Issue 33 – December 2019
Department meeting - DECEMBER 2019
Please note the revised date & location for the December Department Meeting.
MEETING CHANGED
Wed Dec 11
Royal Bank Theatre
12 - 1 pm
NEW DATE AND LOCATION
Wednesday, December 18
Room 170 CHEB
12 - 1pm
Skype will be available
Kudos & Congratulations
Dr. Jean Gray to be inducted into the
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Dr. Jean Gray, Professor Emeritus of Medical Education, Medicine and Pharmacology at Dalhousie University, is named a 2020 inductee into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Congratulations!

Read the full press release - October 10, 2019
Dr. Darvesh inducted into
Nova Scotia Science Hall of Fame 2019
On November 21, 2019, Dr. Sultan Darvesh was inducted into the Nova Scotia Science Hall of Fame during the 17 th annual Discovery Awards for Science and Technology — Atlantic Canada’s most prestigious science recognition event.

Congratulations!



New Agreements
Nova Scotia's doctors ratify new four-year contracts
November 27, 2019
"On Nov. 25, the province’s doctors signalled they’re ready for change by approving two new four-year agreements with the provincial government."

Read full press release from Doctors Nova Scotia.
New agreements with doctors focus on competitive compensation and improving access to care
November 27, 2019
"The province has reached new agreements with Doctors Nova Scotia that invest $135 million more in heath care over the next four years, making doctors’ compensation more competitive and improving access to care for patients."

Read full press release from the Province of Nova Scotia's Premier's Office.
Media Coverage - click on logos to view coverage
NSHA Restructuring
Nova Scotia Health Authority’s interim CEO says new restructuring removes ‘undue process’

"A dramatic restructuring of the Nova Scotia Health Authority aims to reduce bureaucratic red tape and give more operational power to local communities, says its interim president."

DoM Research Evening 2019
On Thursday, November 14 th, 48 department members, residents, invited guests, and others interested in research met at the Prince George Hotel for the 2019 DoM Research Evening.

We learned more about the research being done by:
  • Dr. Tasha Kulai (Patient-Centered Care in Cirrhosis),
  • Dr. Janet Roberts (Rheumatic Complications of Immunotherapy: More Questions than Answers), and
  • Dr. Todd Hatchette (Lyme Disease in NS).

The Department was pleased to present Research Excellence Awards to three very deserving faculty members:
  • Dr. Lisa Barrett (Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases),
  • Dr. Leah Cahill (Assistant Professor, DoM Research Scientist), and
  • Dr. John Hanly (Professor, Division of Rheumatology).
DoM Research Day 2020 ~ Call for Abstracts
DoM Research Day will be taking place on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at Pier 21.

Abstract submission is currently underway, and the form can be obtained from DoMResearch@nshealth.ca.
The deadline for abstract submission is January 20, 2020 .
DoM Research on Social Media
The DoM Research Office is pleased to announce the opening of our Twitter account ( https://twitter.com/research_dal), which will be used to highlight the work being done by our department members and residents.

As of November 20, 2019:
84 Following
67 Followers

Tweet us @research_dal and use #DoMResearchDal
Medicine Matters Conference ~ November 15, 2019
Medicine Matters is a continuing professional development event organized for members of the Department. Thank you to all presenters, organizers and participants.
Dr. Lisa Barrett
Dr. Meredith Chiasson
Dr. Chinmoy Chowdhury
Dr. Ian Davis
Dr. Alex Dittrich
Dr. Ian Epstein
Dr. Neil Finkle
Dr. Magnus McLeod
Dr. Jennifer Melvin
Dr. Ashley Miller
Dr. Nancy Morrison
Dr. Sharon Mulvagh
Ms. Helen Parsons

Dr. Stephen Phillips
Dr. Sarah Ramer
Dr. Janet Roberts
Dr. Christine Short
Dr. Trudy Taylor
Dr. Allen Tran
Debate:
Be it resolved that the stethoscope (i.e. traditional cardiac and respiratory physical examination) is obsolete
Vanessa's Law
Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act

  • Enacted in 2014
  • Mandatory reporting requirements come into effect December 16, 2019.

The law specifically requires that hospitals (and related outpatient clinics) report serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medical device incidents (MDIs) to Health Canada within 30 days of the event being documented within the hospital. Date of documentation is day zero.

