COMMUNIQUé - College of Medicine - University of Saskatchewan

COMMUNIQUé
College of Medicine magazine
FALL 2010
College of Medicine, Class of 2014
September 24, 2010
White Coat Ceremony

Table of Contents
Dean’s Message 1
Why and How We Care
Social Accountability at the College of Medicine 2
The Future of Medical Education in Canada 6
Research
Smart cities, healthy kids 9
Exploring fertility in space 10
Depression, pills and Alzeimer’s disease 11
Creating a Provincial Campus
Distributed Medical Education moves forward 12
Celebrating 25 years of Northern Medical Services 14
College Awards and Honours 16
SMSS Student Corner 18
2010 and Beyond – News from PAIRS 20
Aboriginal Programming 21
Health Sciences Capital Campaign 22
School of Physical Athabasca Therapy 24
Leadership Team
Dean of Medicine: Dr. William Albritton
FALL 2010
Associate Dean, Biomedical Sciences and Graduate Studies:
Dr. Nick Ovsenek
Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs: Dr. Olufemi Olatunbosun
Associate Dean, Medical Education: Dr. Shelia Harding (on leave)
Associate Dean, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences:
Dr. Liz Harrison
Associate Dean, Regina Programs: Dr. Gill White
Associate Dean, Research: Dr. Lou Qualtiere
Associate Dean, Rural and Northern Medical Programs:
Dr. Tom Smith-Windsor
Associate Dean, Saskatoon Programs: Dr. Grant Stoneham
Assistant Dean, Continuing Professional Learning: Dr. Penny Davis
Assistant Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education: Dr. Anurag Saxena
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education: Dr. Gary Linassi
Director, Admissions: Dr. Barry Ziola
Director, Educational Support and Development: Dr. Marcel D’Eon
Director, Student Affairs: Dr. Susan Gilmer (acting)
Keewatin Yatthé
s Research
Marnawetan
Churchill
River
Smart cities, healthy kids
Prairie
North
Saskatoon
Heartland 12
Sunrise
s Distributed Medical Education
Creating a Provincial Regina Campus
Cypress
Prince
Albert
Parkland
Five Hills
21
Kelsey Trail
Qu’appelle
Sun Country
s Aboriginal Programming
Aboriginal coordinator
joins the College of Medicine
14
22
s
s
Northern
Medical Services
Celebrating
25 years
Health Sciences
9
Capital Campaign
Building the
foundation
for health
sciences
education
and research
Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration: Ms. Ann Schultz
Manager, Human Resources: Ms. Tracey Wray
Department Heads
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Dr. Pat Krone (acting)
Anesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management:
Dr. David Campbell
Biochemistry: Dr. Ramji Khandelwal
Community Health and Epidemiology: Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine
Family Medicine: Dr. Alanna Danilkewich (acting)
Medical Imaging: Dr. Sheldon Wiebe
Medicine: Dr. Vernon Hoeppner
Microbiology and Immunology: Dr. Peter Bretscher
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences:
Dr. Tom Mainprize
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine: Dr. John Krahn
Pediatrics: Dr. Bill Bingham
Pharmacology: Dr. Venkat Gopalakrishnan
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Dr. Lila Rudachyk
Physiology: Dr. Michel Desautels
Psychiatry: Dr. Marilyn Baetz
School of Physical Therapy: Dr. Angela Busch
Surgery: Dr. Bill Dust (acting)
Advancement Team
Alumni Relations: Ms. Verity Moore-Wright
Communications: Ms. Laura Herman
Development: Mr. Fred J. Matiko
Support: Ms. Christine Wood
Design: Deanna Miller
COMMUNIQUé College of Medicine magazine
Published by the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.
For regular updates, please visit www. medicine.usask.ca
C O M M U N I Q U É
College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

One of the ways the College will be able to achieve
increased enrolment will be through continued
“expansion of distributed medical education
”
Dean’s
Message
Colleagues, Alumni, Friends,
It was only a few short weeks ago we had the pleasure of welcoming
our newest undergraduate students, the Class of 2014, to the medical
profession at our White Coat Ceremony. It was the perfect opportunity
to look forward with optimism at the budding careers of these eager
students. Proud family members and friends watched as eighty-four
students received their first white coat from respected members of our
physician community. These ceremonies are a relatively new tradition in
Canadian schools and introduced here by Dr. Sheila Harding, Associate
Dean – Medical Education. They serve as an important milestone in
a learner’s academic and service life. The white coat has long been a
symbol of our profession, but for these newest members the white
coat is meant to serve as a symbolic representation of their personal
commitment to life-long learning and service to their patients and
the profession.
Later that same evening we played host to the College of Medicine’s
first Annual Homecoming BBQ. For anyone who joined us at the event,
I hope you’ll agree the southern food and bluegrass band made for an
enjoyable evening and the weather was beautiful. Be sure to reserve
your tickets early for next year’s Homecoming and let us know how we
can make it even more enjoyable. Aside from ceremonies and BBQ’s,
the hard work of running our College of Medicine has continued and
we have many successes to share with you.
I think of the eight-year renewal of our undergraduate medical
education program. In its report, the Committee on the Accreditation
of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) and its American counterpart,
the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), cited the College
of Medicine’s integrated planning processes, strong partnerships in
recruitment, education and community engagement, its leadership
in social accountability, and its “exceptionally supportive” services for
students and residents in Regina among our strengths. We are currently
preparing for a secretariat fact-finding visit in March 2011 where the
adjudicators will look at our progress on the Academic Health Sciences
project, faculty expansion and finances in preparation for an expanded
class size of 100 students.
One of the ways the College will be able to achieve increased enrolment
will be through continued expansion of distributed medical education,
both for our undergraduate students and residents. We’ve made several
strides in this regard. In July, we celebrated the expansion of our Family
Medicine Residency program to Swift Current, where four clinical
residents will receive their training. In August, twelve of our third-year
undergraduate students began their full-time studies based in Regina.
Through video-conferencing and interactive teaching technologies,
the Regina site is linked to Saskatoon and we now have the ability to
offer lectures from either location. We are planning to also increase our
programs in Prince Albert and to add new sites to our programs.
We are also working to implement the ten recommendations and five
enabling recommendations brought forward in the Association of
Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) Report entitled The Future of
Medical Education in Canada (FMEC): A Collective Vision for MD Education.
This initiative and our work in this regard, is further described on
page 6. In addition to helping to continue to focus our work in social
accountability, it also will help us to further develop our biomedical
science programs that have been so successful at the undergraduate
BSc and graduate studies (MSc and PhD) level. The work that the
biomedical science departments have done in the past several years
developing a core platform for studies in Biochemistry, Physiology,
Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Anatomy and Cell
Biology under the leadership of Dr. Nick Ovsenek has been remarkable.
To complement our work in education, we have begun turning our
time and attention to writing our College’s next integrated plan, the
third such plan we have developed as part of the University’s fouryear
planning cycle. Dr. Sheila Harding will be leading the College of
Medicine team in determining our priorities for 2012–2016. This type
of planning exercise enables us to align our academic priorities with
financial resources and helps to ensure our work at the College level
is consistent with the overall strategic directions of the University. As
we move further along in this process, information will be posted on
our web site at www.medicine.usask.ca/leadership/integrated-plan
and I encourage you, especially those of you who are members
of faculty, to engage in what is meant to be a collaborative and
empowering process.
Finally, as you may know, I am in the penultimate year of my deanship
and will not be seeking a renewal of my appointment. As such, the
University is embarking on a search process for my successor. This
position comes with many difficult trials and challenges, but is also
hugely satisfying and rewarding. I am confident the University will find
a capable leader for the College to implement the third Integrated Plan.
I hope you will enjoy this latest edition of Communiqué. Please let us
know what you think and how we can keep you better informed of the
work of the College.
Sincerely,
William Albritton
Dean, College of Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 1

Why and how
we CAre
In 1995, the World Health Organization
formally defined social accountability as
it relates to medical schools, outlining
the obligation of educational institutions
to be accountable to the health needs of
the communities they serve. These needs
are to be collaboratively identified and
responded to by governments, healthcare
organizations, academic institutions and
the communities involved.
In 2001 Health Canada and the Association
of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)
published Social Accountability: A Vision
for Canadian Medical Schools which
states that the “primary goal of medical
education is to prepare graduates to
practice effectively in reducing the burden
of illness and improving the health of their
communities”. This 2001 report examined
Canadian medical education and furthered
the notion of social accountability through
specific recommendations which include:
• addressing the needs of diverse
individuals and communities in Canada
and around the world
• integrating concepts of prevention and
the social determinants of health in
medical curricula, and
• providing students with first-hand
experience in community settings and
among distinct populations to broaden
the learning context
In response, our College of Medicine
created a Social Accountability
Committee in 2004. The Committee is
tasked with overseeing the integration
and implementation of these principles
into all education, research, and service
activities of the College and ensuring
on-going sustainability of these initiatives.
Strategic planning was undertaken
by the committee to set goals for the
further development of a culture of
social accountability in the College of
Medicine and these ideas were referenced
prominently throughout the College of
Medicine’s Integrated
Plan for 2008–2012.
Today, the Social Accountability Committee
is composed of faculty representing a
cross-section of departments, members
of the educational administration,
students, community representatives and
practicing physicians. It is chaired by a
quarter time faculty position, supported
by a full-time coordinator and has been
formalized as a Standing Committee
of Faculty Council. These steps have
accorded the committee further legitimacy,
changing it from an “at-pleasure” satellite
of the current administration to a more
permanent status within the institution.
Discussions are currently underway
regarding the establishment of a Division
of Social Accountability, to be hosted by a
department within the College of Medicine.
s
2 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

