michener magazine

MichenerM A G A Z I N EA publication for Alumni & Friends • Summer 2014

As the latest cohort of graduates embark on their careers, Michener looks forward to transformation and creating an unstoppable momentum.

Going for gold

Recognizing excellence

Changing lives

Michener's new President & CEO Welcoming Maureen Adamson Alumni happenings Sharing the achievements of our Respiratory Therapists and other Michener alumni Continuing Education Bringing learning to you

Looking Up

Continue to grow with our evolving health care system.

define your course WWW.MICHENER.CA/CEdefine your courseW W W . M I C H E N E R . C A / C E

• graduatecertificate&specialtyprograms• onlineeducation• simulation-enhancedworkshops•customizableandflexiblelearning

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in this issue

4 From the Editor

5 Message from the Alumni Association

8 Michener welcomes new President & CEO,

Maureen Adamson

9 Michener partners with Elekta to advance

radiation therapy simulation

20 We're listening, and we're responding

22 Michener's Alumni Association

10 Going Global Michener takes diabetes

education worldwide

16 Continuing Education at Michener

Bringing learning to you

12 Celebrate Momentum Congratulations to the Class of 2014!

2001 Genetics Technology grad Kirsten Wall goes for the gold at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games

6 Kirsten Wall's Clean Sweep

14 Making Waves Michener's Honorary Diploma recipient Dr. Samir Sinha

18 Alumni Happnings Sharing the achievements of

Michener's alumni

EDITORIAL TEAMBrianne TulkRay Nielson

LAYOUT & DESIGNBrianne TulkAnthony Ou ADVISORY BOARDDonald Bartlett Sheena Bhimji-Hewitt Jordan HolmesShamini MartinSean McCluskeyKelly McPherson

ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHY Tim ChipmanAlex DeOliveiraBrian KoAnil Mungal

CONTRIBUTORS Sharon Aschaiek Debbie Fein-GoldbachTodd LeachHollin NgGillian NicholTania ToffnerBrianne Tulk

Published byMarketing & CommunicationsThe Michener Institute222 St. Patrick Street, 9th FloorToronto, Ontario M5T 1V4

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Michener Magazine is produced for all alumni, friends, donors, and partners to foster our community, strengthen loyalty, engender Michener pride and inspire investment.

Editorial

Building

There’s momentum building at Michener. It can be felt through our academic programs, our clinical partnerships and our strength as a community of

dedicated students, alumni, faculty and staff.This has been a transformational year at Michener as we set our sights on

strengthening our place as the education solution provider for Ontario’s health system. We continue to develop programming to respond to the needs of the healthcare system and better prepare our students for the future of healthcare.

As Ontario’s population is rapidly aging, the surge in the number of older adults will herald changes to your roles as healthcare providers. In July 2014, we will introduce the Working With Seniors curriculum to our full-time students. Through the development of this innovative curriculum, we partnered with Ontario’s senior care experts, including the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and benefited from the inspirational mentorship of Dr. Samir Sinha, Ontario’s Senior Strategy Lead and champion for the care of older adults. It is through partnerships and innovative educational solutions such as this that we hope to position our students to take advantage of not where the healthcare system is today, but where it will be tomorrow.

As alumni, you have contributed, and will continue to contribute, to Michener’s ongoing success and evolution as an applied health sciences education leader. As you will discover in this issue of our Magazine, our alumni are active contributors to their own professions and to the broader healthcare system. We pay tribute to our alumni and their contributions and successes. We celebrate personal triumphs and achievements. And most importantly, we thank all of our alumni for their ongoing support as part of our growing Michener community.

We hope that you will continue to grow and evolve with us, to continue to share your stories or those of your fellow colleagues and alumni, and to connect with and follow Michener whenever you can. Please join us online through Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, or contact us anytime at [email protected].

By Brianne Tulk

momentum

4 Michener Magazine Summer 2014

Congratulations to the Class of 2014 and welcome to the family

of Michener Alumni! From all of our current graduates and members of the Michener Alumni Association, we welcome you to our active community of over 12,000 strong.

As Michener’s most recent graduates embark on a new journey, I’m embarking on one of my own as the new Chair of the Michener Alumni Association Board of Directors. I am a 2002 graduate of the Radiation Therapy program (the first graduating

class of this program at Michener), and since 2006, I have been a Clinical Coordinator for Radiation Therapy at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. My main clinical responsibility is to create radiation treatment plans for patients needing urgent care.

