Liam Mitchell

The U of T winners are Mamatha Bhat of the Faculty of Medicine and the University Health Network (UHN), Maria Drout of the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and Audrey Walton of the department of English – both in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“To receive this prize is an enormous achievement,” says Vivek Goel, U of T's vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“The Polanyi prize is an important honour and a clear sign that an early-career researcher's work is having an impact.”

The $20,000 annual prizes, funded by the Ontario government and awarded by the Council of Ontario Universities, are given to five outstanding researchers in the early stages of their career who are pursuing post-doctoral studies or who have recently been appointed faculty at an Ontario university. The prizes are distributed among five fields: chemistry, physics, economic science, physiology/medicine and literature.

Bhat, an assistant professor in the department of medicine and a staff hepatologist and clinician-scientist at UHN, was recognized for her research into the long-term health outcomes of patients after a liver transplant. Drout, an assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics, was honoured for her work in the new field of “multi-messenger” astronomy. Walton, an assistant professor of English who is also at the Centre for Medieval Studies, received the prize for her research showing that medieval England produced a large body of literature in the vernacular as opposed to Latin.

The award is named after John Polanyi, a U of T University Professor of chemistry and joint winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for “contributions concerning the dynamics of chemical elementary processes.”

Mamatha Bhat: Improving long-term outcomes for liver-transplant patients

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Mamatha Bhat became fascinated with the liver as a resident in gastroenterology at McGill University during her hepatology rotation.

“It performs hundreds of functions that most people aren’t even aware of,” she says.

She went on to complete a fellowship in transplant hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., followed by a PhD in medical biophysics with a focus on molecular and computational biology.

Today, her research focuses on how to ensure the long-term health of patients after they undergo a liver transplant.

“When you look at the short-term health outcomes of liver transplant patients – within the first year following the transplant, success rates have increased substantially over the last 30 years. But when you look at long-term survival and outcomes beyond one year, there has been very little improvement,” she says.

A lot of the focus of clinical research has been on ensuring the organ isn’t rejected by the patient’s immune system. However, Bhat says long-term considerations, including an increased risk of cancer and metabolic disease, have not been as thoroughly investigated.

It’s a problem that is becoming more pronounced as more Ontarians receive a liver transplant and as higher success rates mean transplant patients live longer.

Based in UHN’s Multi-Organ Transplant Program, the largest adult transplant program in North America, Bhat is well positioned to tackle the challenge. Last year, UHN performed more than 700 transplants, including more than 200 liver transplants.

Emphasizing the need for translational research, Bhat is leading a team that includes both lab-based and clinical trainees at different stages of training.

“I find the best research emerges from the exchanges between trainees and researchers,” she says. “Each brings their own perspective – whether it’s a focus on clinical care or lab-based knowledge. The back-and-forth of new ideas leads to some exciting outcomes.”

Winning the Polanyi Prize in Physiology/Medicine is a great honour, says Bhat, adding that it speaks to larger research goals.

“It’s a wonderful sign of support for the importance of this translational research that will provide improved long-term outcomes for our patients,” she says. “That’s what means the most.”

Maria Drout: Ushering in a new era of astronomical research

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

In August 2017, Drout and her collaborators witnessed an event that had never been seen before: a kilonova – an explosion resulting from the collision of two neutron stars. But what made the observation truly historic was the fact that the stellar merger that created the explosion in a galaxy 130 million light-years away also generated gravitational waves that were detected here on Earth.

It was the first time a single cosmic phenomenon was observed in both visible light and gravitational waves, ushering in the “multi-messenger” era in astronomy.

For her research in this new field, as well as the study of short-lived events like supernovas and the evolution of massive stars, Maria Drout was awarded the Polanyi Prize in Physics.

“I’m incredibly honoured to receive the prize,” says Drout. “John Polanyi is an inspiration not only because of his dedication to groundbreaking research, but because of his ability to effect real change that benefits the world.

“I hope to honour this legacy by continuing my work and by building new initiatives to promote effective science communication across Canada."

Drout’s research is providing insight into multiple areas of investigation: the fundamental physics of matter in extreme conditions; the origin of the heaviest elements on the periodic table; and new and unusual types of explosions that challenge our theoretical understanding of stellar death. For example, Drout led the analysis of observations of the kilonova that proved heavy elements like gold and platinum were created in neutron star mergers and not – as had been proposed for decades – in supernovas.

“The Polyani Prize is wonderful recognition of Maria’s highly innovative research, which has seen her rise to international prominence within a few years of receiving her PhD,” says Professor Ray Carlberg, chair of the astronomy and astrophysics department.

Audrey Walton: Understanding medieval England's role in popularizing the vernacular

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Audrey Walton’s award-winning scholarship focuses on sacred language, literary cultures, vernacularity and world religions – with particular focus on the early medieval period in England.

Walton was awarded the Polanyi Prize in Literature for her ongoing work on how and why medieval England was a European leader in developing a large body of literature in the vernacular, meaning a local native language rather than Latin.

