september 2016 alumni news - college of medicine€¦ · greetings, college of medicine alumni. as...

It seems like quite a while since mid-June when the most successful Highlights in Medicine Alumni Reunion Conference in recent memory took place. The attendance was outstanding this year with 146 alumni and friends attending the Dean’s Welcome Reception and no less than 217 filling the Sheraton Centre Room for the Alumni Reunion Banquet. The positive response to the changes we made to the Highlights agenda this year was also very encouraging. Conference participants responded well to sessions on current topics like physician-assisted death and medical innovation at the U of S. The interactive Back to the Future Tour received rave reviews.

Throughout the summer the transformation of the Health Sciences Building continued as construction crews worked tire-lessly on both A and B Wings. The new state-of-the-art Anatomy and Surgical Skills Lab on the third floor of the Health Sciences Building will be a wonderful facility where Saskatchewan’s future health-care practitioners will hone their skills.

The View from the Alumni Relations Office

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The College of Medicine is a happening place these days! After a relatively peaceful summer, the halls of the Health Sciences Building are humming once again as 102 enthusiastic medical students have arrived to begin their schooling. The 2+2 curriculum ensures that a healthy number of challenging pre-clerkship courses await these brilliant young people.

On a final note, it has been my privilege to work as the Alumni Relations Officer this past year. I have been presented with an opportunity that is taking me beyond the College of Medicine. I wish to thank Preston, Gail and the Advancement team for being such nice people to work with. I also wish to express my appreciation to Nora McKee and the alumni association board for their involve-ment and support of the college and myself. Getting to know many of the alumni of the College of Medicine has been the best!

Best regards,Robin Lumsdon

Promoting Tradition Preserving History Generating PrideALUMNINEWSSEPTEMBER 2016

THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONE Wing Atrium, Health Sciences Building

Greetings, College of Medicine alumni. As I begin my second year as president of the College of Medicine Alumni Association, I am excited for the opportunities that your new association board will have to reach out and bring together alumni. Your 12 member alumni association board includes three executive members, seven members-at-large, a professor emeriti and a student representative. We have some wonderful alumni who are

committed to strengthening the alumni association’s role in the life of the college. We are going to accomplish some great things!

I encourage all alumni to stay in touch with the alumni association. Let us know where you are and what you are doing, both personally and professionally. Active engagement with the alumni association allows you to have a say in communications, events, and student sponsorships, among the various committee roles. Class representatives act to bring together their graduating class for the Highlights in Medicine Conference honoured years. And opportunities to attend alumni events with the dean of medicine allow you to stay connected to the college. Rekindle past friendships and make new ones with other alumni who shared the same U of S experience!

Catching up with Nora McKee

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Nora McKee (1993) ......................... President

Brian Ulmer (1983) ......................... Past-President

Craig Hubbard (1968) ......................... Vice-President

Bob Hickie (1958) ......................... Professor Emeritus

Dennis Kendel (1971) ......................... Member at Large

Charles Simpson (1971) ......................... Member at Large

Evan Howlett (1985) ......................... Member at Large

Stephen Sanche (1990) ......................... Member at Large

Anita Chakravarti (1982) ......................... Member at Large

Ashley Sasbrink-Harkema (2007) ......... Member at Large

Matt Johnson (2014) ......................... Member at Large

Karen Shaw (1983) ......................... Member at Large

Bonnie Liu (2019) ......................... SMSS Representative

The 2016-2017 Alumni Association Board

THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The 31st Annual Highlights in Medicine Alumni Reunion Conference took place from June 15 to 17 at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel in Saskatoon. This year the honoured class years were every five-year class from 1961 to 2011.

The conference social events included a Dean’s Welcome Reception on the first evening at the Top of the Inn. The conference wrapped up with a Reunion Banquet on Friday evening.

Dr. Julie Stakiw (2001) did an amazing job as both the conference chair-person on Thursday and the Master of Ceremonies at the Alumni Reunion Banquet.

The opening session of the medical conference illustrated the global impact of College of Medicine alumni by featuring two graduates who have ascended to great heights in neurosurgery research. Dr. Margareta Klinger (1966) spoke about her

experiences as the first female neurosurgeon in Germany. Dr. Todd Mainprize (1996) spoke about leading a team of researchers at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and achieving a world-first by using focused ultrasound to cross the blood-brain barrier. Dr. James Irvine (1976) delivered the Honorary Alumni Lecture, “Reflections on Health in Saskatchewan’s North,” an important and critical topic to the people of Saskatchewan.