I have been on the Alumni Association Board since 2003 and succeeded Christine Nielsen as Chair in November 2013. As Chair, I hope to continue the momentum Christine created during her time with the board.

As we move forward, the Alumni Association Board will be holding a strategic planning retreat this summer. We look forward to putting a plan into action for our members to continue reaching out and engaging with the Michener community.

As always, we encourage you to stay in touch. Share your stories and achievements with us and get involved by emailing [email protected]. You can also connect with us on social media - find out how on page 20.

By Hollin Ng, Chair, Alumni Association Board of Directors

From the Alumni Association

Summer 2014 5 Michener Magazine

Wall was first exposed to the sport as an infant in the mid-1970s when she began accompanying her parents, both avid recreational curlers, to the local Milton Curling Club in Milton, Ontario.

“They had a daycare there while the moms would curl in the daytime. I grew up running around in that clubhouse,” recalls Wall, 38, who now lives in Oakville, Ontario.

She hit the ice herself at 8, and by 14 was playing competitively on local teams. In her 20s, she won the Ontario Provincial Junior Curling Championship and the Canada Cup of Curling. Her training regimen included games and practice sessions two to three times a week, and more when preparing for major competitions, including the three winter Olympics preceding Sochi for which she almost qualified. Meeting training demands became more hectic in the 2000s when she married and had two daughters, but she says her husband, Trevor, himself a former pro curler, supported her Olympic goals.

Alumni P R O F I L E

Genetics Technology, 2001By Sharon Aschaiek

Molecular genetics and professional curling may seem like two completely different pursuits, but

Kirsten Wall has found a way to excel at them both.Wall is a 2001 graduate of the Genetics Technology

program at The Michener Institute who has built a challenging and rewarding career in the field. She is also an accomplished curler who, earlier this year at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, won the gold medal with the Canadian Women’s Curling team.

Kirsten Wall’s clean sweep


The only break Wall took from competitive curling was to prepare for her career. In 1999, she completed an Honours Bachelor of Science degree at McMaster University, after which she enrolled in Michener’s Genetic Technology graduate diploma program. The 16-month program teaches students how to study the genetics of cells - chromosomes, RNA and DNA - in human specimens such as blood, amniotic fluid, bone marrow and tumours. Graduates of this unique program perform important laboratory tests that enable physicians to effectively diagnose, treat and monitor patients’ conditions.

“It was a dynamic learning environment with small class sizes and instructors who were very knowledgeable and hands-on. My co-ops in particular were so useful for

seeing how the real world of genetic technology works and for making valuable contacts,” says Wall, who completed clincial placements at McMaster Hospital (part of Hamilton Health Sciences) and SickKids Hospital.

The practical, intensive training helped Wall land a job shortly after graduation at Credit Valley Hospital, where she continues to work as a senior genetic technologist. “This field is so innovative - things are always progressing. The future of genetics is mind-blowing,” says Wall about the appeal of the work.

Wall’s Olympic moment came on the evening of February 20 when her team, the Winnipeg-based Jennifer Jones Rink for which she played as an alternate, beat Sweden’s team 6 to 3 for the gold medal in women’s curling.

“Sochi was a blast. There was this huge elation from winning, and the whole Olympic experience felt like four weeks away from reality,” she says. “It’s definitely something I’ll never forget.”

2001 Genetics Technology grad Kirsten Wall (far left) with fellow members of the 2014 Olympic Gold Medal Canadian Women’s Curling Team. (Photo courtesy of Anil Mungal)

“This field is so innovative - things are always progressing. The future of genetics is mind-blowing.


Our alumni are our ambassadors.That's one of the messages that Maureen Adamson

wants to share with Michener’s 12,000-plus alumni as she starts her new role as Michener’s President and CEO.

“Our alumni are in the healthcare sector, providing quality patient care to our family, friends and loved ones. We are very proud of all of them,” says Maureen. “As Michener alumni, you are our ambassadors of excellence, quality and innovation; that comes with the territory of being a Michener graduate.”

To Maureen, the healthcare arena is where she has spent most of her career. She is a dynamic and highly regarded healthcare executive known for transformational leadership in both the public and healthcare charitable sectors. Maureen comes to Michener from Cystic Fibrosis Canada, where, as President and CEO for almost four years, she played a key role in improving patient access to healthcare and therapies such as Kalydeco. She helped build public awareness and raise money for the most relevant research available in Canada and internationally as well as for the 42 clinics across Canada. Cystic Fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults.

