innovating for better health. - western university achievements report_final.pdf · weare...

We are innovating for betterhealth.

A snapshot of achievements at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University 2012-13

We arereaching up andreaching out.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry has a bold and exciting vision to become a global leader in optimizing life-long health through innovations in research, education and active engagement with our communities. With more than 130 years of experience, we have what it takes to get usthere. And with our ten-year strategic plan in hand we will stay focused and on track.

As we position the School to be an international leaderacross both the research and education spectrum, we areactively pursuing new partnerships and collaborations bothlocally, and across the globe. In doing so, we are advancing our knowledge and contributing to the global community in ameaningful and sustainable manner. Building on a strong baseof integrated clinical, educational and research excellence, we aim to enrich our programs, develop innovative teachingmethods, enhance our distributed medical education model and update our facilties.

Each and every day, our faculty, staff and students areworking to achieve our mission and vision and extraordinarythings are happening. Through this report, you will see asnapshot of our achievements from the past year as we work to change the future of health care.

Michael J. Strong, MD, FRCP(C), FAAN, FCAHSDean, Schulich School of Medicine & DentistryDistinguished University Professor, Western University

We are innovating for better health / Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry / Western University 3

We are creating newknowledge that willimprovequality of life.

Grapefruit sours the effect of prescription drugs The number of prescription drugs that canhave serious adverse effects from interactionswith grapefruit are markedly increasing, yetmany physicians may be unaware of theseeffects. According to Dr. David Bailey, professoremeritus, Department of Medicine and his co-authors, many of the drugs that interactwith grapefruit are highly prescribed and areessential for the treatment of important orcommon medical conditions. Between 2008and 2012, the number of medications with the potential to interact with grapefruit andcause serious adverse effects has increasedfrom 17 to 43, representing an average rate of increase exceeding six drugs per year. This increase is a result of the introduction of new chemical entities and formulations.

A kit for increasing insulin productionA novel finding regarding insulin-producingbeta cells is good news for the more than two million Canadians living with diabetes. A research team led by Dr. Rennian Wang,associate professor, Departments of Medicine,and Physiology and Pharmacology, hasidentified the critical role of a receptor calledc-Kit in the development and function ofinsulin-producing beta cells, making it anexciting therapeutic target for the managementof diabetes. The research demonstrated thatoverexpression of c-Kit leads to increasedinsulin production and counteracts the earlydiabetic effects of a high-fat diet.

Opening the door for new therapiesThe identification of a new genetic mutationfor amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) hasbeen identified by Dr. Michael J. Strong, deanand Distinguished University Professor inClinical Neurological Sciences and hiscolleagues. They have identified mutationswithin the ARHGEF28 gene that are presentin ALS. When they looked across both familialand sporadic forms of the disease, they foundvirtually all cases of ALS demonstratedabnormal inclusions of the protein arisingfrom this gene. This discovery will open the door to future targeted therapies.

Uniting researchers to tackleneurodegenerative diseasesA new neurodegenerative diseases researchprogram uniting clinician-researchers andbasic scientists from across Ontario will tacklethe growing concern of brain disorders thatlead to impairments in memory and cognition.The project, led by Dr. Michael J. Strong, dean,Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is expected to receive $15 million from the Ontario BrainInstitute along with $5 million from othersources. It will study the contribution ofvascular disease to neurological disordersand focus on defining the earliest markers of cognitive change to develop and evaluateproactive treatment strategies.

A breakthrough leading to theunderstanding of a common form of arthritis known as DISH (diffuseidiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) has been made. Dr. Cheryle Séguin,professor, Department of Physiologyand Pharmacology, with hercollaborators have discovered thefirst-ever mouse model of thisdisease. Researchers will now beable to uncover the mechanismsunderlying DISH and relateddisorders, eventually leading totesting of treatments for humans.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is an international leader in healthresearch, delivering breakthrough discoveriesthat have profoundly changed health care.New research continues to bring new hopeand provides an improved quality of life forpeople around the world.

PMMicro-CT image of mouse skeleton,showing excessively mineralized lesions inred along the spinal column and sternum.


Dr. Michael J. Strong will lead a newneurodegenerative diseases researchproject uniting clinician-researchers andbasic scientists from across Ontario.

We aredrivingknowledgeinto action.