While established scholarship has focused on the notion that medieval authors viewed Latin as sacred, Walton’s work challenges this assumption and shows that English authors often blurred the boundary between local speech and standardized sacred language. Her research aims to revise the conventional understanding of the historical development of European literature.

More generally, Walton’s work is concerned with multilingualism, linguistic divides and the exchange of ideas across regions in medieval Europe, with particular focus on social, political and religious developments concurrent with these phenomena.

“We are all immensely proud of Audrey,” says Professor Paul Stevens, chair of U of T’s English department.

“Audrey joins five other members of the department in winning this prestigious award – Angela Esterhammer, Andrea Most, Katie Larson, Andrea Charise and most recently Danny Wright,” Stevens said.

“It’s an outstanding group, remarkable for the rigour, originality and diversity of their research. Audrey’s work on the complex constitution of Anglo-Saxon textual culture is a revelation.”

Symposium to focus on revolutionary impact of AI in medicine, Toronto's potential to play a leadership role

noreen.rasbach — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:04:30 +0000

Symposium to focus on revolutionary impact of AI in medicine, Toronto's potential to play a leadership role

noreen.rasbach Wed, 11/20/2019 - 10:04

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U of T researchers Kaveh Shojania and Rita Kandel co-chaired a working group to identify new opportunities for U of T's Faculty of Medicine to be a world leader in the field or artificial intelligence and medicine (photos courtesy of Faculty of Medicine)

Liam Mitchell

Topic

Our Community

Artificial Intelligence

Computer Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Medicine

Hospital for Sick Children

Research & Innovation

Vector Institute

The application of artificial intelligence in medicine has the potential to revolutionize how health care is delivered and therapies are discovered.

No surprise, then, that the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine has identified AI as a cornerstone of its strategic plan. Leading the effort are researchers Rita Kandel and Kaveh Shojania, who co-chaired a working group identifying new opportunities for U of T’s medical school to be a world leader in the field.

One of the first outcomes of their work is the accredited Machine Learning in Medicine Symposium, which will be held Nov. 21 at the Hospital for Sick Children’s Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. Harvard University’s Isaac Kohane, who aims to turn hospital data systems into “living laboratories,” will deliver the keynote address.

Faculty of Medicine writer Liam Mitchell recently spoke to Kandel, who is a professor and chair in the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology, and Shojania, who is a professor and vice-chair in the department of medicine, about machine learning, medicine and the road ahead.

What is machine learning and how does it relate to AI?

Shojania: AI is a very large field and includes topics like natural language processing or robotics. Machine learning is a branch of AI that is focused on automated methods that can process vast quantities of data, detecting patterns and associations and learning from them.

Kandel: In medicine, we can use machine learning, or “ML,” to not only quickly evaluate specific features in histological sections to identify diseases or predict prognosis, but also to review the results of millions of people to identify trends. There are already 26 ML clinical medical decision support technologies that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. These are being used for a variety of purposes, including detecting diabetic retinal changes and identifying people who may have had a stroke.

Machine learning often seems like science fiction, but what I hear you saying is that it’s already being utilized.

Kandel: Absolutely. That’s why it’s so important that we act now. We have a duty to not only train our current learners about ML, but also our faculty and practising health professionals so they can understand the strengths, weaknesses and potential associated with this technology.

Shojania: And we are well positioned in Toronto to become a leader in this field. We have become a global hub for AI/ML innovation, thanks to researchers like University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton, and are propelled by groups like the Vector Institute. We’ve also been successful in recruiting some talented AI/ML faculty who work specifically on topics in medicine, including Anna Goldenberg, Marzyeh Ghassemi, Bo Wang and Sean Hill.

What do you hope to accomplish with this symposium?

Kandel: There are a number of goals we have. First, we want to have an opportunity to bring together researchers and clinicians with an interest in this topic. We’re looking to establish a community of practice that will help identify resources, common concerns and facilitate collaborations. We also want to build capacity in this area through training and knowledge translation. It’s also an opportunity to hear from outstanding scholars, including Dr. Isaac Kohane, inaugural chair of the department of biomedical informatics at Harvard Medical School, who will deliver the keynote address at the symposium.

What can we expect to hear from Dr. Kohane?

Shojania: He is one of the world’s big thinkers in this field. A great example was his talk at TEDMED in 2013 where he discussed how every visit to a clinic could be used to study human diseases. More recently, he wrote a terrific review in the New England Journal of Medicine on Machine Learning in Medicine. In his keynote, Dr. Kohane will talk about how machine learning could change medicine in the near future. He’ll also participate in a panel discussion with some of our local leaders in the field and participate in a Q&A with the audience.

What’s next for the Faculty of Medicine’s work in this field?

Kandel: We’re exploring a new structure and opportunities to facilitate collaborative research in this field. But it’s also essential that we develop new learning paradigms that will allow learners to explore topics in AI/ML. We’re discussing ways we can incorporate content into current curriculum, but also thinking about what we can offer through online learning modules, certificate programs and continuing professional development workshops.