Back to the Future tours, a new interactive learning experience that was introduced at this year’s Highlights, allowed alumni to experience where and how current medical students learn through an ultrasound demonstration and a simulated lab presentation. Student

guides also toured alumni through the new Health Sciences Building and into the Clinical Learning Resource Centre that simulates patient care in a health-care office setting, as well as around the Leslie and Irene Dubé Health

Sciences Library and new Anatomy and Surgical Skills Lab.

The recipient of the Louis Horlick Spirit of the College Award for 2016 was Dr. George Pylypchuk. Dr. Pylypchuk, a graduate of the class of 1970, served as a clinical teacher to College of Medicine students and residents for over 40 years.

Finally, the honoured 50th-year class, the class of 1966, turned out in force, with alumni from California, Arkansas and across Canada.

Highlights of Highlights in Medicine 2016

Dr. George Pylypchuk

Class of 1966

Class of 1986


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This year 102 students began their journey to become physicians. The alumni association provided water bottles for the students at their orientation fair in mid-August.

The College of Medicine Alumni Association also provides embroidered medical coats for the first-year students at the White Coat Ceremony on September 23. The ceremony marks their entry into medical studies, and the coat is a symbolic gift that represents the privilege to care for people, and emphasizes the humility required to be a good steward of the profession.

The class of 2020 white coats feature the College of Medicine Aboriginal logo for the first time. This logo represents the commitment of the college to serve the people of Saskatchewan, and to be a leader in Aboriginal health programs, education and services. The University of Saskatchewan policy on Aboriginal Initiatives emphasizes our commitment to Indigenous student success.

First-Year Students Arrive


A Sad Loss for the College:

Dr. Neil Cowie

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he College of Medicine recently lost a fine physician and friend, Dr. Neil Cowie (1981). Neil’s exemplary medical career included completing his residency in 1987 and serving as an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesia at the College of Medicine. He was also head of the Chronic Pain Management Clinic at Royal University Hospital from 1987 to the present and

academic anesthesia resident coordinator at St. Paul’s Hospital since 1992.

One of Neil’s greatest passions was using simulation technology as a teaching/learning method to improve patient care and eliminate medical error, and he served as the director of medical simulation for College of Medicine programs.

Neil was tremendously well liked, respected and admired by his colleagues in the Clinical Learning Resource Centre. Mary Freeman, Associate Director of Learning Services said of Neil, “He was a mentor for us all. It was his passion and commitment that led to the development of the simulation program in the College of Medicine. Neil embodied the vision of inter-professional education and practice.”

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Among the funding priorities identified by Dean Preston Smith, a vital component to the continuing accreditation of the College of Medicine is a revitalized Anatomy and Surgical Skills Laboratory. This modern enhanced learning environment will not only be used to train the physicians of the future but also, to attract top students, faculty, residents and researchers.

The first part of the project, the anatomy lab space, is nearing completion. It features new dissection tables and a state-of-the-art downdraft ventilation system that reduces fumes and odors. Monitors throughout the lab will provide medical students with a clear view of the techniques that instructors are demonstrating. This will provide a superior laboratory learning environment with a bigger and brighter space, and improved ventilation.

Surgical skills training through simulation will be an integral part of the College of Medicine’s future curriculum. This laboratory will enable undergrad and post-graduate students to learn and practice surgical techniques in a simulated health-care setting. This new facility will allow students to hone their skills at everything from basic suturing to bone plating to minimally invasive surgery. Learning in this type of safe hands-on environment will ultimately help reduce medical errors and improve patient outcomes.

The original capital funding covered the infrastructure costs for this state-of-the-art facility but did not include the costs associated with equipping the lab. A campaign is currently being proposed to support the Anatomy and Surgical Skills Laboratory at the College of Medicine. If alumni are interested in learning more about this project, please contact Major Gifts Officer, Jeff Aramenko, at [email protected] or 306-966-8811.

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Pass the Scalpel!

Anatomy and Surgical Skills Lab Construction Continues


hese are exciting times for the School of Physical Therapy faculty, staff and students as they recently moved into their beautiful new space on the third floor of E Wing in the Health Sciences

Building in June and July. On August 15, staff and faculty welcomed the class of 2018 who are now hard at work with their second-year colleagues enjoying everything the new space has to offer.

