IMS Magazine - Summer 2012 edition in PDF format - Institute of ...

NEWS AT A GLANCE
NEWS&VIEWS
JULY
28
AUGUST
5
12
13
15
16
IMSSA BBQ
IMS Wonderland trip
Blue Jays Game
SEPTEMBER
4
13
TBA
Registration for Fall session
begins
IMS Summer Undergraduate
Research Day
Artists for Autism: Talent
Show
School of Graduate Studies
– Graduate Orientation for
Incoming Students
IMS New Student
Orientation and Reception
IMSSA Executive Elections &
IMSSA Pub Night
For information on IMS news and events, please see:
http://www.ims.utoronto.ca
For more information on
IMSSA/IMSSA-related events, please visit:
http://imssa.sa.utoronto.ca
Please send your comments and suggestions to:
theimsmagazine@gmail.com
IMS ANNOUNCEMENTS
at a glance...
IMS Scientific Day – Recap!
This year’s IMS Scientific Day was held on May 15th, 2012. The day was a great success
with over 130 MSc and PhD student poster presentations, 6 Laidlaw Manuscript oral
presentations, and the Bernard Langer Lecture in Health Sciences—presented by Dr.
Thomas R. Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. For a glimpse of Dr.
Insel’s presentation, visit our website at www.ims.utoronto.ca. Thank you to all who
participated in this event. We look forward to another stimulating Scientific Day in 2013!
IMS Office Staff
Dr. Karen Davis has completed her 10-year term as Associate Director at the IMS. Among
her most lasting contributions are the establishment of ethical training modules and
development of the IMS Oath recited annually at September’s student orientation. Dr.
Davis is currently the Head of the Division of Brain, Imaging & Behaviour Systems at the
Toronto Western Research Institute and will continue her involvement with the IMS
through student supervision and as Professor of Surgery. Her vision and leadership will be
greatly missed.
Dr. Carol Westall has completed her term as Graduate Coordinator at the IMS. Outside
academia, Dr. Westall is a registered clinical optometrist and Director of the Visual
Electrophysiology Unit at SickKids. She served as a Graduate Coordinator at IMS for 3 years.
Dr. Westall’s sense of humour and tireless devotion to IMS students was much appreciated.
We wish them all the best in their future endeavours!
Dr. Mingyao Liu has accepted the position of Associate Director at the IMS effective July
1, 2012. Dr. Liu has many years of experience with the IMS, acting as a member of the
IMS faculty since 1997 and Graduate Coordinator between 2000 and 2005. Dr. Liu will
work closely with IMS Director, Dr. Allan S. Kaplan, to oversee faculty appointments and
spearhead the new IMS Strategic Plan Initiative slated for roll-out in fall of 2012.
We also welcome Dr. Cindi Morshead and Dr. Vasundara Venkateswaran as Graduate
Coordinators effective summer 2012. Both have served as active IMS faculty members for
over 5 years and will be a vibrant addition to our current roster.
Interim Staff Appointments
Michelle Rosen will be serving as the Interim Faculty and Student Affairs Coordinator.
Michelle will be responsible for administering awards, faculty appointments, and courses.
She will be covering Kaki Narh Blackwood, who is on medical leave until further notice.
Tania DaSilva has joined us as Interim Departmental Assistant. Tania worked at the IMS last
summer, and will assume the role of Summer Undergraduate Research Program Assistant
until July 27th, 2012. She will be responsible for general inquiries, room bookings, reception
and student document pick-up and drop-off.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to all new staff and faculty members at the
IMS—we wish them a smooth transition in the months to come.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cassandra Wysochanskyj for doing an
excellent job as former Interim Departmental Assistant. We wish Cassandra a safe journey
as she embarks on volunteer work in Eastern Europe.
07 | IMS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2012 GENOMIC MEDICINE