Simply the Best

I hope you have been enjoying the lovely month of June!

May was a remarkably busy month for NOSM University. We had many firsts, from the NOSM University Achievement Celebration at Northern Constellations, to a graduation celebration in Thunder Bay, to our inaugural convocation in Sudbury, at which we installed our inaugural Chancellor, Dr. Cindy Blackstock. What a whirlwind of celebrations!

Again: my heartfelt congratulations to all our new doctors!

As many of you know, NOSM University had a cyber-security incident a few weeks ago. Rest assured that our IT team—the best in my books—is still working around the clock. They identified the issue and are gradually restoring our functionality while minimizing our risk. The impact is mostly inconvenience. Luckily, some of us have memories of the days when we were able to do everything without technology, and many of us quickly pivoted to paper and teleconference.

Today, cyber-security is a top concern for everyone, and with good reason. These incidents can be expensive and affect our human capital while destabilising many of our functions. We rely heavily on the entire IT team at NOSM University to keep us safe, and they work long hours behind the scenes, professionally and without complaint. Like many functions in our university, all we may ever see is the “tip of the iceberg.” Respect, compassion, kindness and understanding are needed more than ever.

In the fight against cyber-security threats, our greatest line of defence is you: our staff, students, and faculty.

Ten tips:

1. Beware of strange emails. Check the addresses of unknown emails.
2. Check links (Google them) before you click.
3. Protect your gear (laptops and phones) from being stolen.
4. Use strong passwords.
5. Do not use public browsers.
6. Avoid text messaging for important issues. If you are sharing sensitive information, use the phone.
7. Update the software on all your devices.
8. Backup your data.
9. Do not share your passwords.
10. Move from a personal account (email with your name) to a portfolio name, such as president@nosm.ca.

I recommend that every portfolio at NOSM University have a backup plan in case of technology failure—especially for critical functions. That means that sometimes it may be necessary to go back to older, manual systems. I also hope that everyone can re-learn how to be patient. We have become a society that demands perfection and immediate action. While I am not suggesting we all go “off the grid,” there is value in doing things the old way (that was just in the 80s, by the way) and in disconnecting from time to time to redevelop old skills. They say that, “when you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you’re disconnected from life.”

Here are some of the things that I do:

Write a letter instead of an email. There’s something so wholesome about letters, and it feels unbelievably warm and fuzzy to receive one. I still write them now and then and cannot recommend it enough. During the pandemic I sent postcards that I had collected over the years to my family. They valued receiving them and I prized the ones sent to me in return.

Call or visit your loved one rather than text. A real conversation is often more insightful than a short one by text. If you are face-to-face, try to keep your expression from contorting when you are in an awkward conversation. It is a lost skill!

Learn to move at the speed of a human. Try to content yourself by looking at the sun, the clouds or just lying in the grass instead of defaulting to Tik Tok or Instagram for amusement. I find it relaxing yet also inspiring. Some of my best ideas come when I am just being quiet without the noise of technology.

Try to go one day without your phone. Once a year I turn it off for a full 24 hours. Although it is discombobulating and I feel lost for about two hours, I gradually feel liberated. At least turn off your notifications. They become truly Pavlovian once you are addicted to that chirp telling you there is a new text or email.

Bring out the board games. They are not just for nights at the cottage (or camp) anymore. I love Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and crosswords. They allow us to interact with each other on a different plane. (Giving up my own early-morning addiction to WORDLE is an ongoing challenge, though!)

Best wishes to everyone as we start our summer, and, in the words of the great Tina Turner who passed away this May, you are Simply the Best!

Miigwetch, thank you, marsi, merci,

Dr. Sarita Verma
President, Vice Chancellor, Dean and CEO
NOSM University

If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at president@nosm.caand follow me on Twitter @ddsv3.

The NOSM University Beaded Medallions

The NOSM University Beaded Medallions were gifted to Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Chancellor, and Dr. Sarita Verma, Vice-Chancellor on May 24, 2023, at Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre in Sudbury. These medallions were beautifully crafted by Ravennah Spade, a member of the Loon Clan and Ojibway, originally from Northwestern Ontario and currently residing in Ottawa. Ravennah learned from a young age the distinctive styles of traditional beading from her grandmother and blends her work in modern pieces. Her work is featured on the Pow Wow trail, worn, and carried by drummers, and dancers at ceremony. Ravennah shared that these medallions were beaded with much love, and that she enjoyed the project from beginning to end. The medallion is beaded with a 13” seed bead and, for anyone who beads, they know the challenge with working with small beads of this nature. It afforded Ravennah the opportunity to make the medallion light but also detailed. She pointed out that the fun part was beading the snake and adding the four flowers to represent the four directions. Ravennah wanted the rope to be simple and fancy all at the same time. The backing is completed with deer hide and she consulted family to put the finishing touches together. The medallions are a work of art that will be cherished by everyone at NOSM University for generations to come.

We are incredibly proud of our new residents and those who are completing their residency!

I extend my warmest welcome to 81 new and returning residents to NOSM University. To the new PGY 1 learners joining us on July 1: welcome! You have got this! You are now a licensed, regulated health professional—albeit in a postgraduate training program. You are a doctor! To the returning PGYs, welcome back. You are continuing your training at the best medical university in Canada.

If you’ve just completed your residency, you are now on the road to independent practise. Congratulations! Rest assured; you have been trained to manage anything that comes your way. Please don’t forget us. You are important alumni, and we welcome you back anytime. Stay connected with NOSM University’s Alumni Office at alumni@nosm.ca.

Successful 18th Annual Northern Health Research Conference

Congratulations to the Research Office, Drs. David Marsh and TC Tai, and staff for an excellent Northern Health Research Conference. With 118 participants, this 18^th annual event was highly successful. Dr. Hazem Elmansy, Associate Professor and Program Director of the Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery Fellowship Program with NOSM University, was the Keynote Speaker. His keynote address was titled, “Thunder Bay’s new urology research era: Moving from bench to bedside.” The NHRC’s hybrid format featured a wide variety of oral and poster presentations related to NOSM University’s research priorities, which can be explored here.

A Year to Remember

This last year has carried us on an incredible journey of transformation and celebration. NOSM University’s President’s Report: A Year to Remember, is now available at report.nosm.ca in English and French.

Reflections on Research at NOSM University

In NOSM’s first year as a university, we are proud of the collaboration across disciplines that fostered partnerships across Northern Ontario, nationally, and internationally. The 2022 Research Annual Report: Reflections, is also available in English and French at report.nosm.ca.