In her new role at Michener, she sees tremendous opportunities to help strengthen the role Michener plays in the healthcare community. And she considers alumni to be enablers of Michener’s evolution.

“Michener has held an important role in healthcare in Ontario and I think we can begin to up the ante – we can strengthen the value we provide to our health system and, ultimately, to the patients we are all here to serve,” says Maureen. “As our ambassadors, we want to engage our alumni and want to hear from you as we take important steps towards achieving this goal.”

A seasoned executive with the Ontario Public Service, Maureen has held the positions of Chief Administrative Officer, Assistant Deputy Minister for Health System Investment and Funding, and Assistant Deputy Minister for Corporate Services and Organizational Development at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. As an Assistant Deputy Minister of Health, Maureen was the CFO for a government department with an annual operating and capital budget of $37 billion and led the multi-billion dollar infrastructure planning process for Ontario’s public health care system.

Maureen also has senior executive experience within Ontario’s post-secondary sector and at one of the country’s leading teaching hospitals specializing in women’s health. She is Chair of the Board of Directors at Research Canada, a national not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the

Michener welcomes new President and CEO, Maureen Adamson

Maureen Adamson joins Michener as President and CEO

health and prosperity of Canadians by championing Canada’s global leadership in health research. She is also Vice-Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the third largest transit system in North America, is a past board member of a large credit union and sat on the board of Casey House, a downtown Toronto palliative and supportive care facility for those with HIV/AIDS.

Maureen holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lakehead University and a three-year Community College Diploma in Business.

Please join the Michener community in welcoming Maureen in her new role. Feel free to connect with her directly at [email protected].


Michener will soon have a fresh new website to share meaningful and important content and stories with all of

our audiences, especially our alumni. The new website will feature responsive design and more

intuitive navigation to help make content more accessible and engaging no matter where and how you view the site - including for those who want to visit the site using mobile

devices. For our alumni, an entirely new section will feature links to information about alumni benefits, news and updates from the Alumni Association, stories about what’s happening at Michener and with fellow alum and much more.

Watch for the launch of the new site this fall. Until then, be sure to visit michener.ca for the latest news and updates.

Something is coming your way on a new and improved Michener.ca

With the addition of ClarityTM to Michener’s radiation therapy training suite, Michener and Elekta once

again bring the latest in simulation technology aimed at preparing students to practice in today’s modern treatment environments. Installed with one of Michener’s existing Elekta Synergy treatment systems, Clarity uses 3D ultrasound technology to outline and track soft tissue targets for accurate patient positioning during radiation therapy, without the need for additional imaging dose or invasive procedures.

“Thanks to Elekta’s ongoing generous support of Michener’s renowned radiation therapy program, our students are well prepared to provide quality patient care using the modern technology found in today’s hospitals and cancer care centres,”

Michener partners with Elekta to advance radiation therapy simulation

Marc Potvin, Manager of Academic Business Development, demonstrates the use of the Elekta ClarityTM system for Radiation Therapy student Danny Yu in Michener’s Radiation Therapy Simulation Centre.

says Dr. Brad Niblett, VP Operations. Elekta is a close partner of Michener’s Radiation Therapy

program. To date, Elekta’s generous equipment and infrastructure contributions to support Michener’s radiation therapy simulation centre and academic program, as well as donations to an annual scholarship, is estimated to be valued between $10-12 million.

Michener closely monitors technological advances in radiation therapy and constantly updates its curriculum so that students are competent in the latest innovations. The entire radiation therapy process - from treatment planning to treatment delivery - can be simulated in-house at Michener.


Michener takes diabetes education worldwideGoing Global

According to the International Diabetes Federation, Qatar ranks tenth of countries and territories with the

highest rates of diabetes in the world. As of 2013, 22% of adults in Qatar aged 20 to 79 were living with the disease. Around the world, the prevalence of diabetes is a growing health concern, affecting nearly 400 million people worldwide.

Since 2012, The Michener Institute has been bringing diabetes education to Doha, Qatar in the Middle East through the international Diabetes Educator graduate certificate. The program trains healthcare practitioners how to support both patients and their families through the control and management of diabetes. As many people living with the disease know, diabetes educators are invaluable resources for information, care and advocacy.

By Debbie Fein-Goldbach

“The course is the first of its kind in the region,” explains Sharoud Al-Jundi Matthis, the Program Manager for the Qatar Diabetes Association. “The [students] are nurses, dietitians and pharmacists from the Qatar Diabetes Association, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care, as well as some from the private sector.”