U of T PhD student named change-maker for developing program for patients with traumatic brain injury

noreen.rasbach — Wed, 15 May 2019 04:00:00 +0000

U of T PhD student named change-maker for developing program for patients with traumatic brain injury

noreen.rasbach Wed, 05/15/2019 - 00:00

Cutline

“I know that for me, exercise after [traumatic brain injury] was the most positive and influential factor in my long-term recovery,” says Enrico Quilico, a PhD student at U of T's Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

Topic

Research & Innovation

Subheadline

His own experience surviving a traumatic brain injury has fuelled his passion for researching the subject. Now Enrico Quilico, a PhD student at the University of Toronto’s Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI), has been named a winner of the 2018 Change-Maker Award by Neurological Health Charities Canada.

Quilico, who is based in Montreal, developed a sports participation program for individuals who have moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Supported by a grant from Canada’s Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and with the participation of YMCAs of Québec and the Quebec Association for Traumatic Brain Injury, the nine-month program helps individuals with TBI to learn to work out, integrate into the YMCA community and train for sporting events that have included indoor triathlons and, this year, the Mont-Royal Marathon.

“Individuals with moderate to severe TBI often can’t return to full-time employment after their injury, so they have a lot of time on their hands,” says Quilico. The program provides participants with structure, an objective and a supportive community.

Quilico’s interest in TBI stems from his own experience with the condition. In 2006, he was thrown from the motorcycle he was riding, leaving him with a severe brain injury. He spent two weeks in a coma, three months in hospital, followed by two years of rehabilitation. Quilico credits his return to sports and recreation for his eventual recovery.

“I know that for me, exercise after TBI was the most positive and influential factor in my long-term recovery,” he says. In 2016, he completed the Lake Placid Ironman and, in the process, raised over $10,000 for Brain Injury Canada.

Quilico returned to the classroom and became a certified teacher after finishing his bachelor’s degree in education at Concordia University in 2012. However, the idea for the YMCA-based program was borne from a health promotions course that Quilico took in 2013 at McGill University while completing a master’s degree in kinesiology and physical education. He used that initial blueprint to establish the program in 2017, which now serves as the basis for his PhD, which he’s undertaking at U of T under the supervision of Professor Angela Colantonio, director of RSI, and Université de Montréal Professor Bonnie Swaine.

The program begins by establishing a baseline for participants so they can track their progress through different phases of the nine-month program. Quilico and a team of researchers collect data at various points throughout the program to evaluate its impact on participants as they become more physically active and learn to train for a sport challenge. Currently, he’s working in partnership with the participants to refine the program and establish a manual so the program can eventually be replicated.

“I foresee this community program becoming an adjunct form of treatment after the final phases of rehabilitation have ceased,” Quilico says. The program, which began with an initial cohort of 12 people, has grown to 20 and includes four mentors who previously completed the program.

The Change-Maker Award recognizes individuals who have made a meaningful difference in improving the quality of life for Canadians living with brain conditions. Quilico was nominated for the award by Brain Injury Canada.

“Enrico is so deserving of this award. He has survived near-death, disability, depression, doubt and has demonstrated such resilience. His spirit of determination and drive, like so many others living with acquired brain injury, personifies that acquired brain injury doesn’t have to be the end of the road,” said Michelle McDonald, executive director of Brain Injury Canada.

In addition to his recognition through the award, Quilico is among the Top 25 finalists for SSHRC’s 2019 Storytellers challenge. He was selected by a panel of 25 expert judges from Canada and abroad from the more than 200 entries. As a finalist, he receives a cash prize of $3,000 and the opportunity to compete in the Storytellers Showcase, which will be held at the 2019 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, taking place June 1 to 7 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. That is when the final five winners will be selected.

“I feel very supported by U of T and the other members of the team I work with,” says Quilico. “I am so proud of what we’ve been able to establish and I am just thrilled to be conducting research about the value and impact of a community-based, peer-run physical activity program for people who live with a moderate to severe TBI like me.”

U of T-affiliated hospital named among world’s best

noreen.rasbach — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 17:32:03 +0000

U of T-affiliated hospital named among world’s best

noreen.rasbach Fri, 03/22/2019 - 13:32

Cutline

(photo via Wikimedia)

Topic

Research & Innovation

Toronto General Hospital (TGH), part of the University Health Network (UHN), has been named one of the 10 best hospitals in the world by U.S.-based Newsweek magazine, joining a list that includes the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

A fully affiliated hospital with the University of Toronto, TGH was cited for leading transplant research and innovation, including a triple organ transplant, and for cardiovascular care at its Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

“UHN is proud to be recognized amongst this elite group of hospitals. This recognition is a testament to our staff, board and volunteers – past and present,” said Dr. Kevin Smith, UHN president and CEO.

Published on March 20, the global ranking references 1,000 institutions and is managed by a global market research company in partnership with Newsweek. The list was finalized by a panel of doctors, medical professionals and administrators across four continents.

“This is a tremendous achievement and a source of pride not only for UHN, but for health care in our region. We, at the University of Toronto, take pride in being a partner to UHN and congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition,” said Dr. Trevor Young, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and vice-provost, relations with health care institutions.

Among world firsts achieved at TGH was the development of insulin in 1922, the world's first successful single and double lung transplant in 1983 and 1986, and in 1950, the first external heart pacemaker was used in an open-heart resuscitation.