social ACCOUNtability
The Social Accountability committee
has met with departments throughout
the College of Medicine to gain an
understanding of existing activities that
could be described as socially accountable.
Reflection on these discussions led the
committee to describe four key areas
of activity within a medical school:
summarized by the acronym CARE.
• Clinical activity: addressing priority
problems, being responsive to changing
community needs, including overcoming
barriers to access
• Advocacy: speaking out on behalf of
underserved populations or neglected
conditions and working with partners
and policy-makers to translate a vision of
a socially accountable patient-centered
health care system
• Research: conducting curiosity-based
research that is responsive to perceived
needs and translated into evidencebased
practice and quality care
• Education and training: on-going
modeling and teaching professionalism
and community-responsiveness,
providing opportunities for servicelearning
and seeking to incorporate
social accountability into practical
training and continuing education
throughout practice life
Beyond clever wordplay, the CARE model
is a useful tool, helping to guide social
accountability initiatives towards the
priority health concerns of local, regional,
national and international communities
while working towards a health system
that is more responsive and socially
accountable.
Student initiative has driven the
development of numerous social
accountability subcommittees in our
College. These subcommittees work
to address key issues relevant to the
communities served by the College of
Medicine and have had far-reaching
impacts on the College and the local
and global community, from changes in
curricula and admissions to community
programming and international
educational experiences. Some of
the current groups include:
Aboriginal Health Committee: recognizes
the significant health disparities faced
by the First Nations and Métis people of
Saskatchewan, and attempts to better
coordinate ongoing activities in the College
of Medicine
Aboriginal, Rural and Remote Health
Group: hosts speakers and carries out
community tours to deepen student
understanding of health in Aboriginal and
rural communities
s
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 3

Why and how we CARE continued
Community Health for Community
Change: focuses on promoting the
principles of community health and
bridging the University and community
Equity, Gender and Diversity Committee:
works to advocate, support and promote
equity and diversity within the College of
Medicine, supports and encourages student
and faculty awareness of equity, diversity
and gender in their education, research
and service undertakings, and is a resource
to assist in dealing with questions and
concerns of faculty, students and staff at
the College of Medicine
Geriatric Interest Group: focuses on the
under-addressed issues in care of the elderly
Global Health Committee: oversees the
College’s global health initiatives, and
promotes faculty and student engagement
in health initiatives around the globe that
support social accountability
Health Science Camps for Kids: teaches
junior high students in urban and remote
communities about careers in the health
sciences
Immigrant and Refugee Health
Committee: seeks to understand and
address unmet health needs of the
growing immigrant and refugee population
in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan
Political Action Committee: trains
students in lobbying government for
health advocacy
Reproductive Action Group: educates
students and communities on sexual health
These groups apply the CARE model
to assess how their work addresses
each of the four elements. A scan of
the work related to the area of interest
of a given subcommittee is carried out
to understand existing content, be it
curricular or extra-curricular. Projects are
then designed to address identified gaps.
These projects might include new course
content, an independent speaker series,
a service-learning program for students,
sending faculty and students to relevant
conferences, or initiating collaborative work
to introduce a new clinical service. These
activities are then reported back to the
larger Social Accountability Committee,
where the CARE model is again applied to
evaluate the success of the overall initiative
and guide future activities.
In addition to the subcommittees,
social accountability in the College of
Medicine operates through a number
of unique projects.
Student Wellness Initiative Toward
Community Health (SWITCH) is a
student-run interdisciplinary clinic serving
Saskatoon’s inner-city neighborhoods.
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4 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

Over 50% of medical students spend time
volunteering at SWITCH.
Making the Links is a multi-site
longitudinal service-learning experience.
Selected medical students participating
in the program spend the summer after
their first year in either the Northern
Métis community of Ile a-la-Crosse or on a
reserve nearby Buffalo River Dene Nation.
Students then work at SWITCH during the
school year, and spend six weeks of the
following summer in rural Mozambique.
Between these three experiences students
participate in all aspects of the CARE
model, and develop an understanding
of the commonalities and differences in
three diverse low-resource settings:
rural, remote Aboriginal communities,
an inner-city urban population and rural
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Student Energy in Action for Regina
Community Health (SEARCH) offers
a SWITCH-like interdisciplinary clinic
approach in Saskatchewan’s capitol city.
All three projects have arisen as a direct
result of student initiatives. Students have
long clamored for more service-learning
experiences, for meaningful interaction and
education regarding health issues of the
underserved. Above all, through in-depth
service-learning activity, students gain
experiential understanding of the crucial
importance of the social determinants
of health. These experiences provide the
powerful opportunity for mutual change…
in the learner, his or her teachers and
the community themselves, bringing to
life the fundamental elements of social
accountability.
The plethora of initiatives demonstrates
the diversity of areas, interests and multidisciplinary
collaboration that social
accountability encompasses. The recent
expansion of these groups reflects a culture
of “civic professionalism” among medical
students, where their scope of medicine
has broadened beyond the individual
obligation to the patient to the collective
obligation to local and global communities.
Students informally interviewed about the
proliferation of student activity suggest
that changes in admissions processes and
grading that emphasize life experience
and communication skills have changed
the makeup of the student body. They
also referred to a sense that advocating for
social accountability is not only acceptable
at the College but expected. The level
of energy, enthusiasm and passion in
undertaking these initiatives embodies the
need to “remind ourselves that medical
education is fun - and we should avoid
taking ourselves overly seriously if we want
to effect practical change.” n
“
Reflecting on my
educational experience at
the College of Medicine,
Making the Links was by
far the most influential,
challenging and
rewarding experience
of medical school. The
importance of serving the
underserved, community
engagement and
development, and servicelearning,
reinforced by
the Mtl program, guided
me into a rural family
medicine residency
and on to a practice in
Northern Saskatchewan
with a continued interest
in Global Health. It is
important to me to stay
interested, engaged and
excited in this career
and I am so grateful to
have observed successful
teachers, with such strong
community ties, who
exemplify the rewards
of social accountability
in practice.
”
– former Making the Links
participant Dr. Breanna
Davis, MD, CCFP, July, 2010
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 5

The Future
of Medical Education in Canada
The U of S College of Medicine ushered in a new era of
undergraduate medical education on January 28th, 2010 during
the national launch of the report: The Future of Medical Education
in Canada (FMEC): A Collective Vision for MD Education. The
Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) report is
the first comprehensive study of medical doctor (MD) education in
North America since the Flexner Report was issued 100 years ago.
The 30 month FMEC project spear-headed by AFMC examined
how the education programs leading to the medical doctor
degree in Canada can best respond to society’s evolving needs
and is rooted in the AFMC’s articulated social accountability
mission for medical schools. The social accountability piece
is especially relevant for our College of Medicine, as we are
emerging as a national leader on this front. In fact, Dr. Ryan Meili,
Chair of the College’s Social Accountability Committee, will give
a presentation on the C.A.R.E. model employed by our College
during a plenary session at the annual AFMC Conference next
May. The session is intended to provide other faculties with
an overview of how our College of Medicine has incorporated
social accountability programming into various aspects of our
curriculum and the successes we have achieved in doing so.
Changing medical education to optimize healthcare delivery and
improve health status for all Canadians is the stated goal of the FMEC
project. As such, the report contains ten recommendations and five
enabling recommendation for medical schools. Each of the 17 Canadian
Faculties of Medicine will embrace the recommendations in this report
in its own unique way. Our College’s Dean, Dr. Albritton, envisions
the recommendations enhancing work that is currently underway,
specifically focusing on addressing individual and community needs,
diversifying learning
contexts, valuing
generalism, and
advancing inter- and
intra- professional
practice.
“For us, these
recommendations
strengthen the
vision we have
for serving
the people of
Saskatchewan.
s
Recommendations and Leadership
1. Address Individual and
Community Needs
– Dr. Tom Smith-Windsor
Social responsibility and accountability
are core values underpinning the roles
of Canadian physicians and Faculties
of Medicine. This commitment
means that both individually and
collectively, physicians and faculties
must work to respond to the diverse
needs of individuals and communities
throughout Canada, as well as meeting
international responsibilities to the
global community.
2. Enhance Admissions Processes
– Dr. Barry Ziola
Given the broad range of attitudes,
values, and skills required of
physicians, Faculties of Medicine
must enhance admissions processes
to include assessment of key values
and personal characteristics of future
physicians such as communication,
interpersonal and collaborative skills,
a range of professional interests, as
well as cognitive ability. Additionally, in
order to achieve the desired diversity
in our physician workforce, Faculties
of Medicine must recruit, select,
and support a representative mix of
medical students.
3. Build on the Scientific Basis of
Medicine – Dr. Nick Ovsenek
Given that medicine is rooted in
fundamental scientific principles, both
human and biological sciences must
be learned in relevant and immediate
clinical contexts throughout the MD
Education experience. In addition, as
scientific inquiry provides the basis
for advancing healthcare, research
interests and skills must be developed
to foster a new generation of health
researchers.
4. Promote Prevention & Public
Health – Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine
Promoting a healthy Canadian
population requires a multifaceted
approach engaging the full continuum
of health and healthcare. Faculties of
Medicine have a critical role to play in
enabling this requirement and must
therefore enhance the integration
of prevention and public health
competencies to a greater extent in
the MD Education curriculum.
5. Address the Hidden Curriculum
– Dr. Penny Davis
The hidden curriculum is a “set of
influences that function at the level of
organizational structure and culture,”
affecting the nature of learning,
professional interactions, and clinical
practice. Faculties of Medicine must
therefore ensure that the hidden
curriculum is regularly identified
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6 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