Trials identify improved responsefor Crohn’s sufferers Crohn’s Disease causes inflammation, orswelling, and irritation of any part of thegastrointestinal tract. First described in 1932,this chronic disease can be crippling formany of its sufferers. Dr. Brian Feagan,professor, Departments of Medicine, andEpidemiology and Biostatistics and director,Robarts Clinical Trials is one of the authors of a new study published in the New EnglandJournal of Medicine investigating the efficacyof a drug called Ustekinumab. The drug hasbeen found to improve the well-being ofthese difficult-to-treat patients, who don’trespond to other treatments.

Improving community healthDr. Stewart Harris, professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and FamilyMedicine is focusing his latest researchproject on a community lifestyle programwhich aims to increase awareness and improvecare of First Nations women with gestationaldiabetes. The project is comprised of a healthylifestyle component focusing on exerciseduring pregnancy with the use of cutting-edgetechnology—continuous glucose monitors—which can record blood sugar levels every two minutes, along with traditional finger-prick testing.

Virtual reality aids those with Parkinson’s diseaseFor people living with Parkinson’s disease,daily tasks that involve multitasking can be a challenge. It is the decision making processinvolving a number of decisions that they can find overwhelming. Dr. Mandar Jog,professor, Department of Clinical NeurologicalSciences is using a technology called‘augmented immersion virtual reality’,allowing patients to perform real-life tasks.An environment has been created virtuallywhich is then transmitted to patients througha set of virtual reality goggles. As patientsmove around the room, the goggles ‘read’ a series of sensors and markers that indicatewhere the walls, windows and other objectsare located. Dr. Jog will assess how patients with Parkinson’s perform within each virtualscenario and whether their performanceimproves with repetition.

In 2013, nearly 400,000 childrenwere infected with AIDS/HIV, and nearly two million people died of the infection. The first and onlypreventative HIV vaccine based on a genetically modified killed whole-virus, developed by Dr. Chil-YongKang, professor emeritus, Departmentof Microbiology and Immunology andhis team, has been making steadyprogress in Phase I Clinical Trials in the United States and the interimresults are being analyzed inpreparation for the next steps.

Our research programs are truly translational and span the continuum from basic research andclinical trials, to population and health research.

Dr. Chil-Yong Kang Dr. Stewart Harris

We arepreparing thenext generation of health careand academicprofessionals.

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Learner equity & wellness Providing support for the wellness of students across Schulich School of Medicine& Dentistry will be strengthened through the establishment of the Learner Equity andWellness Office. The office focuses on thephysical, psychological and professional safetyof learners, as well as supporting academicwellness and providing career guidance. The office also promotes the pillars ofprofessionalism and provides support forstudents who experience learning in bothacademic and clinical settings.

London Health Research DayLondon Health Research Day celebrates the world-class medical and health relatedresearch conducted at London’s premiermedical research institutions, while providinga unique learning experience for hundreds ofgraduate students and postgraduate fellows.The 2013 event featured 400 poster andplatform presentations across 13 differentresearch themes. A highlight of the event was the participation of Dr. Terry Kenakin,professor, Department of Pharmacology,University of North Carolina Medical School,Chapel Hill, North Carolina who served as the inaugural Lucille and Norton Wolf HealthResearch Lecture Series speaker and alsopresented a career information session to students.

Five times the charmFive Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry students were named recipients of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship,Canada’s most prestigious scholarship fordoctoral students. These students wererecognized for their leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement.The scholarship, worth $50,000 per year forthree years is available to both Canadian and international PhD students studying atCanadian universities. The School’s honoreeswere: Adrienne Elbert, MD/PhD candidate,Biochemistry and Paediatrics; Matthew Meyer,PhD candidate, Epidemiology and Biostatistics;Krista Vincent, MD/PhD candidate, Anatomyand Cell Biology; Susan Huang, MD/PhDcandidate, Medical Biophysics; Daniel Langohr,PhD candidate, Biomedical Engineering.

Dr. Mark Goldszmidt, associateprofessor, Department of Medicineand acting director for the Centre for Education Research & Innovationreceived one of 10 3M TeachingFellowships. The Fellowship is themost prestigious acknowledgementof teaching excellence in Canada. Dr. Goldszmidt teaches his studentsthe value of developing a collaborationwith their patients and the healthcare teams they work with.

Our students acquire an outstandingeducation that is supportive, is provided bynationally recognized professors, and offersunique learning opportunities.

Dr. Mark Goldszmidt, 2013 3M TeachingFellowship recipient.