The Qatar program launched in October 2012 with 25 students enrolled. It is now in the midst of its second offering, with 25 more healthcare professionals working toward certification. Participants come from Qatar, Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman, and also include expatriates from India and the Philippines employed in Qatari hospitals.

To ensure the program in Qatar runs smoothly, Sharoud communicates frequently with Carolyn Menezes, Manager of International Education at Michener. Carolyn coordinates the

Diabetes Educator online tutor Anne Belton (third from left) with students in Qatar


“The course was sorely needed in Qatar. It is helping to organize the field of diabetes education through certification, along with the hope that when we improve the knowledge of the healthcare worker, the level of care the patient receives will also improve.”Sharoud Al-Jundi Matthis, Program Manager for the Qatar Diabetes Association

international Diabetes Educator programs in Qatar as well as in the Caribbean, serving as the liaison between Michener tutors and the coordinators who live in the host countries.

“We customize the program so it meets the needs of the local community,” says Carolyn from her busy office at Michener. “The nutrition module and the pharmaceuticals are always customized because they differ from country to country, depending on what’s available.”

Taught mostly through online education by tutors Anne Belton in Toronto and Bev Harris in Nova Scotia, the program in Qatar runs for nine months. It begins with an optional in-person orientation and finishes with a compulsory two-day workshop, when Anne and Bev travel to Doha to lead it.

Halfway through the session the program offers a live, online workshop via Skype. Global time differences create some coordination challenges for Carolyn, and some very odd teaching hours for Anne and Bev, but the positive results in Doha make the effort completely worthwhile.

“The course was sorely needed in Qatar,” says Sharoud. “It is helping to organize the field of diabetes education through certification, along with the hope that when we improve the knowledge of the healthcare worker, the level of care the patient receives will also improve.”

Another benefit is worldwide awareness of the Diabetes Educator graduate certificate program. “In December 2013, the program received recognition from the International Diabetes Federation,” says Carolyn.

But, as Sharoud observes, the most important impact is experienced locally in Qatar. “The level of knowledge of the staff in various institutions has been felt by their supervisors who contact me to thank us for offering it and encourage us to continue.”

Michener’s Diabetes Educator program started domestically in 2004 as a Continuing Education graduate certificate program. In 2010, the program was launched internationally in the Caribbean in partnership with The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago.


Celebrate m o m e n t u m .

When 2014 Valedictorian Krista Urchenko was just seven years old, she knew she wanted to be a disease researcher in a laboratory. From completing

her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology to entering the Medical Laboratory Science program at Michener, where she founded a Med Lab Student Society to help generate awareness for her field, Krista’s story is one of passion and dedication.

It’s a story that is probably not uncommon among this year’s 540 graduates. Michener is full of students passionate about what they do, who are now poised to take on the challenge of contributing to Canada’s healthcare system.

As Krista noted in her valedictory address, “The late night study sessions, group projects and interprofessional courses were all things we needed to accomplish to be here, but our drive, passion and determination are what truly got us here.”

Having celebrated the Class of 2014 with graduates’ families and friends at the Toronto Centre for the Arts on June 21, we not only recognize the hard work of students, but also the support they received from their parents, partners, friends and family.

Congratulations to the Class of 2014 - Michener is so proud to be part of your journey. Now it’s your moment!

Krista Urchenko (Medical Laboratory Science 2014) delivers her Valedictorian address during Michener's 2014 Convocation


m o m e n t u m .

Click to play

Convocation in two minutes - highlights from the Class of 2014.

Click to playOur Graduates - Where are they now?

A video during the ceremony showcasing three past Valedictorians and their professional journeys since graduating from Michener


Dr. Samir Sinha addresses the Class of 2014 at Michener's Convocation on June 21, 2014

Michener’s 2014 Honorary Diploma recipient, Dr. Samir Sinha, has been tackling the

Aging Tsunami head-on.

Making Waves

2014H O N O R A R YD I P L O M A


Click to playMichener recognizes Dr. Samir Sinha with the 2014 Honorary Diploma in Health Sciences

Passion and hard work are two qualities that Dr. Samir Sinha credits to the success of any graduate in healthcare. No stranger to either, Dr. Sinha is this year’s

recipient of the Michener Honorary Diploma in Health Sciences.Dr. Sinha brings with him an unmistakable positivity and

compassion to both his work as a geriatrician and to his remarks to the Class of 2014. “If you’re doing what’s right and you’re doing what’s good, you will find allies,” he said in his address to graduates. “Find your passion, follow your purpose, keep working hard and your dreams will come true.”