The Patient First Review conducted by Tony Dagnone clearly
outlined the need for health care providers to more fully address
individual and community needs. We know Saskatchewan must
also increase its number of primary care physicians and recruit and
retain these skilled professionals in communities throughout the
province. Additionally, the recommendation to diversify learning
contexts for students meshes perfectly with the College’s vision for
a distributed model of medical education where learners are placed
in communities throughout Saskatchewan as an integral part of
their training. Finally, the Health Sciences complex currently being
constructed on the U of S campus will be a flagship environment
for inter- and intra- professional medical training.”
will require a significant amount of focus and dedication. To that
end, the College has formed an FMEC implementation committee,
chaired by Dr. Albritton. Each of the recommendations will be
championed by a member of faculty, together with a team of
collaborators who will determine how the College should best
carry-out the report’s objectives.
The FMEC committee’s goal is to have a complete implementation
strategy ready to be rolled-out by the end of the 2010 – 2011
academic year.
s
Improving Canadian MD education programs by implementing
these recommendations will not only enhance the quality of
education in Canadian medical schools but also better equip
Canada’s physicians and health care systems to respond and adapt
to the changing health and societal needs that define this nation.
The FMEC Collective vision is both a prescription and a platform
for change.
To move forward and actually implement the ten recommendations
and five enabling recommendation contained in the FMEC report
and addressed by students, educators
and faculty throughout all stages
of learning.
6. Diversify Learning Context
– Dr. William Albritton
Canadian physicians practise in a wide
range of institutional and community
settings while providing the continuum
of medical care. In order to prepare
physicians for these realities, Faculties
of Medicine must provide learning
experiences throughout MD Education
for all students in a variety of settings
ranging from small rural communities
to complex tertiary health care centres.
7. Valuing Generalism
– Dr. Gill White
Recognizing that generalism is
foundational for all physicians, MD
Education must be focused on broadly
based generalist content, including
comprehensive family medicine.
Moreover, family physicians and
other generalists must be integral
participants in all stages of MD
Education.
8. Advance Inter- and Intra-
Professional Practice
– Dr. Liz Harrison
To improve collaborative, patientcentred
care, MD Education must
reflect ongoing changes in scopes
of practice and healthcare delivery.
Faculties of Medicine must equip
MD Education learners with the
competencies that will enable them
to function effectively as part of interand
intra-professional teams.
9. Adopt a Competency-Based and
Flexible Approach – Dr. Gary Linassi
To prepare for lifelong learningputting
the continuum of medical
education into practice – MD
Education must be based primarily on
the development of core foundational
competencies and complementary
broad experiential learning. In
addition to pre-defined curriculum
requirements, MD Education must
also provide flexible opportunities for
students to pursue individual scholarly
interests in medicine.
10. Foster Medical Leadership
– Dr. Anurag Saxena
Medical leadership is essential in
regard to both patient care and
the overall health system. Faculties
of Medicine must foster medical
leadership for both faculty and
students, including how to manage,
navigate, and help transform medical
practice and the health system in
collaboration with others.
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 7

The Future of Medical Education in Canada continued
Enabling Recommendations
Five enabling recommendations will facilitate the
implementation of the FMEC recommendations:
A: Realign Accreditation Standards
– Dr. Sheila Harding
Recognizing that accreditation is a powerful lever,
Canadian medical leaders must review and realign existing
CACMS standards and develop new ones, as necessary, to
respond to the recommendations in this report. This may
involve the alignment of undergraduate and postgraduate
accreditation standards.
“
these recommendations
strengthen the vision we
have for serving the people
of Saskatchewan
”
– Dr. Albritton
B: Build Capacity for Change
– Dr. Marcel D’Eon
Each Faculty of Medicine should carry out a review of
its organizational systems, processes, and structures to
determine and build capacity where required to support
a constructive response to these recommendations.
C: Increase National Collaboration
– Dr. Sheila Harding
Canadian Faculties of Medicine are continually innovating
and have much to offer each other. Increased collaboration
among schools, including sharing of teaching resources,
evaluation frameworks, tools for common curriculum
development and innovation, as well as learning resources
and information technology, is desirable.
D: Improve the Use of Technology
– Dr. Grant Stoneham
Based on rapid and evolving technology changes in how
people communicate and learn, there must be increased
understanding and use of technology on the part of both
faculty and learners at all MD education sites.
E: Enhance Faculty Development
– Dr. Femi Olatunbosun
Recognizing that teaching, research and leadership are
core roles for physicians, faculty development in these
areas must be a high priority to enable teachers and
learners to respond effectively to the recommendations
in this report. n
8 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

Smart cities,
healthy kids
For the first time in modern history, the
life expectancy of children may well drop
lower than that of their parents. The reason:
lifestyles that discourage physical activity
and foster obesity.
“To a large extent, the way we behave
is shaped by our environment,” says Dr.
Nazeem Muhajarine. “We tend to develop
sedentary lifestyles if we don’t have a lot of
opportunities for physical activity, or have
competing activities that discourage us
from being active.”
Muhajarine, leads the Healthy Children
research program within the Saskatchewan
Population Health and Evaluation Research
Unit (SPHERU), which includes researchers
from the University of Saskatchewan
and University of Regina. Their “Smart
Cities, Healthy Kids” project is looking at
the design of urban neighbourhoods in
Saskatoon to identify the elements that
encourage children to get up and go.
These elements include things such as
buildings, roadways, sidewalks, parks, and
green spaces, and how they contribute
to increasing children’s physical activity.
By learning what is and isn’t working
in Saskatoon, the team hopes to inform
the design of future neighbourhoods
throughout Saskatchewan and
across Canada.
Through their research, Muhajarine and his
team also seeks to shed light on how the
social contexts in which children live —
their families and their neighbourhood —
help or hinder them in their early years. This
is the type of research that he thrives on.
“We have done studies looking at various
factors—from family, neighbourhoods,
schools, and larger society—that impact
children, beginning with even before
they are born to when they begin school,”
Muhajarine says. “What do we see in a
community that is essential to nurturing
healthy children that grow up to be welladjusted,
productive citizens? How can we
provide these essentials?”
In addition to the “Smart Cities, Healthy
Kids” project, Muhajarine and his
research team are also working on many
other research and knowledge transfer
projects in early childhood development.
“I think the funding early in my career as a student
(from SHRF’s precursor) has helped me start on a healthy
career path, to really make a difference and contribute
to Saskatchewan and elsewhere.”
—Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine
research
They are just about to wrap up a threeyear
evaluation of the effectiveness of
KidsFirst, the provincial government’s
early childhood development program
for vulnerable families with young
children delivered locally at nine sites in
the province. KidsFirst uses home visiting
to mentor parents and connect them to
needed supports, so they can be the best
parents they can be, and have the healthiest
children possible. Muhajarine is looking at
the impact KidsFirst has made on children
and their parents’ lives in the first few years
of the program.
Findings from previous research projects
have contributed to improved programs
and services for children in several ways:
Saskatoon’s school boards have initiated
major literacy programs and have
introduced and expanded a full-time
kindergarten option, while the city’s public
library has improved access to services
in underprivileged areas. Last year, he
received CIHR funding to launch kidSKAN,
the Saskatchewan Knowledge to Action
Network for early childhood development
(www.kidskan.ca), a provincial community
of practice to connect researchers with
practitioners and policymakers across
the province.
Muhajarine was awarded his first research
grant while he was a doctoral student, from
the Saskatchewan Health Research Board
(a precursor to SHRF).
“I believe the early funding really
contributed to my development as a
researcher,” Muhajarine says. “Being funded
when I was fairly new to the research
community as a PhD student was certainly
beneficial when I subsequently applied
for national grants.”
Since his early days as a student, Muhajarine
has continued his success in funding
through a variety of post-doctoral and
establishment grants through HSURC
(another precursor to SHRF), and a variety
of national funding sources such as the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He
has won prestigious honours such as CIHR’s
Knowledge Translation Award, and SHRF’s
Achievement Award. n
This story and photograph provided courtesy of SHRF.
Photo courtesy Brinnameade Smith.
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 9