Please note : Outpatient clinics are subject to the regulations if they are legally part of the hospital, even if they are physically separate from the hospital.
For more information:
CENTRAL ZONE PLAYERS PRESENT "A Cringle Christmas"
A Cringle Christmas

December 5- 7, 2019
Alderney Landing Theatre
Come see members of the Department of Medicine perform in the annual Christmas play:

December 4: 7:30 pm (Dress Rehersal)
December 5: 7:30 pm
December 6: 7:30 pm
December 7: 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

For more information:
LAST CHANCE

or
1-888-311-9090
DoM Holiday Reception 2019
RSVP to Janet Hartnett by:
  • Outlook invitation: Accept the calendar invitation in your email (sent October 30, 2019)
OR
OR
  • Phone: 902-473-2379
December 5, 2019
Lord Nelson Hotel
7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Accepting Outlook calendar invitations
When you accept an Outlook meeting invitation,
please choose ACCEPT...Send a response now .

If you choose,
ACCEPT...Do Not Send a Response (thinking that you're saving the organizer an email)
...the meeting organizer doesn't get a response or know that you've accepted/acknowledged the invitation and it doesn't show in the tracking of the invitation.

Also, the meeting organizer needs to open each response in order for the participant list to update.
#IDESERVETOLIVE
The # IDESERVE TOLIVE campaign supports Canadians living with lung cancer through hope and survivorship. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Dr. Stephanie Snow, Division of Medical Oncology is Vice-President for Lung Cancer Canada.

Did you know...
Lung cancer has the highest mortality of all cancers in Canada (over 21,100 deaths per year).

Change in Chief Medicine Residents
We welcome new chief residents in the Core Internal Medicine Residency Training Program (January 1 - December 31, 2020):

Co-chief medicine resident (Halifax) - Nunn, Matthew
Co-chief medicine resident (Halifax) - Sullivan, Rachel
Chief medicine resident (Saint John) - Beckett, Nicole
Medicine Teaching Unit (MTU) chief - TBA
Thank you to the outgoing chiefs (January 1 - December 31, 2019):

Co-chief medicine resident (Halifax) - Faiella, Whitney
Co-chief medicine resident (Halifax) - Thana, Kabi
Chief medicine resident (Saint John) - Saunders, Alexandra
Medicine Teaching Unit (MTU) chief - Rogers, Alexandra
Welcome
Dr. Sunil Thambi, previously a Fellow in Cardiology (PCI), begins a locum position in the Division of Cardiology on December 1, 2019.

Dr. Amy Trottier will be starting in the Division of Hematology on January 1, 2020.
Gift Madusha started in Respirology as the Program Assistant on Tuesday, November 12.

Carolyn Diegel joins Infectious Diseases as a new booking clerk for a 1 year term. Carolyn is new to NSHA but brings a wealth of experience, previously working in a medical cannabis clinic and was a member of the Navy! Welcome Carolyn!
Team Lead changes
Melissa Chaffey, Team Lead, General Internal Medicine, is taking a 15-month leave to pursue a job in NSHA Medical Education. Her last day in GIM was November 22, 2019. Andrea Oster will be acting in this role until the position is filled. Thank you Melissa for your many years of service in the Division of General Internal Medicine.
The Division of Neurology has a new team lead - Jenny Pierce ( jenny.thibodeau@nshealth.ca).

Crystal Stadling retires on Friday, November 29. Best wishes in your retirement!
Farewell
Brittney MacKinnon (formerly Heisz), Manager-DoM (Cardiology, Dermatology, Geriatric Medicine, Medical Oncology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Respirology and Rheumatology) has accepted another position within NSHA and will be leaving us on December 13 th. We wish Brittney much success in her new role and thank her for her many contributions to the Department.

Lesley Dagley, Manager-DoM will assume responsibility for all DoM divisions until the role is filled.
Retirement
Jacquelyn Jayasinghe will be retiring in January 2020. Jackie is a Nurse Practitioner in General Internal Medicine who specializes in hypertension. Congratulations!
Upcoming Events
Dean's Holiday Reception
Life Sciences Research Institute Foyer
1344 Summer Street
Thursday, November 28, 2019
11:45 am - 1:30 pm
DoM Holiday Reception
Lord Nelson Hotel
Thursday, December 5
7 - 10 pm
Teach the Teachers
Collaborative Health Education Building
Tuesday, February 18
DoM Research Day
Pier 21
Thursday, April 16
Help us share good news and celebrate one another.

If you have ideas for the next issue of the newsletter, email anne.veinotte@nshealth.ca.