Amid a Week of Important NOSM Public Events

Using a combination of web- and tele-conference connectivity across Northern Ontario, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) held its Annual Members and Board of Directors meetings on Wednesday, September 23, 2015.

Board members Dr. Bob Algie, Dr. Louise Logan, James Morris, and Dr. Teresa O’Driscoll were thanked for their significant contribution to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, as their terms completed September 23, 2015.

At the recommendation of the Board’s Governance Committee and Nominations and Community Relations Subcommittee, the Board appointed four new members to NOSM’s Board of Directors:

• Danielle Bélanger-Corbin
• Dr. Pierre Bonin
• Mark Hurst
• Bruce Sutton

In accordance with Board policy regarding Officers of the Corporation, Dr. Moira McPherson, Provost and Vice-President Academic Lakehead University, was confirmed as Chair of the Board and Dr. Robert Kerr, Vice President, Academic and Provost of Laurentian University, was confirmed as Vice-Chair.  NOSM MD candidate Krista Marcotte was also reappointed as Board member.

The Board approved both the audited financial statements for the year ending April 30, 2015, and that BDO Canada LLP be appointed as auditors for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2016.

This week is an important one for the School, and a busy one for NOSM Board members who participated in several public NOSM events. NOSM publicly launched its new 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, created in collaboration with people and communities of Northern Ontario, and officially opened its 10^th anniversary celebration by engaging communities across Northern Ontario to “Be Active with NOSM.” Also this week, NOSM’s Francophone Affairs Unit is hosting the School’s 5^th Francophone Symposium at Laurentian University in Sudbury.

The new Strategic Plan, NOSM’s 10^th anniversary celebrations, and the Francophone Symposium share a common theme-that is, each of them is grounded in NOSM’s commitment to working with the region’s people, communities, partners, and collaborators for a healthier North.

The Board made special recognition of NOSM’s many recent accomplishments, and faculty and staff were congratulated for another year of high achievement under the leadership of the Dean.

Prior to the official Board meeting, members were invited to a special pre-screening of TVO’s upcoming The Doctor Can See You Now, a documentary which follows the story of NOSM-trained physician, Dr. Doris Mitchell, the doctor for Brunswick House First Nation, Chapleau Cree First Nation, and the Township of Chapleau. The documentary examines Northern Ontario health-care issues, and provides insight into how the Northern Ontario School of Medicine is addressing the chronic shortage of physicians in our region. The Doctor Can See You Nowwill first air on TVO on September 30 at 9:00 p.m. EST.

The next Board of Directors meeting will be held in Thunder Bay on November 26 and 27, 2015.

For a complete list of Board members, please visit our website at nosm.ca.

Contact:

news@nosm.ca

Earlier today, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) publicly launched Reaching Beyond Extraordinary Together-NOSM’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020. The product of a highly inclusive process nearly two years in the making, this revitalized plan will chart the direction of the School for the next five years.

Five strategic goals are at the heart of this renewed Strategic Plan:

•  Enrich our educational programs to foster exemplary quality health care in rural and remote communities.
• Strengthen our capacity to perform outstanding research that aligns with the health needs of Northern Ontario.
• Create an inclusive whole school culture and learning environment that supports the growth and development of our faculty, staff, and learners.
• Empower our faculty members through ongoing engagement and active involvement in all aspects of the School.
• Engage our communities, health service partners, and other collaborators strategically to strengthen relationships and expand resources.

The goals are ambitious but achievable, aligning with the culture of NOSM.

“This plan is truly a collective vision for the year 2020-one that could not have been accomplished without the ideas, guidance, and collaboration of individuals and organizations across the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s wider campus of Northern Ontario,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “Thank you, merci and miigwetch to all those who gave their time and input to help ensure NOSM’s Strategic Plan addresses the health priorities of Northern Ontarians.”

“I believe that the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and its many collaborators have created a meaningful plan that will shape the future of medical education and research in Northern Ontario,” says Dr. Moira McPherson, Provost and Vice-President Academic Lakehead University and Chair of NOSM’s Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I look forward to continuing to work together in the fulfillment of the School’s vision of Innovative education and research for a healthier North.”