Adrienne Elbert, one of five VanierScholarship recipients.

We areproviding anexceptionallearningexperience.


Specialized graduate programs As innovators in education, the School has been planning and implementing newspecialized graduate programs. A newlyaccredited professional Pathology Assistantprogram welcomed its first class in 2012, as did Canada’s only multidisciplinary programin Musculoskeletal Health. Developed inpartnership with the faculties of Engineering,Health Sciences, Science and Social Science,this program offers collaborative researchand development opportunities for students.A new Master of Public Health, two acceleratedMaster of Science programs, one in Microbiologyand Immunology and one in Biochemistry,are set to begin in the fall of 2013.

Caring for our diverse communitiesSchulich Dentistry has a commitment todevelop in dental professionals, the knowledgeand skills to provide exemplary care to thediverse communities and patient populationsthey serve. The construction of a new GeneralAnesthetic Suite speaks to these values byproviding a specialized care setting for youngchildren and special needs patients, as well asfor patients with complicated dental treatmentssuch as restorative work, oral surgery orperiodontal treatments. The Suite will positivelyimpact Schulich Dentistry students by providingthem with more hands-on clinical experienceworking with special needs patients. It willalso enhance the interdisciplinary trainingoffered to students as they will work muchmore closely with the General Anesthesiaprogram and other specialties.

Feeding the sparkIn a new initiative to strengthen the School’sgraduate student training and to continue to invest in the best, four students received a Dean’s Stipend for Graduate Research. The students were chosen, as leaders saw in them a spark that elevates good research togreatness. The recipients include CharlesIshak, Biochemistry; Warren Winick-Ng,Physiology and Pharmacology; Maha Hammad,Physiology and Pharmacology; and Ian Lobb,Microbiology & Immunology. The value ofPhD Graduate Stipend will be a maximum of$25,000 per year for the student’s full graduateprogram residency period and the Dean’s MScto PhD Transfer Stipend will be a maximumof $5,000 per year for the student’s remainingfull graduate program residency period.

Drs. Marjorie Johnson, Anita Woodsand Jerry Battista are changing theface of teaching by incorporatingnew and unique teaching methods.From the use of props such asfootballs and bed sheets to utilizingreal-time Twitter in lecture, to theinvention of the desk-top CT Scannerwhich demonstrates how imagingequipment really works, the School’sfaculty are using creative teachingmethods to inspire and inform thenext generation of students.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistryoffers an educational experience second to none.As we look to the future, we are enriching oureducational programs, enhancing our facilities,providing increased support for our students andadapting our teaching methods.

Dr. Anita Woods, 2103 Marilyn RobinsonTeaching Award recipient.

The Pathology Assistant program is one ofthe newest professional graduate programsat Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.

sustainableWe aredeveloping partnershipsaround the world.


Rwanda efforts continue For nearly a decade, Dr. David Cechetto hasbeen working with the people of Rwanda toassist them in rebuilding their health careprogram. His tremendous efforts have beenrecognized through the awarding of WesternUniversity’s Humanitarian Award. With thehonour, Dr. Cechetto receives $5,000, whichwill be used to support postgraduate trainingof Rwandan health care teachers. His workwill be furthered through a $2.6 millionCanadian International Development Agency(CIDA) grant to address maternal, newbornand child-health issues in Rwanda.

The sum of the parts is stronger than the individualSouthwestern Ontario offers a rich land-scape of education, health care and researchinstitutes. Together, we have a collectivemission to advance patient and populationhealth across the region and country. Andnow we are working together to establish the Southwestern Ontario Academic HealthNetwork (SWAHN), one of only five suchnetworks in Canada.

NATO’s highest honourFor the past six years, Drs. Ray Kao andVivian McAlister, Department of Surgery andDr. Brian Church, Department of Anesthesiaand Perioperative Medicine have spentnumerous months in Afghanistan providingadvanced surgical and medical care to coalition,Afghan civilian and enemy casualties. Thispast year, their unit was recognized with NATO’shighest honour for medical support andreceived the Dominique-Jean Larrey Award.

Recognizing innovative global initiativesBold and innovative research that addressesthe needs of humanity globally was rewardedwith $200,000 in funding. Dr. Gregor Reid,Departments of Microbiology & Immunology,and Surgery and his team were recipients of aGrand Challenges Explorations grant offeredthrough The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.The team is in Tanzania testing if a yogurtsupplemented with the Moringa plant canbenefit under-nourished pregnant women byimproving their breast milk quality and thetypes of bacteria present in their intestines.