"UHN's vision is to contribute to the creation of a healthier world. We have a global track record of success to build on thanks to the collaborative work of many people at UHN – which includes TGH, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehab Institute and the Michener Institute of Education,” said Smith.

"None of this would be possible without the support of the government of Ontario, the government of Canada through the tri-councils, and especially our foundations and donors who support our drive to excellence.”

'When you grow up not knowing or seeing a single doctor of colour ... it makes you question why things are the way they are'

noreen.rasbach — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 17:45:56 +0000

'When you grow up not knowing or seeing a single doctor of colour ... it makes you question why things are the way they are'

noreen.rasbach Wed, 01/16/2019 - 12:45

Cutline

U of T medical students Semir Bulle (left) and Chantal Phillips (right) with Dr. Onye Nnorom, MD Black health lead of the MD program (photo by Julia Soudat)

Liam Mitchell

Topic

City & Culture

Black Student Application Program

Diversity and Inclusion

Faculty of Medicine

Mentorship

The Faculty of Medicine’s Black Student Application Program (BSAP), which began in 2017, provides a more culturally safe admission pathway for Black students to medical school. Modelled on a similar pathway for Indigenous students, BSAP welcomed its first cohort in September.

Now, after one term in U of T’s MD program, Faculty of Medicine writer Liam Mitchell spoke with two students who participated in BSAP – Chantal Phillips and Semir Bulle – to discuss their experiences and reflections on why BSAP matters.

What inspired your interest in medicine?

Chantal Phillips: My mother was a personal support worker (PSW) throughout my childhood and it was clear how much she cared for her patients. Having her as an example of what an empathetic health-care provider looked like gave me insight and sparked my desire to emulate that in my own career. At the systemic level, my interest in addressing health disparities in the Black community was a major propelling factor. Overall, I knew being a doctor would help merge my desire to positively and directly impact lives, while also influencing social systems that have downstream effects on the morbidity and mortality of Black Canadians.

Semir Bulle: Growing up in the Dixon-Rexdale area, the majority of people in my community were newly landed immigrants and refugees. I’ve witnessed countless situations in which people wouldn’t go to the doctor because they felt the doctor wouldn’t properly understand them and worried the recommended course of action would be unaffordable. When you live paycheque to paycheque, being sick can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and I just don’t think that’s fair in our society. That, coupled with my experiences serving in the hospitals in rural Ethiopia, has shaped my view on life and the intersection of health care and policy work.

Faculty of Medicine program opens opportunities to Black MD students

Do you have a sense of what type of medicine you want to practise?

Chantal Phillips: Throughout the first four months of medical school, I was certain I wanted to be a public health physician. Many of the physicians I look up to prioritize the role of public health in their careers and I assumed that would be the best way to express my passion for advocacy. However, through more recent experiences shadowing, I’ve started to challenge that notion. Public health can be incorporated into practically any specialty and the social determinants of health play a pivotal role for all patients. With that being said, I’m back to square one and excited to further explore additional specialties.

Semir Bulle: Right now, I’m definitely leaning towards surgery. I enjoy the hands-on nature of the work and the intricacies of the human body interest me. However, I’ll certainly pursue policy work and political avenues, too, since I believe that’s where the true impact is when it comes to overall change.

Did you know many Black health-care professionals before applying to med school?

Chantal Phillips: Absolutely none. I’m the first in my family to get a degree and I had no role models or mentors on my path to medicine, which is essential to increasing representation. When you grow up not knowing or seeing a single doctor of colour, but most of the underpaid support staff are people of colour, it makes you question why things are the way they are.

Semir Bulle: Most of the Black health-care professionals I encountered were PSWs or nurses. I’d never been treated by a Black physician, despite living in Toronto and then Brampton, which have substantial Black populations.

Why do you think Black students have been under-represented in medicine?

Chantal Phillips: The nature of privilege and education is multifaceted. Getting into medical school doesn’t start with the application cycle. It starts the moment we’re born and become learners. Black communities experience higher rates of poverty, which influences access to educational resources.

Semir Bulle: In Toronto, the average low-income family makes $32,000 before taxes. Black people are only eight per cent of the city’s population but make up 13 per cent of its poor. Compare that to the three per cent of Black individuals considered ‘high-income’ at $102,000 annually. As David Hulchanski, a social work professor here at U of T, said: “Money buys choice, and people with the most choice are going to choose to live in certain areas.” This contributes to racial disparities in our neighbourhoods and different standards of life for these people.

Chantal Phillips: Children from families of higher socioeconomic status typically have parents with the means to support educational activities. Academic summer camps, time at the library, tutors and early mentorship are examples of privileges that establish a foundation for learning and advancement. Furthermore, underrepresentation is cyclical. When you don’t see people who look like you represented in a particular field, especially a competitive one, it can have a negative impact on your self-image and self-efficacy.

How did BSAP help you get to know U of T Medicine better, and help U of T Medicine get to know you better?

Semir Bulle: This is the first time I’ve had a group of Black peers in university. I went to McMaster and had a diverse friend group, but the lack of Black people was always apparent, especially in science. BSAP gave me a sense of community and that my academic experiences were similar to others.