A passionate and respected advocate for the needs of older adults, Dr. Sinha provided inspiration and mentorship in the development of the new Working With Seniors curriculum.The curriculum, launching in July 2014, combines theory and simulation-based learning to teach students about the care of older adults.

Dr. Sinha currently serves as the Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network Hospitals in Toronto. In 2012, he was appointed by the Government of Ontario to serve as the expert lead of the Ontario Seniors Strategy, authoring Living Longer, Living Well, a landmark report on preparing the health system for the impact of a rapidly aging population. He is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“Without question, Dr. Sinha has played a major part in guiding Ontario’s health system towards significant change that addresses the current and future healthcare needs of an aging population,” says Cliff Nordal, Chair, Board of Governors at The Michener Institute.

While developing the Working With Seniors curriculum, Gillian Nichol, Michener’s Director of Continuing Education, met with Dr. Sinha to better understand his thoughts on the priorities and the role of education in addressing them. "He obviously has such a passion for the transformational change he has committed to,” says Nichol. “He added a lot of insight and several recommendations. He helped us with his perspective on how we, as an educational institution, could support the needs that were being expressed in Living Longer, Living Well.”

“It’s a tremendous honour,” says Dr. Sinha. “It’s very humbling to have a relationship with Michener through our work advancing the education around the care of older adults and to be part of an institution that has been doing tremendous work across the province.”

The Michener Honorary Diploma is awarded to individuals who demonstrate leadership and commitment to healthcare and who are dedicated to the advancement of applied health sciences education. This is the 13th Honorary Diploma in Health Sciences awarded by Michener. The Honorary Diploma was formally conferred on Dr. Sinha at Michener’s 2014 Convocation ceremony on June 21, 2014.

Dr. Samir Sinha’s Advice for the Class of 2014

1Find your passion and the skills needed to make a meaningful difference.

2 Understand your gifts and do your best to share them.

3 It's okay to make mistakes and not always succeed. Grow from failures, stay confident and live in the moment.

4 Have the courage to pursue your dreams and never give up.


Continuing EducationBringing Learning to You

By Gillian Nichol, Director, Continuing Education

“The online experience was all new to me, and I truly enjoyed it. Being able to interact with the other students and the instructor to see all of their posted questions and ideas was great. The instructors were all very helpful connecting with students regularly. For students working shifts, online learning was especially valued since they could go on at any time day or night. The course was challenging, but with the support from student colleagues and faculty I not only was able to graduate, but just got a new position with the PACS team.” Libby Sutherland, Imaging Informatics graduate 2014


Within an applied health environment, online learning has changed the way healthcare practitioners access education and training

opportunities. “Online learning puts students in the driver’s seat where they

can learn when, where and how they want,” says Instructor and Continuing Education (CE) Manager, Debbie Warner, who has taught a CE research certificate course online since 2003.

As student demand has increased, the resources to support online learning have also grown at a rapid rate. Health images, videos and interactive learning software have combined to make the learning experience more enjoyable than ever.

“As we increased our own access to these resources and developed our skills for online learning, CE at Michener grew to offer almost 70% of our curriculum online,“ says Faculty Technical Support Specialist Sarah Newton. “We continue to evolve with the needs and expectations of our learners. And I am very happy to say that more and more of our CE instructors are embracing the world of online learning.”

Like Venipuncture Techniques instructor Kathie Thomlinson says, “The impact of virtual education has added an exciting new dimension to my role as an educator. We are witnessing firsthand how higher education is evolving into an interactive,

technology-centered learning community that can engage healthcare providers across the system.”

Kathie, in fact, teaches a hybrid model that combines the best of online accessible learning with a hands-on workshop to demonstrate applied skills. Where skill demonstration or assessment is a crucial learning objective, this is included as part of curriculum design.

Online learning is the model of choice for the majority of new CE courses. CE’s new Working with Seniors curriculum, to be introduced online to full-time students July 2014, will use exciting new tools to maximize interactivity. The 12-hour online curriculum combines a full day of interactive simulation to immerse students in real-time interactions with seniors.

CE is already planning for online simulation options as well, extending our reach to offer this exciting new program to healthcare providers no matter where they live and work.

Online learning has given all of us in CE the opportunity to innovate, to learn new things and to expand our own horizons. More important, it has given our learners increased access, flexibility and improved quality of overall learning. We are excited as we forge our future directions together and expand our reach globally through this important learning and teaching medium.

