NOSM Associate Dean, Postgraduate Education Reappointed for Second Five-Year Term

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Catherine Cervin as NOSM’s Associate Dean of Postgraduate Education (PGE) for a second five-year term, effective September 2016.

NOSM’s Postgraduate Education Office is responsible for the oversight, administration and support of all Postgraduate Residency Programs in Northern Ontario. NOSM offers Residency Programs in: Family Medicine and Family Medicine Enhanced Skills in Emergency Medicine, Family Practice Anesthesia, Maternity Care, and Care of the Elderly. Royal College Accredited Programs include Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Psychiatry, Anesthesiology. As well there is a Northern Stream of the Ottawa Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program.

Since joining NOSM in 2011, Dr. Cervin has led a team that works to foster strong collaborations with communities and health organizations across Northern Ontario where residents experience diverse educational, clinical, and cultural opportunities. Under Dr. Cervin’s leadership, the first full on-site accreditation survey visit of NOSM’s residency programs by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the College of Family Physicians Canada (CFPC) occurred in May 2014.  

In 2013, Dr. Cervin received the School’s Award of Excellence in the category of leadership after being nominated by NOSM staff members.

“It is with great excitement that I congratulate Dr. Cervin on her reappointment as Associate Dean of Postgraduate Education,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “Dr. Cervin’s leadership approach and understanding of NOSM’s residency needs will ensure the ongoing enrichment of the School’s postgraduate programs to foster exemplary quality health care in rural and remote communities, consistent with NOSM’s new strategic plan. I wish her much success in her second term.”

Dr. Cervin will also continue in the role of NOSM Senior Associate Dean at Laurentian University.

About Dr. Catherine Cervin

Dr. Catherine (Cathy) Cervin grew up in southern Ontario, went to medical school at the University of Toronto, finished her family medicine residency at Dalhousie and then practised full-scope family medicine in Northern Ontario (Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie) for seven years before embarking on an academic career in the Department of Family Medicine at Dalhousie. While at Dalhousie, Dr. Cervin took on a number of leadership roles. She became Hospital Chief of the Department of Family Medicine at the Grace Maternity Hospital (now the IWK Women and Children’s Health Centre), she was Residency Program Director for Family Medicine for ten years, and was the Interim Department Head of Dalhousie Family Medicine. As befits a generalist, her professional interests are wide ranging and include social accountability, educating for comprehensive primary care, curriculum development, learning portfolios, communication skills and cultural competency. Her clinical interests include primary maternity care, the patient-centred approach, and chronic disease care.

Recognized by her peers and colleagues, Dr. Cervin received a Certificate of Merit from the Canadian Association of Medical Education in 2009 and also received an Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians in 2010. That same year, she completed her Masters of Medical Education. Dr. Cervin was also recently appointed as a new Director on the Board of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Dr. Cervin also holds leadership roles at the College of Family Physicians of Canada as Chair of the Board of Examiners and Chair of the Research and Education Foundation Board.