A Strategic Planning Project Team and a 28-member Strategic Planning Advisory Committee were formed in December 2013 to oversee the strategic planning process. More than 1,000 stakeholders were consulted through various methods including: online surveys, focus groups, staff meetings, and community visits.

From May to September 2014, NOSM’s Dean and CEO Dr. Roger Strasser, Deputy Dean and Associate Dean of Community Engagement, Dr. David Marsh, senior leaders, and staff travelled to more than 50 rural, remote, Francophone, and Aboriginal communities across Northern Ontario to meet with individuals, organizations, learners, health-care professionals, and faculty.

NOSM’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020 is the culmination of a purposeful process that actively sought to understand the ongoing health-related needs in the region. Visit nosmsp2020.ca for more details related to the five strategic goals, implementation of NOSM’s new Strategic Plan, and opportunities for ongoing input into the School and its priorities. An action plan describing how NOSM will meet its Strategic Goals will be made public in the coming weeks.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) will hold its fifth symposium at Laurentian University in Sudbury on September 24 – 26, 2015. The Francophone Symposium, and events like it, engage individuals and organizations from across NOSM’s wider campus of Northern Ontario, in order to strengthen relationships with the Francophone community in pursuit of a healthier Northern Ontario.

This year’s symposium includes distinguished participants and speakers who will gather to examine research, mental health, aging populations, and discuss collaborative approaches designed to enhance effective health care. There will be interactive workshops as well as an expert panel.

NOSM senior leaders will make presentations to participants from across Northern Ontario to:

• Develop, strengthen, and enhance relationships.
• Report about the tangible progress the School has made in implementing Francophone initiatives at the School.
• Seek recommendations about how the School can refine its practices, activities, and outcomes to ensure that NOSM continues to meet the needs of Francophone peoples across Northern Ontario.

Welcome Remarks

Date:                Thursday, September 24, 2015

Time:                1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST

Location:        NOSM at Laurentian University

935 Ramsey Lake Road, West Residence, Room W-132

Sudbury, ON

Speakers:       

• Mr. Dominic Giroux, Laurentian University President
• Ms. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, Deputy Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury
• Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean
• Dr. David Marsh, NOSM Deputy Dean and Associate Dean, Community Engagement
• Ms. Jacqueline Gauthier, Chair, Francophone Reference Group

 

French Language Services of Ontario’s Annual Report 2014-2015

Date:                Thursday, September 24, 2015

Time:                 2:05 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. EST

Location:        NOSM at Laurentian University

935 Ramsey Lake Road, West Residence, Room W-132

Sudbury, ON

Speaker:          Mr. François Boileau

French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario

 

White Paper on the French Language Health Care in Ontario

Date:                Friday, September 25, 2015

Time:                4:05 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. EST

Location:        NOSM at Laurentian University

935 Ramsey Lake Road, West Residence, Room W-132

Sudbury, ON

Speaker:         Mr. Denis Vaillancourt

President, Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario

 

Keynote Address: The Mental Health of the Elderly in Northern Ontario

Date:                Saturday, September 26, 2015

Time:                7:35 a.m. – 8:35 a.m. EST

Location:       NOSM at Laurentian University

935 Ramsey Lake Road, West Residence, Room W-132

Sudbury, ON

Speaker:        Dr. Marie-France Tourigny-Rivard

Geriatric psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa

Subject:          The Mental Health of the Elderly in Northern Ontario: Progress relating to the recommendations from the Mental Health Commission of Canada to improve access to services and measure the impact of a more efficient system

 

Keynote Address: Looking into the Crystal Ball

Date:                Saturday, September 26, 2015

Time:                1:40 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. EST

Location:       NOSM at Laurentian University

935 Ramsey Lake Road, West Residence, Room W-132

Sudbury, ON

Speaker:        Dr. Benoit Mulsant

Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

Subject:          Looking into the Crystal Ball: What services do we need to address an aging population with mental health and addictions issues?

 

The above listed presentations are free for members of the media.  An agenda and program information can be found at www.nosm.ca/symposiumfrancophone2015. Please note that all sessions will be presented in French, however, simultaneous interpretation to English will be provided to all who require this service. There will be many opportunities for photos and interviews.