Drs. David Spence, and Daniel Hackamreceived $100,000 from the Grand ChallengesCanada Stars in Global Health program toaddress the problem of resistant hypertensionin people living in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwandaand South Africa.

Dr. Spence is a Professor of Neurologyand Clinical Pharmacology, and Director ofthe Stroke Prevention and AtherosclerosisResearch Centre at Robarts Research Institute,and a scientist at Robarts. Dr. Hackam is anAssistant Professor in the Departments ofMedicine, Clinical Neurological Sciences, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

With more than 25 years of experiencein the development of internationalpartnerships, Dr. John Denstedt,chair/chief, Department of Surgeryhas taken on a new role as SpecialAdvisor to the dean, on Internation-alization, Globalization and Simulation.The role identified in the School’sWhite Paper on Internationalizationand Gobalization will guide theSchool’s efforts in establishing new,and strengthening existingpartnerships around the world.

Throughout our history, we have taken a leadershiprole in developing partnerships by collaboratingwith leading scientists and scholars around theworld. In doing so, we have advanced our ownknowledge and enhanced our ability to treat diseasewhile providing missions of care and hope.

Dr. John Denstedt The Schulich School of Medicine &Dentistry has worked with partners inRwanda to rebuild its health care program.

SchulichMedicine & Dentistry by thenumbers.

We are innovating for better health / Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry / Western University

RESEARCH FUNDING 2008-2012

2008-2009 135.5m

2009-2010 139.5m

2010-2011 130.5m

2011-2012 138.5m

FUNDRAISING DOLLARS

2007-2008 12.5m

2008-2009 9.5m

2009-2010 5.5m

2010-2011 10.5m

2011-2012 13.5m

HUMAN RESOURCES: FACULTY COMPLEMENT 2,171 HUMAN RESOURCES: STAFF COMPLEMENT 1,721

CANADA RESEARCH CHAIRS

742Full-Time Clinical Faculty(Physicians)

Part-Time Clinical Faculty(Physicians)

837

Institute Scientists

44

UWOFA Limited Duties

20 219Full-TimeFaculty (PhD/DDS)

Other (includes adjunct & visiting faculty, but excludes cross-appointments & professor emeritus)

309

562Regular Full-Time & Part-Time Sta!

522Temporary Contract Sta!

637Graduate Research Assistants,Postdoctoral Fellows &Postdoctoral Assistants

Dr. Ann ChambersONCOLOGY

Dr. Sean CreganNEURODEGENERATION AND STEM CELL REGENERATION

Dr. Aaron FensterMEDICAL IMAGING

Dr. Stephen S. G. FergusonMOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY

Dr. S.M. Mansour HaeryfarVIRAL IMMUNITY AND PATHOGENESIS

Dr. Victor Khin Maung HanFETAL AND MATERNAL HEALTH

Dr. Robert A. HegeleEDITH SCHULICH VINET CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN HUMAN GENETICS

Dr. Morris KarmazynEXPERIMENTAL CARDIOLOGY

Dr. Dale W. LairdGAP JUNCTIONAL INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION AND DISEASE

Dr. Shawn LiFUNCTIONAL GENOMICS AND CELLULAR PROTEOMICS

Dr. Charles McKenzieTRANSLATIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

Dr. Ravi S. MenonFUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

Dr. Peter RoganGENOME BIOINFORMATICS

Dr. Gary S. ShawSTRUCTURAL NEUROBIOLOGY

Dr. Moira StewartDR. BRIAN W. GILBERT CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

Dr. Amardeep ThindHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH

Dr. Charles WeijerBIOETHICS


SCHULICH SCHOLARSHIPS

60ANNUAL RECIPIENTS

$20,000TOTAL VALUE PER STUDENT, PER YEAR

$80,000TOTAL VALUE PER STUDENT OVER LENGTH OF PROGRAM

$1,200,000TOTAL ANNUAL VALUE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

15ANNUAL RECIPIENTS

$10,000TOTAL VALUE PER STUDENT, PER YEAR

$40,000TOTAL VALUE PER STUDENT OVER LENGTH OF PROGRAM

$150,000TOTAL ANNUAL VALUE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

50+ANNUAL RECIPIENTS

$15,000($5,000 SCHULICH SCHOLARSHIPS, $10,000 OGS/QEII)*

-DEPENDS ON PROGRAM LENGTHOVER LENGTH OF PROGRAM

$750,000+TOTAL ANNUAL VALUE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

MEDICINE DENTISTRY GRADUATE STUDIES BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES

NOTABLES

Dr. Jane Rylett2013 DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

Dr. Anita Woods2013 MARILYN ROBINSON TEACHING AWARD AND THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS COUNCIL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING

Dr. Graeme Hunter2013 FACULTY SCHOLAR

Dr. Marco Prado2013 FACULTY SCHOLAR

Dr. Michael J. StrongDr. Arthur HudsonDr. George KleinDr. Stephen FergusonDr. Harinder SandhuDr. Vivian McAlisterDr. Ray KaoDr. Len CorteseDr. Osman TarabinDr. Christopher SchlachtaDr. William WallDr. Bill ClarkDIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL

Dr. Robert BourneMEMBER, ORDER OF CANADA

Dr. Cecil RorabeckOFFICER, ORDER OF CANADA

Dr. Lorelei LingardEXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP IN ACADEMIC MEDICINE (ELAM) FELLOWSHIP

Dr. Candace Gibson2013 AFMC-INFOWAY E-HEALTH FACULTY AWARD

Dr. Laura Diachun2013 PHYSICIAN INNOVATOR IN EDUCATION AWARD

Dr. David Cechetto2013 WESTERN HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Dr. Janet PopeCANADIAN RHEUMATOLOGY ASSOCIATION’SDISTINGUISHED INVESTIGATOR AWARD

Dr. Chris BrandlBIOMEDICAL SCIENCE AMBASSADOR AWARD

Dr. Cindy HutnikTHE YMCA WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR HEALTH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Vladimir HachinskiNAMED TO ORDER OF ONTARIO

Dr. Jatinder TakharHIND RATTAN AWARD (JEWEL OF INDIA) BY THE NON RESIDENT INDIAN (NRI) WELFARE SOCIETY OF INDIA

Anna FariasDr. Carla GarciaDr. Michael Ott2013 CAME (CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION) CERTIFICATE OF MERIT AWARD

Dr. Victor Han2012 PAEDIATRIC ACADEMIC LEADERSHIPCLINICIAN INVESTIGATOR AWARD

Dr. Warren T. BlumeAES 2012 J. KIFFIN PENRY EXCELLENCE IN EPILEPSY CARE AWARD

Dr. Walter Siqueira2012 IADR SALIVARY RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR

Dr. Lorne ParnesAAO—HEAD AND NECK SURGERY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

*OGS stands for Ontario Graduate Scholarships. QEII stands for Queen Elizabeth II Scholarships.

684MEDICAL STUDENTS

226DENTISTRY STUDENTS

943POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINEES

812STUDENTS IN YEARS THREE AND FOUR OF THE BACHELOR OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

4HOSPITAL-BASED POSTGRADUATEDENTAL RESIDENTS

9TRAINING IN SPECIALIZEDPOSTGRADUATE DENTISTRY PROGRAMS

6GRADUATE STUDENTS IN ORAL ANDMAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

41STUDENTS IN THE INTERNATIONALLYTRAINED DENTISTS PROGRAM

589GRADUATE STUDENTS

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE (IN MILLIONS) 2008–2013

08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 (projected)

145.3m150.1m136.3m132.3m117.9m

2011–2012 REVENUE BREAKDOWN (IN MILLIONS)


63.8mWESTERN UNIVERSITY TO MEDICINE

10.3mWESTERN UNIVERSITY TO ROBARTS

13.3mWESTERN UNIVERSITY TO DENTISTRY

14.6mOTHER—INCLUDESCRC FUNDING,DONATIONS &STUDENT FEES

8.0mALTERNATE FUNDING PLAN

20.4mCLINICAL TITHES & TRANSFERSFROM FUNDACCOUNTS

19.7mMINISTRY OF HEALTH & HOSPITALENVELOPE FUNDING

At the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, weare proud of our achievements, while maintaining astrong focus on the future. We have a clear vision anda passionate commitment to our goals. Knowledgecreation and translation. Exceptional education andlearning. Partnership and networks that span theglobe. International leadership that helps people live long and healthy lives.

We are optimizing life-long health.

innovating for better health. - western university achievements report_final.pdf · weare...

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