Chantal Phillips: BSAP reinforces the advocacy, diversity and inclusion outlined in the U of T Medicine strategic plan. It’s one thing to read a strategic plan and another to see measurable action of these documents. Investing in this stream to address an evident disparity emphasized the authenticity of these claims. Applying through the BSAP stream also allowed me to more genuinely speak about my involvement in the Black community. I was confident these initiatives would be appreciated for their full value, considering there were Black community members reviewing the applications.

Semir Bulle: U of T has done a good job of supporting us, which allows us to be free to learn how to become doctors while still serving the communities we come from and adore.

How was your experience during the first term of the MD Program?

Chantal Phillips: My initial transition to medical school wasn’t easy. Uprooting and rebuilding your home, academic standing, social circle and community initiatives would be tumultuous for practically anyone. I got really sick at the beginning of flu season because of how much stress I was putting myself under. It was a wake-up call and made me realize I needed to alter what I was doing. I decided to prioritize my wellness and growth. Since then, I’ve been much happier and better integrated. I’m excited to be here and meeting so many amazing people. This might be the honeymoon phase, but I hope it persists and I continue enjoying learning as much as I do now.

Semir Bulle: I’ve had some of the best times of my life. Everyone has been friendly and there’s a real sense of community. I know most of the people in my class and we get to socialize frequently while getting some of the best education in the world, so there’s really nothing to complain about right now.

What would you say to a Black student considering studying medicine at U of T?

Semir Bulle: Do your research and look into what you have to do from the second you walk into university. Reach out to as many people as you can and put yourself out there, which is something I never did. It’s going to be a hard road but with sacrifice and a little luck, anything is possible. Also, reach out to us at the Black Medical Students’ Association (BMSA) – we’d give advice if you need it.

Chantal Phillips: BSAP has set a precedent for what an inclusive, advocacy-oriented medical school looks like. Black students are becoming better represented here, there are Black faculty members and social justice is discussed throughout the curriculum. If you’re intimidated by the application process, want to build a network or seek mentorship, please connect with Ike Okafor who facilitates the Community of Support. Mentorship and preparation are key to a successful medical school application. I can speak on behalf of the other Black medical students and say that we’d love for you to be a part of this community.

Faculty of Medicine program opens opportunities to Black MD students

noreen.rasbach — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 16:39:13 +0000

Faculty of Medicine program opens opportunities to Black MD students

noreen.rasbach Wed, 01/16/2019 - 11:39

Cutline

Chantal Phillips, a first-year medical student, applied under the new Black Student Application Program (photo by Julia Soudat)

Liam Mitchell

Topic

City & Culture

Diversity and Inclusion

Faculty of Medicine

Mentorship

Subheadline

14 Black students entered medical school in first cycle of new admissions pathway

Growing up, Chantal Phillips was not sure whether medical school was for her. It wasn’t because she wasn’t interested, but because she couldn’t see anyone like herself practising medicine.

Now in her first year of the MD program at the University of Toronto, she reflected on how race and poverty made medical school seem unattainable at a recent public consultation session on the Black Student Application Program (BSAP). The program launched in early 2017 and welcomed its first cohort this fall.

“I grew up in poverty, but I didn’t realize it until I was six,” said Phillips, who was raised in Toronto’s Jane and Finch community. “I was visiting my step-family in Vaughan when it hit me. I saw those kids had opportunities to be doctors that I didn’t. But now, I am the first person in my family to go to university and I will be the first to be a doctor.”

The public session was an opportunity to report back to the community about the success of BSAP’s first admissions cycle.

“We’re here to talk about a program that we’re very proud of,” said Professor Patricia Houston, vice-dean of the MD program in the Faculty of Medicine.

'When you grow up not knowing or seeing a single doctor of colour ... it makes you question why things are the way they are'

In BSAP’s first year, 14 students were admitted to the MD program through that pathway. At the time BSAP launched, just one student in the first year class was Black. In previous years, generally fewer than five per cent of MD students identified as Black.

“We’re passionate about creating a great opportunity, not just for those admitted through BSAP, but for all of our students who will benefit from more diverse colleagues,” said Houston.

Professor David Latter, director of MD admissions and student finances, stressed that the increase in Black MD students was not the result of any quota. BSAP applicants still have to meet the same rigorous admission standards as all other applicants.

“I think one of the reasons we saw this increase is because U of T is being seen opening our doors and showing that we’re serious in our commitment to welcome more Black students into our program,” said Latter.

Some of the faculty and staff who helped establish and run the Black Student Application Program. From left, Dr. Lisa Robinson, Dr. Renée Beach, Dr. David Latter, La Toya Dennie, Lindsay Jackowetz, Leslie Taylor, Ike Okafor and Hana Lee (photo by Erin Howe)

Students who apply through BSAP, in addition to meeting the standard admission requirements, are required to write an additional 250-word personal essay. As part of the admissions process, members of the Black community – as well as Black physicians, faculty members, and students – take part in admissions file reviews and admission interviews.