Unlike the school’s previous home, St. Andrews College, where classes were spread out over

several floors, this new space allows all of the classrooms, labs and offices to be co-located on one floor. The space is part of the beautiful new Health Sciences Building so that PT students and faculty can connect with other health professional colleagues in the library and the many shared spaces throughout the facility - even at Tim Hortons!

The new PT space features a spacious new exercise laboratory, the Marjorie Braid musculo–skeletal laboratory and a functional abilities laboratory. The

school has state-of-the-art audiovisual systems that will greatly enhance the learning experience for students. For example, there are monitors situated in labs that will facilitate demonstrations by PT instructors, and the space is climate controlled, adding a significantly different degree of comfort for students and staff from previous facilities.

Even though the school has recently purchased new treatment tables and some new exercise equipment for this amazing academic space, we

would still welcome financial support from alumni to purchase additional teaching and research equipment.

As associate dean, I am very proud of the new School of PT space and encourage PT alumni to attend the school’s grand opening on October 21, 2016. See details in Alumni Happenings in this issue. Congratulations to everyone at the School of Physical Therapy on your wonderful new home!

Liz Harrison

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School of Physical Therapy moves to E-Wing

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September 10Miles for Smiles

A Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan initiative to raise awareness and funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. Alumni are welcome to join our medical students at Rotary Park for a 2.5 km fun run or walk, a 5 km run or walk, or a 10 km run.

For more information, please visit Miles for Smiles and the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.

September 16University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association Centennial/Homecoming Game

The U of S Alumni Association will host a series of events throughout 2016/2017 to celebrate its centennial. On Friday, September 16 the Alumni Association is proud to be the game-day sponsor for the homecoming football game at Griffiths Stadium. At 5 pm the celebration will begin at Rally Alley in the field

adjacent to the stadium. Alumni and their families are invited to participate in some great activities under the U of S’s Alumni association’s big tent. The first 1,500 people who arrive will receive a voucher for free food. The theme is “Paint the Night Green and White.” See you at the game!

September 16Ice Bowl Hockey Tournament

The Ice Bowl is an annual three-day hockey tournament gathering over 500 medical students from the universities of Alberta, Calgary, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This year’s tournament will be hosted by the University of Calgary September 16-18. Three divisions of hockey (men’s competitive/men’s recreational and women’s) will participate in games at two Calgary arenas—the Stampede Corral and Edge School.

September 23 White Coat Ceremony

The annual College of Medicine White

Coat Ceremony, in which the class of 2020 is welcomed to the medical profession with the gift of a white lab coat from the College of Medicine Alumni Association, will be held at Prairieland Park, Hall A from 2-4 pm.

October 20U of S Alumni Achievement Awards

The University of Saskatchewan Alumni Achievement Awards are presented annually to U of S graduates who advance the reputation of the U of S and the Alumni Association. This event will be held on Thursday, October 20 at Marquis Hall on the U of S campus in Saskatoon.

October 21School of Physical Therapy Grand Opening

The School of Physical Therapy invites alumni and friends to attend an afternoon tea and tour the new School of PT space in E Wing of the Health Sciences Building from 3-6 pm.

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John Kennedy once said, “From those to whom much has been given...much is also expected.”

What better way to say thank you for your medical education at the College of Medicine than to give back financially in support of a student or researcher who is working as hard as you did to achieve his or her goals?

You can determine where you would like your gift to have an impact. You may wish to create a bursary to help students with financial need. You may decide to establish a scholarship to reward the academic excellence of an exemplary student. You may wish to contribute to a capital project in our college like the Anatomy and Surgical Skills Lab. It is entirely up to you.

Whatever you decide know that your gift is appreciated and will make a difference! Donate to the College of Medicine now.

Giving Backto the College


The College of Medicine Advancement team has two new staff members

excited to work with alumni.

Our team would love to hear from you.

Gail ShivakDirector of Advancement

[email protected]

Jeff AramenkoMajor Gifts Officer

[email protected]

Andrea HalaDonor Relations [email protected]

306- 966-1786

Wendy MatthewsClerical Assistant

[email protected]

Our Team


september 2016 alumni news - college of medicine€¦ · greetings, college of medicine alumni. as...

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