Research Awards Totaling $54,000 Presented to NOSM Medical Students

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) has awarded eight medical students with NOSM Dean’s Summer Medical Student Research Awards, valued at $6,000 each. This is the seventh year that NOSM has awarded Summer Medical Student Awards to qualifying MD students.

“At the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, we encourage our medical students to undertake as many learning opportunities as possible, and one of these opportunities is the ability to undertake research projects that are directly relevant to the health issues impacting people across Northern Ontario,” explained Dr. David Marsh, NOSM’s Associate Dean, Community Engagement. “I am delighted to congratulate the recipients of the Dean’s Summer Medical Students Research Awards, and wish them success in their summer research projects.”

The following research projects, carried out across Northern Ontario, provide medical students with the opportunity to conduct hands-on research on a broad range of biological and social research topics while working with an established NOSM researcher.

•Award recipient Patrick Legault’s project, entitled Influence on Neuropsychological, Biological and Social Outcome Indicators in Prescription Opiate Addiction: Suboxone vs. Methadone, supervised by Drs. Ralph Dell’Aquila and Sandra Stewart.

•Supervised by Drs. Malvinder Parmar and Emmanuel Abara, award recipient Derek Bos’ project is entitled, Assessing the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Patterns of Health Care Providers in Northern Ontario, in Prevention of Recurrent Kidney Stones.

•The research project, Comparison of Standard and Limited Open Palmar Incision Carpal Tunnel Release Techniques, will be studied by award recipient Michael Thibert under the supervision of Dr. Mark Thibert.

•Award recipient David Savage’s project, titled Developing Seasonal Physician Shift Schedules in the Emergency Department to Meet Patient Demand and Potentially Reduce Length of Stay, will be supervised Bruce Weaver.

•Supervised by Dr. Marion Maar, Martha DiGiuseppe’s project titled, A Pilot Study of the Lived Experience of Patients With Back Pain Receiving “Endoskopia,” Conservative Spinal Therapy Treatment at the Alfen Spinal Clinic in Wurzburg, Germany.

•Award recipient Christy McKinnon’s project, Assessment of Modifiable Preoperative Risk Factors in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients in Northwestern Ontario, is supervised by Dr. David Puskas.

•Supervised by Dr. Geoffrey Hudson, award recipient Jesse Gordon’s project is titled Nursing Before Nightingale in Eighteenth-Century England.

•Award recipient Valerie Nicholls’ project, titled Historical Perspectives on Organ Donation and Transplant and the Current Issues Regarding Donation and Transplant in Northern Ontario, is supervised by Dr. Geoffrey Hudson.

Unique this year is a contribution from the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s (HSF) of $5,000 towards a summer research project. Recipient of the HSF research award is Calen Sacevich with the project entitled, Automatic Electronic Defibrillators in Pre-hospital Rural and Remote Settings: What effect does prolonged transport time to hospital have on survival? Sacevich’s project will be supervised by Dr. Aaron Orkin.

“Providing an opportunity for medical students to conduct research projects throughout Northern Ontario encourages our learners to continue research throughout their professional careers,” explained Dr. Greg Ross, NOSM’s Associate Dean of Research. “Each year it is exciting to see questions composed by our learners, and oversee research projects that support the School’s vision for Innovative Education and Research for a Healthier North.”

Future Physician Gains Valuable Research and Clinical Experience
Gaining experience and research knowledge about mental health and substance abuse in Northern Ontario is a priority for Patrick Legault. As one of Northern Ontario’s future physicians, he believes it will help his future self be more aware of the effects of mental health and substance abuse on overall health.

Narcotics and prescription medications such as oxycodone are becoming increasingly available and individuals are now abusing medications which were only intended to help society. The treatment of opiate drug dependence is done by replacement therapy with various drugs notably methadone.

“From my limited knowledge on the subject area, the research being done by Dr. Dell’Aquila and Dr. Stewart seems very interesting and would enable me to gain a better understanding of substance abuse and its treatment,” explained Legault. “I would also gain valuable clinical experience in addictions medicine and get to speak with patients and gain perspective.”

Legault looks forward to working on his summer research project with the aspiration that he will be a better advocate for his future patients.