Health e-News

Coronavirus update – Friday, March 6

With reading week coming to an end, health authorities are still very clear that the risk of a coronavirus outbreak in Canada is low. We strongly encourage you to continue practicing proper health precautions, including washing your hands often and covering your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing or sneezing.

Whether you have been travelling or not, members of the McGill community who have flu-like symptoms should call 1 877 644-4545 (Info-Santé) instead of going in-person to the Wellness Hub or a medical clinic. The University’s coronavirus webpage remains the most up-to-date source of information for our community.
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Coronavirus update – Friday, February 28

As you may have heard, health authorities announced yesterday a presumptive case of COVID-19 in the Montreal area. It is a case of a person who recently returned from travel abroad.

Despite this, health authorities are still very clear that the risk in Canada is low, and they are not recommending any additional measures to be taken by the general public. Frequent and thorough handwashing, as well as observing appropriate cough etiquette, are still the appropriate behaviours.

The University’s coronavirus webpage remains the most up-to-date source of information for our community.
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Call for Nominations – Widening Participation Committee – Deadline: March 9

In light of an expanding mandate and a commitment to ensure inclusive and transparent Faculty governance, the Social Accountability and Community Engagement (SACE) Office, McGill Faculty of Medicine, is seeking one new faculty member to join the following committee: Widening Participation Committee (WPC). We look forward to receiving your nomination via the online form!
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Every gesture counts!

In order to protect our health care system, our families and our communities, each and everyone of us needs to do our part to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 global pandemic, beginning with following both Quebec and University directives, among these:
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A message from Principal Suzanne Fortier: Spring Convocation

In an e-mail message sent March 20 2020, McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier announced that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Spring Convocation ceremonies have been called off. Principal Fortier notes that she is working with her colleagues to ensure that students planning to graduate this semester can meet their degree requirements. They are also exploring alternative ways for the community to come together to commemorate these academic achievements at some point in the near future. Read the full message,
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Casual administrative staff

All academic and administrative staff, including casual and work-study employees who were scheduled to work over the two-week suspension period, will be paid. Casual and work-study employees, please consult the  instructions on the McGill coronavirus FAQs.
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Teaching Remotely and Redesigning Assessments in a Demanding Time

Suffering from information overload at this demanding time? Join Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) staff—and experience Zoom—for a 30-minute webinar where they will guide you on teaching remotely and changing your assessments in ways that are appropriate for your course, and manageable for you and your students.
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Health Canada’s COVID-19 response grants funding to three projects at the Lady Davis Institute

Three researchers from the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital are among the recipients of funding as part of Canada’s COVID-19 response, as announced by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health. The projects focus on developing and implementing measures to rapidly detect, manage, and reduce the transmission of the novel coronavirus.
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McGill group launches program to help Canadians stay fit while social distancing

To help improve the resiliency of Canadians, the health professionals at the McGill Comprehensive Health Improvement Program (CHIP) are proud to announce a free web-based health promotion program developed to safely improve your physical and mental health in only six weeks.
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Confronting COVID-19: a special webcast with McGill health experts

On Thursday March 19, McGill hosted its first Coronavirus webcast aimed at bringing together McGill’s leading health experts to tackle some of the most pressing questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. If you missed it, you can view the webcast featuring, Dr. Marcel Behr, Co-Director, McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (Mi4) and Interim Director of McGill Infectious Diseases Division and Dr. Timothy Evans, Inaugural Director and Associate Dean of the School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, here ►
 

New Program Launch: MI4 funding for COVID-19 research

MI4 is pleased to announce the launch of an emergency coronavirus research fund to support nimble and effective interventions and studies in this crisis.  This fund will be used to accelerate COVID-19 biomedical and social sciences research across the entire MI4 community through strategic support of key platforms and research projects that can provide solutions for the current pandemic.
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Code Life Ventilator Challenge

The Code Life Ventilator Challenge is a 2-week sprint to collect the best ideas from anywhere in the world to create or design life-saving ventilators. It’s a joint initiative between the Montreal General Hospital Foundation and the RI-MUHC.
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Catching appendicitis early through thermal imaging

Acute appendicitis is more challenging to diagnose than most people realize. A breakthrough study led by a McGill PhD graduate offers an innovative solution. “Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies, and if it’s not recognized quickly and accurately, it can be life-threatening,” says Dr. José Luis Ramírez García Luna, a postdoctoral researcher who recently graduated with a PhD from the McGill Faculty of Medicine’s Division of Experimental Medicine.
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Maida Sewitch honoured by Canadian Association of Gastroenterology

Maida Sewitch, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University and scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, was awarded the designation of Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Fellow this month. “I am humbled and honoured to join the CAG Fellows, and to be among esteemed colleagues at the CAG who value excellence in health care, research and service. This award will facilitate new opportunities for me to inspire the next generation of scientists and clinician-scientists,” she said.
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Dr. Bryan Arthurs receives clinical teacher award

Renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Bryan Arthurs is the recipient of the 2020 Clinical Teacher Award from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) in recognition of his exceptional contributions to clinical teaching at McGill University and worldwide. Congratulations Dr. Arthurs!
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Student-led startup fosters connections with health industry and innovators

“Your plans might be a straight line, but reality never is,” said Jaime Padros, co-founder and president of Bioauxilium Research Inc., a biotech company focused on the design, development, and manufacturing of cutting-edge research assay kits. Padros was speaking to a room full of students and fellow industry leaders and entrepreneurs at the third annual Health Startup Day, held at McGill University on February 26, 2020.
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