Exploring fertility
in space
Heather Allaway
Growing up on a farm in rural
Saskatchewan, Heather Allaway
had a somewhat unusual career
aspiration — she wanted to
become an astronaut.
Her fascination with animals and
reproduction sparked an interest
in exploring human fertility,
which in turn led to wondering
about the effects of estrogen
depletion for women travelling
in space.
Her curiosity about this topic and her accomplishments as a
graduate student in reproductive sciences at the University of
Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine recently landed her a place
at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France with
120 space-science students from around the world.
When the nine-week program ended in September, Allaway
entered the final year of her master’s research which is focussed
on the effects on a woman’s ovaries of stopping ovaries from
making the hormone estrogen, work that could be helpful in
developing a new kind of morning-after pill.
Her research could also shed light on how a new wave of ovarian
follicles develops, paving the way for more effective treatment
for infertility.
Since how the body regulates estrogen can have a huge impact
on bone mass, Allaway is also interested in finding a way to ensure
that women who explore space can be better protected against
bone density loss.
“We don’t fully understand how women’s bodies are affected in
space,” she says.
“My study isn’t about sex in space, but about the changes
in the body that occur before, during, and after pregnancy.
Reproduction in space is a piece of the puzzle that needs to be
understood before the exploration of the solar system can begin.”
All astronauts lose bone mass when travelling in space. But
hormonal contraception creates a dangerous scenario for female
astronauts, who often must to go on long-term hormonal birth
control that stops menstrual periods and lowers estrogen levels,
exacerbating significant bone loss.
“When you think about extended space travel, for example to
Mars, you cannot afford to lose a large amount of bone mass,” says
Allaway’s supervisor Roger Pierson, College of Medicine professor
of reproductive sciences.
Bone metabolism is closely linked to estrogen and menstruation,
which is why women and men’s bone densities are different, and
why women in menopause have a higher risk of osteoporosis and
bone fractures.
By better understanding the mechanism that shuts down ovary
functioning and affects estrogen levels, Allaway could contribute
to the development of better emergency contraception.
s
Heather Allaway
collecting rock samples
at the Mars Desert
Research Station in Utah
September, 2010
10 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

esearch
Heather was selected the Best Student Paper Award at the
56th Annual Conference of the Canadian fertility and
andrology Society. The paper, entitled ‘ A Single 20mg dose
of Aromatase Inhibitor Does Not Affect Folliculogenesis
in the Folliculr Phase of the Menstrual Cycle’, was co-authored
with Donna Chizen an Gregg Adams.
And by learning more about how estrogen encourages the
growth of ovarian follicles where eggs are developed, she
could help design more effective therapy for women who have
difficulties conceiving.
“It’s a simple study with profound implications,” Pierson says.
While in France, Allaway learned about space travel and planned
her research so to be relevant to a career as an astronaut.
“For the next generation of astronauts, NASA and the European
Space Agency will be looking for physicians, scientists and
engineers as well as pilots,” says Pierson. “This is what Heather
is preparing for.”
In 2008, Allaway went on a two-week mission at the International
Mars Society Mars Desert Research Station in Utah where researchers
work in a remote environment reminiscent of the red planet.
Allaway sees a need for more information to educate and
empower women around the world to take control of their bodies.
She recruits her own research volunteers, educating them along
the way about how reproduction works.
“The best part of my work is getting to know the amazing women
who volunteer,” Allaway says. “They give their time to learn more
about a subject that is still a touchy topic to most people.”
While Pierson anticipates outstanding PhD work from Allaway, he
is just as optimistic about her career in space travel, noting that
“farm kids have an incredible work ethic.”
Graduate student Lisa Johnson wrote the above article while
completing an internship at the U of S research communications
office. Visit www.usask/research for more stories about
student research. n
This article recently appeared in the Saskatoon Star Phoneix.
Depression, pills
and Alzheimer’s disease
Is our society’s love affair with antidepressants
setting us up for an epidemic of early-onset
Alzheimer’s disease?
“Depression doesn’t necessarily cause more
Alzheimer’s disease, but what it does is it
causes Alzheimer’s disease to happen earlier,”
says Dr. Darrell Mousseau. “Depression is
doing something to the brain that makes
it much more vulnerable to developing
Alzheimer’s disease earlier on.”
Mousseau, a professor in the U of S College
of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry,
together with his team, has found that an
enzyme that plays an important role in
depression can severely weaken brain cells
and perhaps trigger the processes that lead
to Alzheimer’s disease. The team is also
looking at the role of antidepressants in
this process.
“We have to be careful about what kind of
drugs we’re putting into depressed patients
because that could actually be creating
Alzheimer’s in some people,” he says.
“Instead of developing it when they’re 70,
maybe they’ll develop it when they’re 50 or 40.”
Dr. Mousseau holds the Saskatchewan
Research Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease and
Related Dementia. The chair is a partnership
among SHRF, the Alzheimer Society of
Saskatchewan, and the University of
Saskatchewan.
Each funding partner provides $100,000
per year for five years, while the U of S
provides the necessary infrastructure and
support. It is the first chair under SHRF’s new
Saskatchewan Research Chairs program.
Over the next five years of his Chair’s term
Mousseau and his team hope to come
closer to discovering a way to provide
earlier diagnostic measures and prevent
Alzheimer’s disease in a significant portion
of the population.
As Canada’s population ages, finding the
cause of and cure for Alzheimer’s disease is
expected to become critically important.
In its report The Rising Tide, the Alzheimer
Society estimates that if nothing is done to
stop or slow the disease, by the year 2038
one person will develop Alzheimer’s disease
or a related dementia every two minutes
in Canada. n
Dr. Darrell Mousseau and his team will use advanced
research tools such as those at the Canadian Light
Source at the University of Saskatchewan to study
links among depression, antidepressant drugs, and
Alzheimer’s disease.
This story and photograph provided courtesy of SHRF.
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 11

Creating a provincial campus
Distributed Medical Education moves forward
With the recent $2 million in funding provided by the Ministry
of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration and
the Ministry of Health, the College of Medicine is developing a
plan to expand distributed medical education throughout the
province. Distributed medical education (DME) is an approach
that has medical students study and train in a variety of different
environments, such as smaller rural facilities, as opposed to
studying only at the large tertiary institutions.
Dr. Tom Smith-Windsor, Associate Dean of Rural Programs, thinks
the development will allow medical students to gain a wider
range of experience of medicine as a whole: “Right now we’re
teaching on a somewhat narrow perspective for the disease
process, and not at the beginning or the end of that process
where most physicians work. DME will allow students more
contact with patients throughout the disease, as well as outside
the hospital setting. They’ll also learn about solving medical
issues within the patient’s social and economic environment.”
Other medical programs in Canada are already reaping the
benefits of distributed medical programs, and DME could help
solve some of Saskatchewan’s specific challenges, such as a
lack of family physicians, especially in rural areas. Dr. Smith-
Windsor points out that “the literature on distributed medical
education overwhelmingly shows that where students get the
majority of their clinical experience is where they will establish
practice.” Dr. Anurag Saxena, Assistant Dean of Postgraduate
Medical Education at the U of S, agrees, stating that DME
“has huge potential for Saskatchewan as far as recruiting and
retaining general practitioners.”
As with any program development, there are implementation
challenges. “The training received at these distributed sites
s
Keewatin Yatthé
Prairie
North
Heartland
Cypress
On July 7th, 2010, U of S President MacKinnon and Dean
Albritton, together with Premier Brad Wall and Minister of
Health Don McMorris, welcomed
four new family medicine residents
Athabasca
Prince
Albert
Parkland
Saskatoon
Marnawetan
Churchill
River
Kelsey Trail
Regina
Qu’appelle
Five Hills
Sunrise
Sun Country
to Swift Current. Over the next two
years, these postgraduate medical
education students will be the first
to receive their training outside of
Saskatoon, Regina or Prince Albert.
Establishing the training site in
Swift Current is a significant step
for the College of Medicine as
we continue with the expansion
of our distributed medical
education model.
For the College of Medicine,
developing a distributed model
of education is essential to
meeting our social accountability
mandate and addressing the
reforms in medical education
suggested by the recently
released Future of Medical
Education in Canada project
developed through the
Association of Faculties of
Medicine of Canada.
Specifically, enhancing
our distributed education
model will enable us to
concentrate on three of the
ten recommendations outlined in the FMEC report:
1. ADDRESS INDIVIDUAl AND COMMUNIty NEEDS: The College
of Medicine is mandated to serve the people of Saskatchewan.
For us to achieve this mandate, we must first reach the people of
Saskatchewan. A distributed education model is the vehicle by
which we will achieve greater connectedness to the communities
we seek to serve. This includes both rural and urban populations
and also encompasses meaningful engagement with underserved
communities.
2. Diversify lEARNING CONtexts: This is at the heart of a
distributed model. Students must be exposed to a wide range of
learning contexts in order to become well-rounded physicians.
While training in large, tertiary care facilities is an important
aspect of medical school, it cannot be the only environment
students are exposed to.
3. ValUE GENERAlISM: Recognizing that generalism is
foundational for all physicians, MD education must focus on
broadly generalist content, including comprehensive family
medicine. Moreover, family physicians and other generalists
must be integral participants in all stages of MD education.
The expansion of our rural family medicine residency program
to Swift Current is a positive step towards further developing
our distributed medical education model and it demonstrates
our commitment to serving the people of Saskatchewan.
12 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