“You’ll see applicants who are doing great things, but they’re not working a part-time job or babysitting their brothers and sisters. Having an appreciation for those other commitments is an important lens too when you’re trying to identify people who make great doctors,” said Garwe.

BSAP is only one of the initiatives intended to diversify U of T’s MD program, which is based on a similar program aimed at Indigenous students. In 2015, U of T established Community of Support to enable students who are Indigenous, Black, Filipino, economically disadvantaged or who self-identify with having a disability, at every stage of their journey to medical school. This includes admissions advising, mentoring and support through the application process, including MCAT and interview preparation. Under the leadership of Ike Okafor, the MD program’s senior officer, service learning, the program has spread to other medical schools across Canada.

And, for nearly 25 years, the Faculty of Medicine has hosted the summer mentorship program, which gives high school students of Indigenous or African ancestry a chance to explore health sciences at the university over four weeks in July. More than 800 students have participated in the program since it was established.

While it’s important to open up new pathways to medical schools, said Dr. Onye Nnorom, Black health lead of the MD program, it’s also important to provide a culturally safe and supportive space for Black students when they arrive. In partnership with the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario, Nnorom has been working with Dr. Renée Beach to establish a mentorship program for Black MD students. She has also incorporated more information about cultural safety and population-specific health needs into the MD curriculum.

“We want to ensure our students feel safe and secure so they can focus on their studies and do what they need to do to succeed,” said Nnorom.

That work is appreciated by Phillips, who admits to having a sense of “imposter syndrome” as a new medical student.

“I sometimes feel like I don’t belong. But I remind myself I do, and then do the inner work that makes me realize it’s true.”

U of T expert chosen to head Ontario cancer screening portfolio

noreen.rasbach — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 17:51:02 +0000

U of T expert chosen to head Ontario cancer screening portfolio

noreen.rasbach Wed, 12/12/2018 - 12:51

Cutline

Dr. Aisha Lofters is an assistant professor and clinician scientist at the University of Toronto in the department of family and community medicine and an adjunct scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (photo courtesy of ICES)

Topic

Research & Innovation

The University of Toronto's Dr. Aisha Lofters, an expert in cancer screening, immigrant health and health equity, was recently named provincial primary care lead for Cancer Care Ontario’s cancer screening portfolio.

Lofters is an assistant professor and clinician scientist at the University of Toronto in the department of family and community medicine and an adjunct scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. She is a family physician with the St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team and scientist with the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital.

She spoke with the Faculty of Medicine’s Liam Mitchell about her new role – what it entails, its challenges and how her research will inform the new priorities.

What does your new role as provincial primary care lead for Cancer Care Ontario’s cancer screening portfolio entail?

I’m excited to work with Cancer Care Ontario and hope I can provide value to the organization. The role entails providing guidance on the design and implementation of Ontario’s organized cancer screening programs from the primary care perspective, advising on gaps in care and issues of concern to primary care physicians as they relate to cancer screening, and providing strategic leadership to the evolution of the cancer screening program.

What are some of the current challenges associated with the design and implementation of Ontario’s organized cancer screening programs?

Ontario has three well-structured organized cancer screening programs right now for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, and good rates of screening participation, but participation rates have remained relatively static. Continuing to increase screening participation is an ongoing challenge.

You have conducted research on immigrant health and health equity, particularly when it comes to screening for cervical cancer. How will your previous research experience inform your priorities as provincial primary care lead?

I think my previous research helps me to bring a health equity lens to my work as provincial primary care lead. Some of the gaps in screening participation are due to systemic barriers, and I hope that my research background will help CCO as they continue to strive to address those barriers.

At U of T's Faculty of Medicine, leaders take part in blanket exercise that teaches Indigenous history and trauma

noreen.rasbach — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 18:36:21 +0000

At U of T's Faculty of Medicine, leaders take part in blanket exercise that teaches Indigenous history and trauma

noreen.rasbach Wed, 09/26/2018 - 14:36

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Senior leaders in U of T's Faculty of Medicine take part in the KAIROS blanket exercise, in which facilitators Dawn Maracle and Zoë Aarden help participants understand better the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada (photo by Liam Mitchell)

Topic

Truth and Reconciliation

In the middle of a classroom, where the tables have been pushed to the sides and the chairs placed in a circle, sit a series of blankets. They include the traditional flags of the Haudenosaunee and Mohawk nations, but others have been prepared by school children. As the participants arrive, they are greeted by the facilitators – Dawn Maracle and Zoë Aarden – who over the next two hours will lead the group through an exercise that reveals the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Known as the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, the program is an interactive way to convey truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Over the course of the exercise, participants watch as the land they stand on shrinks, see how illness and government policies reduce your populations and hear testimonies from those impacted.

On this particular day, the participants are senior leaders in the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine, including department chairs, administrative leaders and members of the dean's executive team. However, the blanket exercise is being used frequently throughout the Faculty of Medicine as a way to not only convey the poorly understood history of Indigenous nations within Canada, but also the intergenerational trauma that has been caused by colonialism. This includes the claiming of traditional Indigenous lands by settlers as well as the impacts of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop.

