based graduate degree program (MSc or PhD). Up to 20% of this two
years may be spent performing clinical activities. The Dalhousie
University CIP is a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Canada accredited program.
The application deadline for submission is December 15, 2021. For
eligibility and complete application guidelines check the link
below. For question about the program or application inquiries, please
contact, Clinician Investigator Program at MRDO@dal.ca.
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11 currently in non-ICU;
253 total patient admissions
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5 currently in ICU;
77 total patient admissions
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1,245,835
total completed tests
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305,753
Rapid tests at pop-up locations
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1,526,737
Total vaccine doses administered
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736,190
People who have received second doses
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81.4%
overall population partially vaccinated
(one or more doses)
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75.8%
overall population fully vaccinated
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Protocols at Nova Scotia Health |
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Protocols at Nova Scotia Health
Nova Scotia Health is taking a phased approach to COVID-19 health and safety measures based on risk level in each zone.
* Subject to change; refer to online version for latest updates.
Tier 1 – Low Risk (Blue)
Tier 2 – Moderate Risk (Yellow)
Tier 3 – High Risk (Orange)
Tier 4 – Extreme Risk (Red)
Colour coding references were eliminated effective September 24.
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Province Delayed Phase 5 Reopening
Due to current epidemiology in the province and Atlantic region, Nova Scotia will delay starting Phase 5 of its reopening plan until Oct. 4, when the proof of full vaccination policy begins for certain events and activities. Phase 5 was expected to start Wednesday, Sept. 15.
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Health Canada authorized brand name changes for vaccines
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will now be named Comirnaty
Moderna vaccine will be named Spikevax
AstraZeneca vaccine will be named Vaxzevria
From:
Health Canada and PHAC Twitter, September 16, 2021
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Proof of vaccination policy begins in Nova Scotia |
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Phase 5 of Nova Scotia Reopening Plan begins
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Vaccine Mandate
A vaccine mandate was announced by the Nova Scotia Government on September 29th for Nova Scotia Health care workers. All staff must be fully vaccinated by November 30, 2021. Staff members who are not fully vaccinated will be placed on unpaid, administrative leave.
Mandates will apply to other sectors as well. For details:
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QUICK REFERENCE /
RECURRING CONTENT
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Nova Scotia Health / Dr. Lynn Johnston
Uploaded: March 13, 2020
Video: 10 mins
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Nova Scotia Health / Dr. Glenn Patriquin
Uploaded: April 3, 2020
Video: 3 mins
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Canada.ca
Uploaded: June 15, 2020
Video: 1 min 25 seconds
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All press briefings are listed
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Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia
Complete online then download or email document. Once signed and witnessed, it is valid.
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Spectrum MD
(Antimicrobial Stewardship)
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Nova Scotia Health logo needs to be visible in the upper left corner of the home screen to ensure you are accessing local content.
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Nova Scotia Health staff and physicians experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, contact Occupational Health:
1-833-750-0632
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Nova Scotia Health - COVID-19 Hub |
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Nova Scotia Health - Library Services |
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COVID-19 resources for health care providers
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Canada (as of October 7, 2021)
1.6 million cases
28 K deaths
43.9 million tests performed
56.5 million vaccine doses administered
70.7% of total population fully vaccinated
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World Health Organization (WHO) |
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Globally (as of October 7, 2021)
236 million cases
4.8 million deaths
6.2 billion vaccine doses administered
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When you take care of yourself, you take care of others. |
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