must be at the same rigorous, high level as the training received
on campus,” says Dr. Saxena, which accordingly requires a great
deal of administrative, faculty, and IT support. Dr. Gary Linassi,
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, agrees, and
describes the ideal DME program as one in which, “the satellite
centres participate in a very robust way in the delivery of medical
education,” adding that he would like to see “students on the U of
S campus being taught by instructors on other campuses, so that
the flow of information goes both ways.” If successful, he believes
the U of S “will have a truly provincial campus in delivering the
undergraduate mission.”
Distributed medical education will also help fulfill the College
of Medicine’s social accountability mandate. Dr. Saxena states,
“social needs should be the key driver in what we do in medicine
and what we do in medical education. Since many of the needs
of the Saskatchewan people are not being met by the old system,
new ways of filling those needs are required, and it is of crucial
importance that we pursue this with great enthusiasm.”
The College of Medicine presently has undergraduate learners
based in Saskatoon and Regina. Phase D undergrads, or JURSI’s
(Junior Undergraduate Rotating Student Interns) have the
option to select training rotations at a number of additional sites.
The postgraduate training programs are based in Saskatoon
with some programs offering an option of completing the entire
residency in Regina, Prince Albert and Swift Current. All programs
offer community learning experiences in different rural and urban
settings. The opportunities for training in areas of community
needs such as Family Practice Anesthesia and Enhanced Surgical
Skills are being developed to include Prince Albert, Meadow Lake
and Melfort, among others. n
Third Year MEDICAl StUDENts now able to tRAIN in REGINA…
August 2010 marked a new beginning for twelve Phase C (or third-year)
students as they continued their medical training from the College’s
newest distributed education site – the renovated auditorium in the
Regina General Hospital. In the past, these students would have been
based in Saskatoon. The twelve third-year students joined an existing
cohort of fourth-year medical students in Regina.
During an event held simultaneously in the Regina and Saskatoon
classrooms, Dr. Albritton said “the College of Medicine is a provincial
resource mandated to serve the people of Saskatchewan, so it is
important for us to have a well-established presence throughout
the province.”
“The RQHR is excited to be involved in this expanded partnership
with the College of Medicine,” Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region
CEO Dwight Nelson said. “We appreciate that our regional and
medical colleagues have set aside additional time for teaching
and we hope that our efforts will encourage more Saskatchewan
medical graduates to make their home and build their practices
in southern Saskatchewan.”
FAMIly MEDICINE RURAl RotatION OptIONS
Athabasca
Battleford
Estevan
Eston
Fort Qu’Appelle
Gravelbourg
Humboldt
Ile-à-la-Crosse
Kindersley
La Ronge
Lloydminster
Meadow Lake
Melfort
North Battleford
Radville
Rosetown
Rosthern
Swift Current
Weyburn
Prince Albert (starting January 2011)
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 13

Celebrating 25 years of
Northern Medical Services
For the past 25 years, Northern Medical Services has been filling a
void by providing family physicians and stability to the North.
Outgoing director Dr. Peter Butt says it’s sometimes difficult to
provide that stability.
“It’s an ongoing struggle in the health human resource field.
We’ve got a lack of family physicians in the country, so we’re
competing not only within the province but also nationally and
internationally.” Right now NMS is
very dependent on South African
doctors.
NMS has come a long way from
when it first began in 1985 with six
family physicians and three support
staff. Now there are 31 physicians,
two medical health officers and
numerous support staff. NMS was
developed because back in the early
1980s, communities in the province’s
northwest were having difficulty
recruiting and retaining physicians.
“At Uranium City, the mines were
shutting down, and the population went from about 5,000 down
to about 200 or so,” remembers Pat Stewart, Assistant Director of
Administration and Finance, who has been with NMS since the
beginning.
Ile-à-la-Crosse also faced struggles, as 34 physicians passed
through that community in slightly more than two years.
In 1984, Saskatchewan Health and Health and Welfare Canada
approached the University of Saskatchewan and asked the
College of Medicine to devise a program to ensure physician
placement in those northern communities. A tri-partite
agreement was reached, and in July 1985, NMS assumed
formal responsibility of physician services to the west side
and Athabasca basin, eventually expanding beyond that.
Butt says physicians are paid a salary or stipend rather than
charging a fee for service. “So that they’re freer to engage
with their patients, families and communities and
develop a relationship with them, develop insight
into the history and the culture, and hopefully
be more sensitive in their practice.”
(physicians are)...freer to engage
with their patients, families and
communities and develop a
relationship with them, develop
insight into the history and the
culture, and hopefully be more
sensitive in their practice.
Butt says some doctors have been with the program since its
inception, and others have been there in excess of five years.
“That’s a significant period of time in a physician’s career in
a small, rural or remote community when you consider the
options they have, so quite clearly these people have a
commitment and passion. “
New director of the program, Dr. Veronica McKinney, feels a
strong responsibility to serve the North as an Aboriginal person
herself, knowing that very few Aboriginal
people have the opportunity to
become doctors. “This ability to relate
an intimate knowledge of the issues
surrounding the poor health status of
many Aboriginal people compared to
the general Canadian population makes
me far more useful to the community
and able to support the decolonization
process that needs to continue, and in
some cases start, in regards to health
care delivery. “
McKinney hopes taking the position
will mean an increased sensitivity and
awareness of Indigenous process, “which
ultimately leads to a more community-centered approach, and
improved health status.”
s
14 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

Northern Medical Services employs a unique team
approach, working toward equitable, accessible health
care in a geographically and culturally distinct setting.
It is one of seven divisions of the Department of
Academic Family Medicine, in our College of Medicine
at the University of Saskatchewan.
In northern communities the physician’s role is much
more than the clinical care of patients. Liaison with other
health-care personnel, local community committees and
other agencies providing services to the community is
essential. NMS works cooperatively with both Regional
Health Authority Boards and Tribal Councils in the
provision of these services.
AtHAbASCA: Uranium City, Camsell Portage,
Fond-du-Lac, Stony Rapids, Black Lake
The Athabasca Region is a pristine northern wilderness
on the shores of Lake Athabasca. It is primarily accessed
by plane; however an unpaved, seasonal road exists
for those with an even more adventurous spirit.
Physicians are richly rewarded by the warm communities,
outstanding scenery and abundance of wildlife. Northern
Medical Services has contracts for four self-employed
physicians who provide 26 weeks of itinerant service per
year on a rotational basis (one-week in/one-week out, or
two and two). The Yutthé Dené Nakóhódí (Northern Dené
Healing Lodge), is the regional 14-bed facility located
on the Chicken Reserve adjacent to Stony Rapids. The
physician services are based at the integrated facility,
with itinerant clinics by road in lack Lake and by air in
Fond du Lac, Uranium City and Camsell Portage. The
regional population is approximately 2,500 people, with
the communities also served by primary care nurses.
Physician housing is in Stony Rapids.
Ile-à-la-CROSSE and tHE KEEWAtIN Yatthé HEAlth
REGION: La Loche, Dillon, Patuanak, Buffalo Narrows,
Ile-à-la-Crosse, Beauval
On a paved highway just 275 km from Meadow Lake,
Ile-à-la-Crosse is situated in a picturesque lake region.
Fishing, trapping, logging and mining flourish around the
major centres of Ile-à-la-Crosse, Beauval, Buffalo Narrows
and La Loche.
Northern Medical Services maintains a six-physician
group in Ile-à-la-Crosse which provides services to nearly
5,000 people.
Health care facilities at Ile-à-la-Crosse have relocated to
the new Integrated Services Center which is a joint health
and education facility. Regular clinics are scheduled at
Patuanak, Buffalo Narrows, Dillon, and Beauval. These
are accessible by both road and air.
The health facility includes an 11-bed hospital, a
17-bed, long-term care wing, a family healing centre,
an emergency department, radiology and labs. Meeting
rooms, day care, public health and mental health
services, adult education, community recreation and
space for community elders and spiritual counselling
are among the many features of the unique facility.
La Loche is northern Saskatchewan’s second
largest community and is located 650 kms northeast
of Saskatoon.
Northern Medical Services has contracts for six selfemployed
physicians who provide 26 weeks of itinerant
service per year on a rotational basis (one-week in/oneweek
out, or two and two) to approximately 3,000 people
in the area.
The Health Facility consists of a clinic, emergency room
with four hold-over beds, in-patient ward with nine
beds, long-term care facility and family healing unit
with four beds.
lA RONGE and tHE MAMAWEtan Churchill RIVER
REGION: Wollaston, Southend, Pinehouse, Stanley
Mission, La Ronge
The La Ronge region is one of the most beautiful areas of
the province with its forests, lakescapes and rivers.
Northern Medical Services maintains an eleven-physician
group which serves over 14,000 people. The physicians
are based in the La Ronge Medical Clinic, a beautiful
new office building on the shore of Lac La Ronge.
Regular “fly-in” clinics are scheduled at Wollaston Lake,
Pinehouse, Stanley Mission and Southend. Services are
also provided from Prince Albert to the communities of
Sandy Bay, Pelican Narrows and Deschambault Lake.
Health care facilities at La Ronge include the 40-bed
La Ronge Health Centre. n
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 15