As technology becomes more seamlessly integrated into all aspects of our lives,

there is a growing expectation for easier access to information, entertainment and

even education.

70%of Michener's Continuing Education curriculum is now online.

CE has introduced two new Graduate Certificate programs and dozens of new courses, all delivered online

In 2014/ 2015

Online course formats

• Online Fixed

• Online Continuous

• Hybrid


Alumni happenings

Dilshad Moosa, Respiratory Therapy 1996, was awarded the 2013 Canadian Society for Respiratory Therapy (CSRT)/Ikaria Scholarship. This scholarship supports postgraduate education at the Masters or PhD level and is valued at $2,500.

Michener is proud to acknowledge Yin Bia, Respiratory Therapy 2012, as the Gold Award recipient for the 2013 CSRT Student Achievement awards. The awards are presented to CSRT student members who achieve the highest results on the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care (CBRC) exam.

Every year, one student from each graduating class of eligible programs across the country is selected by faculty to receive the CSRT/CAREstream Student Excellence Award. In 2013, Roger Correia, Respiratory Therapy 2012, was the recipient for Michener. This award recognizes students in Respiratory Therapy programs in Canada accredited through the Council on Accreditation for Respiratory Therapy Education who have successfully completed the certification exam and have made a substantial achievement as a student.

Congratulations to Susan Dunington, Respiratory Therapy 1982 and Anesthesia Technology 1987, for receiving the Pinnacle Award from the Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario. The Pinnacle Award is awarded only to a Respiratory Therapist in Ontario for a unique contribution to the profession.

Born in Molineux, St. Kitts, Dr. Winston Isaac, Respiratory Therapy 1973 and Alumni of Distinction 2007, was awarded the Health Services Award by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas at the Official Celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Caitlin Gillan, Radiation Therapy 2007, a radiation therapist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Toronto, is one of four U of T professors behind the new radiation therapy textbook Research for the Radiation Therapist: From Question to Culture. The first resource of its kind in Canada, the textbook provides practical examples, case studies and peer reviews of research within a radiation therapy context. Over 60 radiation therapy experts and students from across Canada, including Michener alumni, students and former faculty, contributed to the textbook.

Roger Correia, Respiratory Therapy 2012 (middle) was Michener’s recipient of the CSRT/CAREstream Student Excellence Award.

Dilshad Moosa, Respiratory Therapy 1996 (left) was awarded the 2013 CSRT/Ikaria Scholarship


Krista Urchenko, Medical Laboratory Sciences 2014, was the feature member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology for December/January 2014. She also wrote a featured blog post for their OneLab website about her experience at the ASCP General Meeting conference in September 2013.

Five alum take the laboratory professions’ message to ParliamentBy Tania Toffner, Medical Laboratory Science 2001, President Elect, CSMLS, Quality Assurance Officer - Hematology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Every year the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) takes volunteers, staff and members of the Board of Directors to Parliament Hill in Ottawa to discuss health human resource needs on behalf of the medical laboratory profession. This year, on May 13, I had the pleasure of travelling with eleven colleagues (five of us Michener alum!) to lobby political decision makers. We met face-to-face with 25 Members of Parliament and with another 23 MPs and political staff during a Parliamentary reception hosted by CSMLS. The lobbying team also had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose.

In addition to highlighting the vital role medical laboratory professionals play in Canada’s healthcare system, the team discussed the need for recruitment and retention strategies to bring Medical Laboratory Technicians to rural and remote communities. There is currently a federal loan forgiveness program for physicians and nurses choosing to move to rural and remote locations, and CSMLS has requested that this be extended to MLTs.

Participants are eager to move forward to continue building awareness, raising the profile of the profession and expanding relationships at the federal and provincial level.

The Michener alum who took part on CSMLS’ Day on the Hill are:• Susan Atkinson (née Enkel), Medical Laboratory Science

1971, retired CSMLS Past President• Bessie Carydis (née Sowagi), Diagnostic Cytology 1977,

Director Certification and PLA, CSMLS• Louise Farrar (née Hill), Medical Laboratory Science 1983,

PEISMT President, Chief Technologist Clinical Chemistry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlottetown, PEI

• Christine Nielsen, Medical Laboratory Science 1997, Immediate Past Chair, The Michner Institute Alumni Association, CSMLS CEO

• Tania Toffner, Medical Laboratory Science 2001, President Elect, CSMLS, Quality Assurance Officer - Hematology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Krista Urchenko, Medical Laboratory Science 2014 (bottom left) attended the American Society for Clinical Pathloogy General Meeting conference in September 2013

Dr. Winston Isaac, Respiratory Therapy 1973 and Alumni of Distinction 2007, was awarded the Health Services Award to mark the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.


