NOSM to Host 5th Francophone Symposium

The Francophone Affairs Unit of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is hosting the School’s 5^th Francophone Symposium from September 24 – 26, 2015 at Laurentian University in Sudbury.

This symposium will bring together health professionals and community members interested in Francophone health. These symposia are meant to inform, promote networking within the Francophone population, as well as explore questions relating to – and of interest to – the population.

NOSM has a social accountability mandate to contribute to improving the health of the people and communities of Northern Ontario. As such, the School’s Francophone Affairs Unit encourages Anglophone community members to engage in this symposium and as an introduction to the importance of Francophone cultural competency and awareness of Francophone issues as they relate to health care in our region.

In addition, 2015 marks NOSM’s 10^th anniversary! This will provide delegates from across NOSM’s wider campus of Northern Ontario with an opportunity to examine the School’s impact and outcomes on service, education, and research relating to health matters.

During these three days of networking, interactions, exchanges, small-group work, and discussions, the delegates will learn about NOSM’s new Strategic Plan for 2015-2020 and receive updates from both the Francophone Reference Group and the Francophone Affairs Unit.

A list of distinguished speakers will speak at the symposium, including François Boileau, Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner and Dr. Raymond Tempier from Hôpital Montfort who will speak about his research on linguistic barriers relating to access to psychiatrists.

Saturday will include a special focus on mental health. By way of speakers and a panel of experts, key elements and best practices to support the mental health and well-being of the Francophone population, particularly in Northern Ontario, will be presented.

Delegates will also have an opportunity to attend other special activities:

• The Franco-Ontarian Gala dinner hosted by the ACFO du Grand Sudbury on Thursday, September 24 (tickets sponsored by NOSM)
• The Franco-Ontarian flag raising on Friday, September 25 at the University of Sudbury
• ‘Le French Fest’ presented by La Slague on Friday, September 25, in honour of the 400^th Celebrations and of the 40^th of the Franco-Ontarian flag.

Three full days of sessions will allow for networking opportunities, connecting with friends and colleagues, and learning about the health related issues faced by Francophones in Northern Ontario.

Registration is now open. Please visit nosm.ca/symposiumfrancophone2015 for registration information. If you have questions regarding the event, please contact NOSM’s Francophone Affairs Unit, by email to affaires.francophones@nosm.ca or by telephone at 705-662-7260.

PLEASE NOTE: The majority of the sessions will be presented in French. Simultaneous interpretation will be available throughout the symposium in both of Canada’s official languages.

For more information on this symposium, please contact:

Danielle Barbeau-Rodrigue
Director, Francophone Affairs
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Email: dbarbeaurodrigue@nosm.ca
Phone: 705-662-7291