Congratulations
Faculty, Students, Alumni and Staff
The College of Medicine wishes to congratulate our Faculty, Students,
Alumni and Staff for their recent achievements:
Dr. Sharon Card, Department of Medicine, 2010 College of Medicine Teaching Excellence Award
Dr. James Dosman, Professor Emeritus, elected to the Royal Society of Canada, named U of S Distinguished Chair
Dr. Dyck Ehman, class of 1979, inducted to the Canadian Institute of Medicine
Dr. Jay Kalra, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, elected to the Board of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
Dr. Joanne Kappel, class of 1981, 2010 Kidney Foundations’ Harold W. Ashenil Award
Amanda Kleisinger, class of 2012, 2010 Vera Pezer Award for Student Enhancement, Individual
Magda Lenartowicz, class of 2012, 2010 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Student Scholarship Award
Dr. Greg Malin, class of 2004, CAME Certificate of Merit Award
Dr. Meredith McKague, Department of Family Medicine, 2010 College of Medicine Continuing Professional Learning, Teacher of the Year
Dr. Gabriella Mezo-Kricsfalusy, College of Medicine Career Development Officer, 2010 Honorary SMSS President
SMSS (Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan), 2010 Vera Pezer Award for Student Enhancement, Campus Group
Prof. Kate Spencer, class of 1990, 2010 Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association Clinical Education Award
Dr. Calvin Stiller, Class of 1965, 2010 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award
Dr. Kalyani Premkumar, Educational Support & Development, 2010 College of Medicine Teaching Excellence Award
Dr. Jose Tellez Zenteno, Division of Neurology, Rising Star, Epilepsy & Behavior editorial board
Dr. Raymond Tempier, Department of Psychiatry, awarded a fellowship from the Canadian Psychiatric Association
Dr. Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine,
2010 recipient of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and $100,000 from Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Dr. Nigel West, Department of Physiology, 2010 Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching
Dr. Thomas W. Wilson, Unified Department Head, Department of Medicine,
Saskatchewan Medical Association 2010 Physician of the Year Award
U of S Board of GOVERNORS 2010 Long SERVICE
AWARDS, CelebRAtING 25 yEARS of SERVICE
Dr. John Decoteau, Pathology
Ms. Kathryn Doell, Pediatrics
Dr. Ron Doucette, Anatomy & Cell Biology
Dr. Geoffrey Johnston, Surgery
Prof. Laura Klassen, School of Physical Therapy
Dr. Andy McFadden, Surgery
Prof. Arlis McQuarrie, School of Physical Therapy
Mr. Greg Melvin, Dean’s Office
Ms. Sandra Monson, Surgery
Ms. Doris Newmeyer, Pediatrics
Dr. Punam Pahwa, Community Health & Epidemiology
Dr. Lawrence Worobetz, Department of Medicine
Dr. Wei Xiao, Microbiology & Immunology
2010 RetIREMENts from tHE CollEGE of MEDICINE
Ms. Fran Burgess, Department of Family Medicine
Ms. Elizabeth Erickson, Department of Surgery
Dr. Bernard Juurlink, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Ms. Beverly Rutherford, Department of Surgery
Dr. Prakash Sulakhe, Department of Pharmacology
The Department of Community
Health and Epidemiology
celebrated its 50th Anniversary
in 2010. The day was marked
by a public panel presentation
and discussion followed by an
evening gathering of current and
former faculty, staff and students.
16 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

CollEGE AWARDS AND HONOURS
CollEGE of MEDICINE AWARDS presentED
to tHE GRADUAtING ClASS of 2010
Dr. Michael Barnett: Saskatchewan Association of Physicians
of Indian Heritage Award, Senior Stick
Dr. Susan Bobbitt: Spirit of the Class Award
Dr. Riley Hall: Mark Cohen Ophthalmology
Undergraduate Award
Dr. Ken Harrison: Beattie Prize, Dr. Uddhav and Sunanda Bhalerao
Award, Henry & Cheryl Kloppenburg Prize in Psychiatry
Dr. Caroline Hart: Governor General’s Nominee, Hilliard Silver
Medal & Department of Medicine Prize, Dr. Hugh McLean
Prize & Silver Medal in Surgery, Dr. Jessie McGeachy MacLeod
Award , Dr. J. W. Gerrard Prize in Clinical Pediatrics, Lindsay
Gold Medal , Department of Pediatric Prize, Vince Matthew
Prize in Community Health & Epidemiology
Dr. Carla Holinaty: Vern Rogstad Memorial Prize
Dr. Chris Huang: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Award
Dr. Allison Kirkham: Emergency Medicine Award (Regina), Dr.
Eric Lepp Memorial Award in Medicine, Dr. Ernest McBrien
Award, Dr. Karl E. Oberdieck Prize
Dr. Tyler Lamb: Charles E. Frosst Scholarship
Dr. Sarah Liskowich: Professor Popkin Prize in Obstetrics
& Gynecology
Dr. Sarah Parent: MacLeod Silver Medal
Dr. Rose Sabiston: Professor’s Prize in Surgery
Dr. Ashley Stueck: A.B. Brown Silver Medal and Prize in
Obstetrics & Gynecology Silver Medal, Vince Matthew
Prize in Community Health & Epidemiology
Dr. Brent Thoma: Emergency Medicine Award (Saskatoon)
Dr. Patrick Wong: Vince Matthew Prize in Community
Health & Epidemiology
CollEGE of MEDICINE StUDENt AWARDS
PRESENtED at 2010 Fall WelCOME
AnneMarie Bueckert: G. J. Miller Book Prize in Physiology
Cindi Cohen: Gregory Stilwell Memorial Scholarship
Alanna Courteau: Jon N. Lambi Memorial Scholarship
Chance Dumaine: The Sylvia Turner Scholarship in Medicine
Kerry Gardner: The Anatomy Award, Dr. Lorne Massey
Memorial Award
David Horne: Merck, Frost in Pharmacology Award,
Saskatchewan Medical Association Book Prize
Lindsay Hubenig: The Leadership Award in the College
of Medicine
Andrew Jack: C. W. Cates for Pathology, Isabelle &
Emmett Hall Scholarship in Orthopedic Surgery
Michelle Long: Arthur Lyle Bell Memorial Scholarship
Jonathan Misskey: The Hematology Award
Lanna Olson: Merck, Frost in Pharmacology Award
Andrea Perkins: C. J. Houston Prize in Medical History
Gina Polley: Merck, Frost in Pharmacology Award
Alistair Smith: Dr. Ernest McBrien Memorial Award
Kristine Smith: Rheumatology Award
Michael Vargo: Dr. Gary L Stoik Memorial Award
CollEGE of MEDICINE 2010 UNDERGRADUAte
StUDENt SUMMER RESEARCH PROJECt AWARDS
Ingrid Wirth: Biomedical
Jenna Lynn Senger: Biomedical
Andrew Chandna: Biomedical
Amila Heendeniya: Biomedical
Jason Denis: Medicine
Kimberley Hagel: Medicine
Grahem Weisgerber: Medicine
Krupal Patel: Medicine
Amanda Walker: Society, Population & Health
Jackie Ferguson: Society, Population & Health
Zane Tymchak: Surgery
Jennifer Struble: Surgery
SCHOOl of PhySICAl Therapy StUDENt
AWARD recipients
Melissa Andersen: V. J. Cottrell Award
Kim Ardell: J. Manton Award
Kara Batty: Paediatric Division of the CPA Award
Danielle Blain: PTH 992 Major Project Award
Eric Chatterton: Marj Braid Memorial Bursary in Physical Therapy,
Physical Therapy Student Society Award
Jung Eun (Jaimie) Choi: Arthritis Society D. Ronald Bell Award,
Arthritis Society Entrance Award
Stephanie Costron: PTH 992 Major Project Award
Lisa Evans: PTH 992 Major Project Award
Jill Farmer: Arthritis Society Donald Mitchell Memorial Award
Jonathan Fouhse: Marj Braid Memorial Bursary in
Physical Therapy
Melissa Fry: N.W. Tymchyshyn Memorial Award
Elyse Greenberg: Friends and Family of Physical Therapy
Memorial Scholarship
Dan Halpin: Director’s Award
Marlyn Hermanson: Arthritis Society Talmage E. Hunt Gold
Medal, Craven Sport Services Sport Physiotherapy
MPT Student Prize
Regan Hildebrandt: Joan Eaton Memorial Award,
PTH 992 Major Project Award
Leah MacNaughton: PTH 992 Major Project Award
Myriam Nelson: Arthritis Society Wallace Graham
Memorial Award
Kristen Quigley: Canadian Physiotherapy Association Award
Alana Shannon: Elisa Rieder Memorial Award
Robin Stamm: Sally Purdon Memorial Award in Physical Therapy
Amanda Taphorn: Saskatchewan Physiotherapy Association Prize
Please help us share your accomplishments and those
of your colleagues by forwarding awards and honours
information to medicine.communications@usask.ca
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 17

SMSS
Student Corner
Thus far, the 2010-2011 academic
year has been very eventful for
College of Medicine students at
the University of Saskatchewan.
In addition to exam writing and
enhancing our clinical skills,
students have been dedicating
their time and energy to a variety
of fundraisers and extracurricular
committees. The following
highlights past and upcoming
events for the 2010-2011 academic
year, enjoy!
MilES for SMIlES
On September 26th, 2010 the annual Miles
for Smiles charity run took place along the
Meewasin Valley trail in Saskatoon. For the
past several years this run has raised funds
for the Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital
Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to
improving pediatric care in Saskatchewan,
and the SMSS has always been a proud
supporter. Along with the usual 5 km walk/
run this year a Half Marathon was added to
the event. Both distances turned out to be
very popular and overall the event was a
massive success. Over 220 participants took
part, which is over double what this event
usually attracts. We had everyone from
students, faculty and physicians, as well as
a huge turn out from the general public! At
this moment the donation numbers are
still being crunched. However, preliminary
calculations show that we will be
presenting a donation somewhere around
$13,000! What a great accomplishment!
A huge “thank you” goes out to Lindsay
Hubenig, who was the amazing event
organizer. She put in countless hours of
work and truly went above and beyond. A
huge thank you also goes out to all of the
volunteers, runners and local businesses
that supported the event in numerous ways
and made it the success that it was! We are
already looking forward to next year!
Ashley Oleniuk
Class of 2012
VP External Junior—SMSS
CANADIAN FEDERAtION of MEDICAl
StUDENts Annual GENERAl MEEtING
Saskatoon Hosts the CFMS AGM! On
September 17-19, students from across
Canada representing 14 medical schools
gathered in Saskatoon for the Canadian
Federation of Medical Students (CFMS)
Annual General Meeting (AGM). The
busy weekend was filled with productive
business meetings, collaboration, and both
cultural and social events that showcased
our great city. Congratulations and a huge
thank you to Ankur Sharma and his team for
organizing this great event! These meetings
are where the priorities of medical students
across Canada are brought forth and put
into action by the CFMS Executive and
members. Interested in what the CFMS is
all about and want to know how to get
involved? Check out their web site at
www.cfms.org for more information.
Afton Sielski
Class of 2012
VP External Senior—SMSS
WHIte COAt Ceremony and
HOMECOMING BBQ
On a beautiful fall day, the class of 2014
lined up in front of Convocation Hall on the
University of Saskatchewan campus. The
boys were trying not to dirty their newest
suits, while the ladies were practicing
walking in their new shoes. The class as a
whole was not sure what to expect from
their upcoming induction ceremony.
The ceremony turned out to be a special
event that highlighted the responsibilities
and privileges of entering the College of
Medicine. With the gifting of their white
coats, the class of 2014 had officially begun
their careers in medicine. Proud families,
friends and classmates lined up outside
for photos that will be treasured for years
to come. September 24, 2010 was a
day the class of 2014 will hold in their
hearts throughout their long journey to
becoming doctors.
The College of Medicine and the School of
Physical Therapy have been looking for an
occasion to celebrate the incoming classes,
while at the same time giving the Alumni
a place to reunite. The Homecoming BBQ
fit this bill perfectly. The BBQ was a great
success, serving up southern style beef on
a bun, blue grass music, and wonderful
student entertainment. The festivities were
held under a big white tent located in the
bowl, just in front of Convocation Hall. The
event fit perfectly into the homecoming
weekend, seated along with the White Coat
Ceremony, Fall Formal and Miles for Smiles.
With over 400 attendees, the Homecoming
BBQ is a wonderful event that will be
enjoyed by all for years to come.
Daniel D. Haffey
Class of 2014
Med I Class Representative—SMSS
18 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