Earlier this year we issued an online survey to help us better understand the communication preferences and experiences of Michener alumni. We are currently tabulating the results and will post highlights on our website and in the next issue of Michener Magazine.

Here are just a few highlights from the survey results:

We’re listening, and we’re responding

Michener’s Facebook and Twitter pages are becoming increasingly useful and timely sources of information and updates for and about alumni.

Michener’s social media sites have grown exponentially the past year as more and more people follow, like and visit our Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

f facebook.com/TheMichenerInstituteLike us on Facebook, to stay informed about specific events and activities, interesting stories and engaging content.

x youtube.com/TheMichenerInstituteWatch us on YouTube, to view our latest and growing repertoire of videos produced by Michener highlighting people, events, special announcements and events, on a range of topics.

l twitter.com/MichenerInst Follow us on Twitter, to stay connected to the latest breaking updates and news from Michener, share tweets and engage with your alma matter and Michener’s growing Twitter followers.

i The Michener Institute on LinkedInConnect with us on LinkedIn to engage with your fellow alumni and stay up-to-date on the latest from Michener.

Did you know...

flix

The most popular form of social media among alumni is Facebook. Yet, less than 10% of alumni have ‘liked’ Michener on Facebook. The reason: The majority of survey respondents don’t know that Michener has social media channels or that we publish content especially for alumni.

Alumni want content that is more meaningful to them as practising healthcare professionals. We’re on it - and we’ll be making some changes to our new website and social media content in the very near future.

About one third of alumni regularly read Michener Magazine, with another third reading the publication occasionally. We think we can improve this number, by focusing on more meaningful and engaging content, and by looking at alternative delivery formats to make it more convenient and easier for you to read and stay connected with Michener no matter where you are.

Connect, follow and engage with us! You have more options than ever before to keep up to date on what’s happening at Michener and with your follow alum.


engage. connect. support.

michener.ca/alumni

Alumni Relations has expanded product and service benefits available to Michener Alumni! We are pleased to announce that Michener is extending its Corporate Benefits Program to Michener Alumni. Alongside our usual offers including Group Insurance and Alumni Mortgage Rates, Michener's Corporate Benefits Programs includes other exclusive discounts. These include access to attractions such as Canada's Wonderland, the Royal Ontario Museum, Wild Water Kingdom and more!

Please visit michener.ca/alumni/products.php to take advantage of these new offers!

New Benefits for

Michener Alumni


2013 saw over 170 alumni supporting various initiatives and attending alumni events, including MMI, career panels

and student rounds

Michener’s Alumni Association

2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5 s t r a t e g i c p r i o r i t i e s• Maximizing relationships• Fostering community participation• Optimizing communication with our alumni• Improving our governance structure and evaluating the association’s effectiveness

t h e a l u m n i a s s o c i a t i o n e x i s t s *• To provide opportunities for lifelong relationships with our alumni• To assist in the continuous development and growth of The Michener Institute and the Alumni Association• To unite members and students and foster a sense of pride in, and community with, The Michener Institute• To build partnerships and act as a resource for faculty, administration, students and employers• To develop and promote services and other opportunities for members that will support and benefit them * This is an excerpt from the Constitution, a complete copy of which is available upon request by contacting [email protected].

Alumni Association Board of Directors

e x e c u t i v eHollin Ng, Chair, Radiation Therapy 2002; Abby Cole (Sirisegaram), Vice Chair, Radiation Therapy 2011; Christine Nielsen, Immediate Past Chair, Medical Laboratory Science 1997

m e m b e r sAngela Anthony, Medical Laboratory Science 2012; Ruvette Coelho, Radiation Therapy 2011; Nicole Coutu, Respiratory Therapy 2013; Eryl Fraser, Medical Laboratory Science 2016; Andy Hon, Nuclear Medicine 2014; Michelle Lau, Radiation Therapy 2002; Sean McCluskey, Past Chair, Nuclear Medicine 1992

s t a f f r e p r e s e n t a t i o nRay Nielsen, Manager, Student Success Network

m i c h e n e r . c a / a l u m n i f LTheMichenerInstitute @MichenerInst

Summary of Benefits for Michener Graduates

As a Michener graduate you are automatically a member of the Michener Alumni Association and entitled to the following benefits:

• A free digital subscription to Michener Magazine and Alumni eNews• One year free membership to Michener’s Learning Resource Centre (library), starting on the day of Convocation. For more information, please visit michener.ca/lrc or call 416.596.3123.• Access to Michener’s job board at michener.ca/jobreg• Preferred group rates on home and auto insurance from TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, and on life insurance from Canada Life• Available membership to Michener’s Fitness Facility• The opportunity to serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and/or its committees. Contact us at [email protected] if interested• Invitations to events at Michener and alumni events throughout the year• Volunteer opportunities (see below)• Access to alumni scholarships and awards

Stay Connected, Get Involved

Michener’s Alumni Association exists to serve you, our graduates, and support Michener’s current student body. This is why we ask you to stay connected and get involved following your graduation. You will gain new experience and expertise in your career and we hope you choose to share this knowledge to enhance the learning of others and advance the professions. Let’s build a lasting legacy for Michener and the professions that we educate.

v o l u n t e e r o p p o r t u n i t i e sCareer Fair (in late March/early April) Annual Awards CeremonyThe Multiple Mini Interview (in May) Honorary Diploma Reception

Recruitment events and career panels GraduationAlumni events Orientation

s h a r e y o u r e x p e r i e n c e a n d e x p e r t i s e w i t h s t u d e n t s a t :• Student Job Search Rounds (annually in the Spring) Job search rounds are offered to students and recent graduates to provide them with tips on writing cover letters and resumes, and preparing for and participating in job interviews. • Student Grand Rounds (various times throughout the year) Offered on various topics of interest to provide students with the tools they need to succeed personally and professionally. Includes relationship building, networking, mentoring, etc.• Student/alumni networking events• To volunteer to participate, please email [email protected]

M i c h e n e r M a g a z i n e• Share your personal or professional milestones with the alumni community • Add your name to our list of subject matter experts to be interviewed for articles of interest • Recommend fellow graduates to be profiled within the magazine• Write articles• Join the Advisory Board• To get involved with Michener Magazine, please email [email protected]

To ensure that you continue to have access to these benefits, remember to update us any time you move or change contact information. Send updates to [email protected] and contact us at 416.596.3141 if you have any questions.

a l u m n i @ m i c h e n e r . c a

Alumni Scholarships

a l u m n i a s s o c i a t i o n s c h o l a r s h i pUp to $1,500 is available annually to a graduate or child of a graduate of The Michener Institute/Toronto Institute of Medical Technology.

T D I n s u r a n c e M e l o c h e M o n n e x S t u d e n t A w a r dUp to $1,000 is available annually to a student in his/her graduating year of a full-time program and/or after a minimum of two years of full-time study at Michener.

For more information about these scholarships and awards or to submit an application or nomination, please visit michener.ca/alumni

Submissions are accepted throughout the year. The deadline for submissions is January 30, 2015.

Deborah Havill (Radiological Technology 1976), recipient of the 2013 Alumni of Distinction Award

a l u m n i o f d i s t i n c t i o nThis is the Association’s highest honour, recognizing graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the community and the applied health sciences professions. Nominees must be graduates of The Michener Institute or Toronto Institute for Medical Technology who graduated over 15 years before the year of nomination.

y o u n g a l u m n i a w a r dThe Young Alumni Award recognizes and honours young alumni who demonstrate significant professional accomplishments and commitment to others. Candidates must be graduates of The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences who have graduated within the last seven years.

m i c h e n e r . c a / a l u m n i f LTheMichenerInstitute @MichenerInst

Alumni Awards of Honour

Projet : Annonce MMI 2014

Client : TD Assurance

Dossier # : 15-MM9296-14_MMI.EN•michener (8.5x9.5)

Épreuve # : 1

Date de tombée : 30/03/2014

Graphiste : Yannick Decosse

Hamelin-Martineau Inc. • 505, boul. de Maisonneuve O, Bureau 300 • Montréal (Québec) H3A 3C2 • T : 514 842-4416 C : [email protected]

ATTENTION : MERCI DE VÉRIFIER ATTENTIVEMENT CETTE ÉPREUVE AFIN D’ÉVITER TOUTE ERREUR/PLEASE CHECK THIS PROOF FOR ERRORS

Province : Ontario

Publication : Michener Magazine

Format : 8.5x9.5

Couleur : Quad

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michener magazine - summer 2014

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