“It’s important for us to understand the history and trauma of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, not only in light of our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, but as health professionals who work with Indigenous populations,” says Professor Trevor Young, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and vice-provost, relations with health care institutions.

The Rehabilitation Sciences Institute included the blanket exercise as part of their back to classes offering for students. The institute’s director, Professor Angela Colantonio, called the exercise “transformational.”

Department chairs and senior leaders in the Faculty of Medicine participate in the blanket exercise (photo by Liam Mitchell)

Dr. Lisa Richardson, co-lead of Indigenous Medical Education in the MD Program, says that blanket exercise is an important educational tool that helps individuals draw an emotional connection to the lessons they learn.

“Students can understand experientially – in a mild way – some of the emotional trauma Indigenous Peoples have faced and are continuing to face,” says Richardson. “This isn’t like a typical lecture, where you’re hearing statistics and talking about social determinants of health. As the blankets are removed, the issues are being visualized in front of you.”

Dr. Lindsay Herzog, a family medicine resident based at Mount Sinai Hospital, has used the blanket exercise to help other residents understand the historical context for Indigenous health issues. She discovered the exercise in the final months of medical school while taking an elective course in urban Indigenous health.

“While I wasn't exactly sure what the elective would involve, the description highlighted concepts of Indigenous health and developing a greater understanding of Indigenous culture,” says Herzog. “Given the lack of my medical training education in this area and the fact I would soon be entering family medicine residency, I felt this could be a worthwhile experience, so I signed up for it.”

The course encouraged engagement with Toronto’s urban Indigenous population through a variety of community events, one of which was participation in the blanket exercise at U of T's First Nations House.

“Looking back now, I’m so grateful to have had this experience at the time that I did, and I couldn’t possibly have known the way the blanket exercise would continue to weave itself through my future medical training,” says Herzog. “I have since been lucky to have the opportunity to help facilitate the blanket exercise for the family medicine residents at Mount Sinai, at the department of family and community medicine undergraduate education faculty development workshop day, as well as for the second-year medical students at U of T.”

The exercise is an important way, she says, for health professionals to connect with their Indigenous patients.

“By understanding a person’s history and their culture, we gain a deeper understanding of that person and we become sensitive to how such concepts may relate to one’s interaction with the health-care system and their overall health,” she says.

But, it’s not just health-care professionals who would benefit from participating in the blanket exercise.

“We have a duty to learn more; not just as health professionals working to best care for our patients, but as Canadian citizens. It is our responsibility to learn, to understand, and to contribute to reconciliation.”

Space force: Can the design of research space facilitate collaboration?

noreen.rasbach — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:36:57 +0000

Space force: Can the design of research space facilitate collaboration?

noreen.rasbach Mon, 09/24/2018 - 14:36

Cutline

From left, Karmen Brar, Dylan Langburt, Da Nye Kim and Shin-Haw Lee at the translational biology and engineering program (TBEP) lab, U of T’s component of the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research

Topic

Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering

Research & Innovation

Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research

When you enter the translational biology and engineering program (TBEP) labs in the west tower of MaRS, there is no telling where one researcher’s space begins or another’s ends. The large airy space, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and great views of Queen’s Park and hospital row, buzzes with a gentle hum as graduate students and researchers go about their work.

Part of the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, TBEP brings together nine principal investigators (PIs) from engineering, dentistry and medicine to study and treat heart failure. One of those researchers is Professor Michelle Bendeck of the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology. For most of her career, Bendeck operated her own independent lab in the Medical Sciences Building.

“I was in my concrete box, which was next to other concrete boxes. We would talk at departmental events and occasionally in the halls, but I didn’t necessarily know what equipment my neighbours had, for instance,” says Bendeck. “We literally had to keep our doors closed for health and safety reasons.”

At TBEP, the equipment – though brought into the space by different PIs – is largely communal. And increasingly, the grant applications and graduate student supervision are a shared responsibility.

“My colleagues and I are asking new questions and my interest and enthusiasm for exploring them together is growing as a result,” she says.

It begs the question: How important is the configuration of research space in facilitating research collaborations?

Building the foundation

The sleek glass tower that houses the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, which opened its doors in 2005, was the first to pioneer collaborative laboratory space at U of T. University Professor Brenda Andrews, who is director of the centre, says the concept wasn’t only new to U of T, but relatively unseen elsewhere in the world.

“When we opened, there was really no other centre like ours. With space like ours. We were – we are – doing something different,” she says.

The open concept labs have allowed for a high degree of flexibility and variability. It’s enabled researchers in similar areas – such as computational biology – to cluster together to share equipment and expertise. It’s also allowed some labs to integrate more seamlessly, including her own with Professor Charlie Boone.

“Charlie and I would describe our lab as a joint lab. We share equipment, we explore projects together, we co-supervise many of our students. We’ve become fully integrated,” says Andrews.

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Collaboration extends throughout the building, with many other PIs co-supervising students or pursuing joint projects. Andrews anticipates that the Donnelly Centre has more co-supervised students than anywhere else in the Faculty of Medicine. That’s fuelled in part by space – including the shared social space outside of the labs – but also the culture that’s been formulated at the centre.