STUDENT MEDICAl SOCIEty OF SASKAtCHEWAN
Fall FORMAl
Our latest social event in the College of
Medicine was the annual Fall Formal event
held at TCU place on Saturday, September
25th 2010. Almost four hundred people
were in attendance, which was by far
the highest number this event has ever
seen. This year, the fall formal was held in
conjunction with the first ever homecoming
weekend; a tradition I hope the college
continues with. The evening was comprised
of cocktails and dinner followed by an
introduction of the class of 2014, award
presentations, a few words from Dean
Albritton, the alumni association, and the
SMA, as well as our keynote speaker, Dr.
Anne Dsuz. After the program came to an
end, the night finished off with a dance put
on by Boom Music. A good time was had by
all that attended. Stay tuned for next year’s
date and location for the 2011 fall formal.
Erin Kot
Class of 2013
Social Representative—SMSS
MEDICOMANIA
2010
Friday, November 12
Saturday, November 13
Doors open at 6:00PM Shows at 7:00PM
Featuring
Students from the Colleges of
Medicine, Dentistry,
Nursing, Kinesiology,
Pharmacy and Nutrition,
Veterinary Medicine, and
the School of Physical Therapy
Hosts
Nov 12: Ankur Sharma,
HSSA MEDICOMANIA
Kim Hagel, Katie Ng,
Afra Moazeni and
Broadway Theatre
715 Broadway Avenue
Licensed Concession
Tickets available from
HSSA Representatives
Medicomania DaveRishi Pahwa is a long-standing tradition
Broadway Theatre
from the College of Medicine
Place Riel Kiosk
at the University of Saskatchewan. $15 per night and It $20 is at the door
Nov 13: Kristyn Petryk and
an annual student-run variety show and
Khiem Nguyen Door prizes to be won!
fundraiser from the School produced of Physical by the Need Health more Science info?
Therapy
Facebook: HSSA MedicoMania 2010
Students’ Association. The event Email: uofs.hssa@hotmail.com is run
2010 Charity
over two nights and profiles the talents of
MedicoMania 2010 is a drop-off location for
Services for Survivors of
Operation Christmas Child.
students in the Health Science Colleges of
Sexual Abuse
Gift boxes available in MUMPS and from
College HSSA Reps.
Pharmacy & Nutrition, Dentistry, Veterinary
Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy,
Kinesiology and Medicine.
Each night features a different set of hosts
and acts by students from aforementioned
colleges. Performers use a variety of
media including dance, comedy, film
and music to profile their talent to an
audience composed of fellow students,
professors and the community at large.
The proceeds of the event go to sponsor an
organization of the committee’s choosing.
In 2009, proceeds went to Project Casa
De Spera De Mae, to build a new house
of waiting pregnant women in Massinga,
Mozambique. This project is a student
lead initiative partnered with the Making
the Links program at the University
of Saskatchewan.
Medicomania brings together students
from all health science colleges and
puts interprofessional collaboration into
practice. It provides a practical forum
for students to interact with their peers
and celebrate the diversity of talents
that exist amongst professionals in the
health disciplines. This shared experience
encourages intercollegiate collaboration
and raises awareness about the broader
global health issues facing us as health
care providers.
Promoting interprofessional practice to
students during their formative years in a
manner that is constructive and engaging
instills the positive benefits of developing
and maintaining interprofessional
relationships. Medicomania provides an
interprofessional opportunity that allows
students to partake in dialogue with one
another. This dialogue has the potential to
foster a mutual respect and appreciation
amongst future health care professionals
and to meet the rising expectations to
improve client care and safety.
This year Medicomania took place the
evenings of November 12th and 13th at
the Broadway Theater. It featured acts
from the students of Pharmacy, Nutrition,
Physical Therapy, Nursing, Veterinary
Medicine, Dentistry, and Medicine. Be sure
to keep your eyes and ears open for more
information about how to be involved in
next year’s edition of this great annual event!
Emily Sullivan
Class of 2012
Senior HSSA Representative—SMSS
SMA RURAl Bus Tour
August 21, 2010 marked the most successful
Rural Bus Tour to date! Kelsey Trail Health
Region (KTHR) hosted 54 first year medical
students as well as 2 SMSS representatives.
The day commenced with breakfast in the
Melfort Hospital Boardroom followed by
a tour of the Melfort Hospital led by local
physicians. The students were introduced
to KTHR and were able to speak with the
six physicians present regarding why they
chose to practice rural medicine and why
they enjoy practicing in Melfort.
The afternoon included a short road trip
to Stoney Lake Bible Camp and an
afternoon of fun in the sun! There were
many activities available to participants
including waterskiing and tubing,
swimming, boat rides, rock climbing,
volleyball, paintball or just chilling on
the beach! The event wrapped up with
a fantastic steak supper at Hidden
Meadows Golf Course.
The students had a great time and provided
much positive feedback. The Rural Bus
Tour is held annually and sponsored by the
SMA and the host health region. This year’s
success could not have happened without
the hard work of Jessie Brown, Physician
Recruitment Coordinator - KTHR.
Nikki Rewuski
Class of 2012
Junior Saskatchewan Medical Association
Representative—SMSS
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 19

2010
and beyond
PAIRS has boasted many achievements in the last year.
Our Resident Awareness Day last February was a great success.
We hosted two Saskatoon MLAs, Kelly Block and Brad Trost, who
became “Residents for a Day”. We put them into the simulator to
run a code with surgery, anaesthesia, orthopedic and medicine
residents coaching them along. Other activities included an
“on-call” odometer challenge which was won by General Surgery
resident (now fellow) Rebecca Warburton. She walked over
15,000 steps while “on call”. This year’s Resident Awareness Day
is planning on being just as exciting.
One of the most important achievements for PAIRS this year
was the conferring of the 1st Annual Brad Ardelle Spirit Award.
Dr. Brad Ardelle was a third year orthopedic resident who died
tragically September 26, 2008. This award was created to honour
Brad and his selfless spirit. This award is given to a resident who
embodies the qualities of Brad by giving, acting selflessly, and
putting patient care first. The first recipient of this award was Dr.
Jordan Buchko, an orthopedic resident, who graciously accepted
the award at the PAIRS Welcome BBQ from Past-President,
Dr. Gavin Beck. Congratulations Dr. Buchko and thank you for
helping keep Brad’s spirit alive.
Currently, PAIRS is working with CAIR (Canadian Association of
Interns and Residents) and other provincial health organizations
on the Future of Post Graduate Medical Education project. The
undergraduate medical education component was recently
completed with ten recommendations. PAIRS looks forward
to helping shape the results of the FPGME results. n
ExECUtIVE
Past President
President
Vice-President
Secretary/Treasurer
Negotiator
Negotiator
Members-at-Large
bOARD POSItIONS
Postgraduate Education/Exec
SMA Reps /Board/Med Educ
SMA SPARC Committee
Faculty Council/Exec
CAIR REP
SDHB MAC
PROGRAM REPS
Regina
Medical Imaging
Obs/Gyne
Psychiatry
Family Medicine
Ophthalmology/Rehab
Internal Medicine
Surgery
Pediatrics
Anaesthesia
Pathology
NEWS FROM PAIRS
Dr. Gavin Beck
Dr. Mary Kinloch
Dr. Nicolette Sinclair
Dr. Laura Weins
Dr. Dave Reid
Dr. Nick Peti
Dr. Sue Sidhu
Dr. Morgan Hewitt
Dr. Deng Mapiour
Dr. Maurice Ogaick
Dr. Ivan Norval
Dr. Nicole Hawkins (Board)
Dr. Blair Ogle
Dr. Fran Carr
Dr. Kelly Chu
Dr. Jen Jin
Dr. Sanchu Bhasin
Dr. Aaron Khitab
Dr. Pavan Kumar
Dr. Danielle Stachiw
Dr. JoLing Foo
Dr. Chris Plewes
Dr. Lauren Beliveau
Dr. Tamara Hinz
Dr. Carla Holinaty
Dr. Michael O’Byrne
Dr. Nick Peti
Dr. Eric Ong
Dr. Mark Burbridge
Dr. Mary Kinloch
Jen Jin, Coco Sinclair (VP), and new administrative
assistant Melissa Fraser
Past president Gavin Beck announcing the Brad Ardelle Memorial Award to Jordan Buchko
20 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

Aboriginal Coordinator
joins the College of Medicine
AbORIGINAl PROGRAMMING
It is critically
important for
Saskatchewan’s
rapidly increasing
Aboriginal
population to be
able to access
educational
opportunities.
The College
of Medicine’s
latest strategic
plan recognizes
the necessity
Valerie Arnault-Pelletier
for inclusion of
Aboriginal students
and programming in planning and executing initiatives
that will foster opportunities and access. In this regard,
a number of strategic initiatives have been developed
to assist the College to accomplish what was set out in
the strategic plan 2008-2012. One of these initiatives is
the hiring of an Aboriginal Coordinator. In July 2010, Val
Arnault-Pelletier joined the College of Medicine and the
School of Physical Therapy as an Aboriginal Coordinator.
In this role Val works closely with the First Nations and
Métis Medical and Physical Therapy students, Elders,
and communities in relation to recruitment. She plays a
vibrant role in advocacy for those requesting support.
She supports and includes summer employment
opportunities, personal and academic advisement, and
is available as a resource to staff, faculty and students.
Val Arnault-Pelletier is a Cree woman who situates
herself from her Kokum’s (grandmother’s) community
of Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation, and she
acknowledges her Mother’s community of Waterhen
Lake First Nation. Val believes in lifelong learning in all
aspects of education. She believes formal education and
traditional Aboriginal teachings can be blended to form
a strong foundation for herself
and her family.
She worked with the College
of Nursing’s Native Access
Program to Nursing at the
U of S for the past 16 years in
an administrative capacity and
as student advisor.
Val is a member
of the Admissions
Committee of
the College of
Medicine, the
U of S Senate Committee on
Outreach and Engagement,
as well as a number of
other U of S committees.
She is a longtime Board
Member and Chairperson
of E-Tahkanawasot Oskayak
High School Daycare. She is
also a committee member
of Sasipenita, a non-profit
organization, developing
a travelling exhibit that
will engage, motivate, and
educate people about the
contributions of First Nations
and Métis peoples
in Saskatchewan.
She keeps a photo of her
Kokum in her office to remind
her to stay on the healing
road and keep herself healthy
and balanced in all areas of
her life. n
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 21

Building the foundation
for health sciences education and research
E-wing
D-wing
First-hand, every day, you witness how careers
in health sciences contribute to quality of life.
You also see how the fields of medicine and
physical therapy have evolved to respond to
the changing health needs of Saskatchewan,
Canada and the world.
The education and training that the next
generation of health professionals receive
needs to be as diverse as the health issues
they will be facing. The U of S Health Sciences
project, in bringing together all disciplines
of health sciences, will create a new future
of health research, education and practice,
one that builds on the history and values of
the past.
D-wing
Cranes dot the skyline of the Health Sciences
project site. And for good reason as it is the
largest capital project in the history of the
U of S. When complete, the Health Sciences
building will be an innovative and integrated
facility that supports interdisciplinary
co-operation between students and faculty
in every aspect of health science education
and research.
The project will bring together a cross-section
of researchers, teachers and students from
all disciplines of health sciences. Dentistry,
medicine, nursing, pharmacy and nutrition,
physical therapy and public health will all find
a new home in the state-of-the-art facilities.
Collaborative spaces will be available so
researchers and students can work closely
with colleagues in kinesiology and
veterinary medicine.
s
22 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

health SCIENCES CAPItal CAMPAIGN
E-wing
This facility and innovative approach to health
care will attract the world’s best researchers.
They will teach future health-care providers how
working in teams improves patient outcomes,
and those students will then go on to practice
what they have learned. The interaction between
research, education and clinical practice will
create health-care practitioners and researchers
who will discover life-changing treatments, new
approaches to contemporary health issues and
innovative health-care services.
D-wing Atrium
The Health Sciences project, because of its size
and scope, will be finished in a series of stages:
D wing, will be completed by 2012; E wing will
be completed in 2013; and the A and B wing
renovations will be completed by 2016.
EVERY ASPECT OF
OUR LIVES IS CRUCIAL
TO HEALTH, AND
THE HEALTH
SCIENCES PROJECT
WILL ADDRESS ALL
OF THEM.
For more information about the project, visit
www.usask.ca/healthsciences n
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 23

SPT
from history to Mastery
SCHOOl OF PhySICAl tHERAPy
In the fall of 1965, the University began
training students in a two and half year
diploma program in Physiotherapy. Classes
were first held in a wartime ex-RCAF building
at the airport. A campus facility was found
in 1972 at St. Andrew’s College where
the school still remains today. In 1973 the
diploma program was extended to three
years with an optional four-year degree
program. The next major change occurred
in 1976 with the establishment of the School
of Physical Therapy within the College
of Medicine.
In 1965, the number of students admitted
to the program was 20 per year and this
figure remained consistent until 1987 when
the enrolment was increased to 30 students
a year. When the new Master of Physical
Therapy (MPT) program was established
in 2007 the enrolment was increased to
40 students. “Our faculty and staff
complement has increased over the
years to ensure that we have the academic
capacity to meet the academic mission
of the School” reports Dr. Liz Harrison,
Associate Dean. “Our program is nationally
accredited and our students, faculty
and clinicians are recognized nationally
and internationally for outstanding
contributions to practice, leadership
and innovation”.
“The School of Physical Therapy has gone
through many changes since it first started
training students in 1965” states Dr. William
Albritton, Dean of the College of Medicine.
“The graduates have provided an essential
service to the province of Saskatchewan and
its health care system.”
Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) Program
The national educational requirement
to practice physiotherapy in Canada is a
professional Master’s degree. The MPT
program at the University of Saskatchewan
is a two year and six weeks program
consisting of 10 modules of varying lengths.
The MPT program provides opportunities
for each student to participate in a major
research project, clinical education,
discovery time, case integration courses
and integrated evaluation.
Two classes of graduates will have completed
their MPT requirements as of fall 2010. If you
are wondering what students in the MPT
learn these days check out the School web
site as we have an innovative tool called the
“MPT Curriculum Online”. Through this link
you can search the entire MPT program to
find out content for all courses.
“Although the program has significantly
evolved over the years, the consistent factor
throughout is the high quality students that
enter the School” states Dr. Angela Busch,
Director of the School. n
School of Physical Therapy 2010 class
24 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan

Highlights in
Medicine Annual Conference and Reunion
2011: June 22nd - 25th
For graduates in the classes of: 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006
2012: June 20th - 23rd
For graduates in the classes of: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007
2013: June 26th – 29th
For graduates in the classes of: 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008
2014: June 25th – 28th
For graduates in the classes of: 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009
2015: June 24th – 27th
For graduates in the classes of: 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005
All pre-1957 alumni are invited every year!
promoting tradtion, preserving history, generating pride
Save
the dates
Upcoming College of Medicine
and School of Physical Therapy
Alumni Receptions
Calgary – April 13th, 2011
Edmonton – April 14th, 2011
Winnipeg – April 26th, 2011
Toronto – May 6, 2011
For more
information
Please contact us:
Verity Moore-Wright,
Alumni Relations Officer
Phone: (306) 966-8864
E-mail: verity.moore-wright@usask.ca
Christine Wood, Advancement Support
Phone: (306) 966-6260
E-mail: christine.wood@usask.ca
www.medicine.usask.ca/alumni
Supporting the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan
Your Gift Generates Change.
Cure cancer. That’s the change Alumnus Dr. Bill Roesler, PHD ’86, dreams of for his research.
Thanks to the funding he received from the Hazel Constance Brooker Research Fund, he’s
one step closer.
Supported by an estate gift by Ms. Hazel Constance Brooker, Dr. Roesler has discovered a new
function of the protein regulator in genes that controls cell division. “Cancer is a class of
diseases in which cells display uncontrolled growth, and by controlling cell division we are
one step closer to curing cancer.” Dr. Roesler further explained that, “Without the support
of the Brooker Fund our understanding of how cells divide would have been lost.”
By considering the University of Saskatchewan in your financial and estate plans you
can ensure that world-class research, like Dr. Roesler’s will continue at the University of
Saskatchewan. Your support can also be directed towards capital projects, such as the
Academic Health Sciences project or student awards.
Change the future by
planning a gift today.
For more information about planning a gift to the
University of Saskatchewan in support of the
College of Medicine, please contact:
Fred J. Matiko, Development Officer
College of Medicine Advancement Office
Phone: (306) 966-1786
Email: fred.matiko@usask.ca
College of Medicine
www.usask.ca/plannedgiving
University of Saskatchewan • College of Medicine C O M M U N I Q U É 25

OUR MISSION: to improve health through
excellence in education, research and clinical care.
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
College of Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
B103 Health Sciences Building
107 Wiggins Road
Saskatoon SK S7N 5E5 Canada
Phone: (306) 966-2673 Fax: (306) 966 6164
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www.medicine.usask.ca