And that was no accident.

“We thought very carefully when we were inviting people to join the Donnelly Centre about who would work well together – and will work well with others,” says Andrews. “And it’s something we think about in our ongoing recruitment.”

But space and people alone are not enough, says Andrews. It also takes funding structures that support collaborative research.

“The Donnelly Centre was the brainchild of Professors Cecil Yip and James Friesen who foresaw the development of genomic technologies,” says Andrews. “And, thanks to new government funding opportunities they saw on the horizon – and the generous support of Terrence Donnelly – we were able to secure the funds to build this centre.

"But, if it were not for changes in grant applications that made it possible to secure collaborative grants, I’m not sure we would be able to operate as we do today."

Renovate. Elevate. Collaborate?

In July 2016, the federal and provincial governments announced $190-million in funding to support the Lab Innovation for Toronto (LIFT) project. By the time it was completed this past spring, 47 per cent of U of T’s research space would be renovated – including 25 per cent of the Medical Sciences Building, which captured $40-million of the total project costs. The renovations broke down the concrete boxes Bendeck described in favour of shared laboratories. Among the occupants of new shared lab space is Professor Paul Hamel of the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology, who shared space with colleagues Stephen Girardin, Jeffrey Lee and Jeremy Mogridge.

Form follows function

Bendeck agrees with Hamel: Space alone doesn’t enable collaboration. And she agrees with Andrews that even if you put the right people in the right spaces, it won’t be enough unless there is funding to support collaboration.

Yet, she has found that by gathering researchers together with similar interests in shared spaces, new collaborations and new funding have resulted. This includes her work with Professor Paul Santerre, of the Faculty of Dentistry and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering.

“We’ve both been at U of T for many years but had very little interaction before we both moved to TBEP. I had a lab in [the Medical Sciences Building]. He had a lab in Dentistry. But now we are co-supervising two graduate students. We’ve secured two grants together. I’m not sure that would have happened before,” says Bendeck.

This story first appeared in the Faculty of Medicine's 2018 Dean's Report. Read the report.

Faculty of Medicine expands occupational therapy program to U of T Mississauga

noreen.rasbach — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 18:27:01 +0000

Faculty of Medicine expands occupational therapy program to U of T Mississauga

noreen.rasbach Fri, 02/16/2018 - 13:27

Cutline

The MScOT students will study at the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex alongside the more than 200 MD students in the Mississauga Academy of Medicine

Topic

University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine is expanding its occupational therapy program to U of T Mississauga beginning this September.

The expansion will allow the master of science in occupational therapy program to increase the number of available spots from 90 to 130, and builds on the success of the Mississauga Academy of Medicine, which began at U of T Mississauga in 2011.

“Our master of science in occupational therapy (MScOT) program is in high demand. Last year we received 953 applications, which meant we could only accept less than 10 per cent of those who applied," said Professor Trevor Young, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and vice provost, relations with health care institutions.

“At the same, there is a demand for more OTs. Ontario has one of the lowest numbers of OTs per capita. So, this expansion is badly needed,”

The expansion to U of T Mississauga will also position the program and its graduates to respond to expected population growth in the western Greater Toronto Area.

“By 2041, the population of the GTA is expected to increase by just over 35 per cent. However, Peel region is projected to grow by more than 47 per cent. Building capacity in the health sciences at UTM is just one way in which we seek to help our region grow,” said Professor Ulrich Krull, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga.

Occupational therapists work with people who – because of mental health, injury, or physical challenges – aren’t able to engage in an activity. Through assessments and interventions, OTs help their clients develop, recover or maintain participation in their jobs and communities. OTs often work as part of an integrated care team that includes other health professionals, including other rehabilitation specialists.

“We will continue to deliver our strong MScOT program, but now it will be offered simultaneously on two campuses,” said Susan Rappolt, associate professor and chair of the department of occupational science and occupational therapy.

Students will study at the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex alongside the more than 200 MD students in the Mississauga Academy of Medicine. The MD program recently introduced the Foundations Curriculum, which has freed up classroom space that will be used for MScOT courses. Lectures will be video conferenced between U of T Mississauga and the downtown Toronto campus. MScOT students at U of Toronto Mississauga will have onsite faculty and staff, labs, mentorship and study groups, and a full range of student supports, as well as equal access to the MScOT program’s fieldwork placements.

“This expansion is perfectly timed to place more emphasis on community-based practice, which is where the discipline began. Occupational therapy services in hospital will remain critically important to ensure that patients get the care they need to return to their homes and communities, but occupational therapists can do more to help people live well in their communities and prevent admissions to institutional care,” said Rappolt, who noted the program is seeking new clinical and community fieldwork placements for students.

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Read more about Lofters's research

At U of T's Faculty of Medicine, leaders take part in blanket exercise that teaches Indigenous history and trauma

Space force: Can the design of research space facilitate collaboration?

Building the foundation

Gene genies: How Toronto became became a global hub for genetic research

Renovate. Elevate. Collaborate?

Read more about LIFT

Form follows function

Faculty of Medicine expands occupational therapy program to U of T Mississauga