MD Class of 1974 Celebrates 50th Anniversary

The MD Class of 1974 recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their graduation with a reunion full of meaningful activities. The morning began with coffee and conversation, featuring opening remarks from Vice Dean, Education, Dr. Rob Whyte, followed by fascinating presentations from current Faculty of Health Science researchers Dr. Dawn Bowdish and Dr. Catherine Hayward on the aging immune system and on a Quebec platelet disorder mystery, respectively. Class of 1974 alumni Dr. Cherniak and Dr. Zlotkin also shared insights from their fields. Lunch at the West Room included updates on personal lives and remembrance for departed classmates. The day concluded with a tour of the McMaster LIVELab and a dinner at The Phoenix, attended by 18 alumni.

ExamSoft-Cirrus Migration through August

PAEP and UGME are on track to begin using Cirrus for written assessment as of 1 August 2024. The MedPortal page dedicated to the ExamSoft-Cirrus migration is being continually updated with progress reports, and students, faculty members, and staff members can also find links to relevant training materials on this webpage. 

Students can expect to have access to Cirrus beginning the week of August 5, with priority given to those writing Clerkship final exams that week. 

To mitigate the risk of any technical difficulties, students will have access to practice assessments on Cirrus before writing any assessments that impact learners’ progress through the MD curriculum. 

Tutors, Longitudinal Facilitators, and Directors can expect to have access to Cirrus in mid-August, with priority given to those involved in setting and grading the first CAEs. 

To provide just-in-time support to graders, a combination of written, recorded, and live training offerings will be available leading up to and during the grading period of CAEs and PIEs. 

Staff members can expect to have access to Cirrus late-July, with priority given to those involved in administering Clerkship final exams in early August. 

To support the rapid rollout of Cirrus and quickly build shared knowledge on using Cirrus, UGME members of the migration project team will be working side-by-side with staff when deploying assessments for the first time. 

Students, faculty members, and staff members learning to use Cirrus are encouraged to reach out early and often when encountering difficulty. 

In the short term, it can feel frustrating to learn a new tool and way of working, but the members of the migration project team are available to help transition familiarity using ExamSoft to proficiency in Cirrus. The migration project team looks forward to collaborating on solutions with you! 

Dr. Michael Lee-Poy Appointed as Assistant Dean of Mac-CARE

Dr. Michael Lee-Poy, an associate clinical professor and InQuiry curriculum coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine, has been appointed as the Assistant Dean of the Mac-CARE program.

The McMaster Community and Rural Education (Mac-CARE) program supports medical students and residents by providing access to diverse, high-quality community teaching sites in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas. This initiative offers learners valuable exposure to family and specialty medicine in community and rural practices beyond academic health science centers.

You can read the official announcement here.

ClinSkills Preceptors Needed: Shape the Future of Medical Education

NRC is inviting passionate individuals to become clinical skills preceptors or PBL tutors for preclerkship medical students. These teaching roles are crucial in shaping students' educational experiences and positively impacting their learning journeys.

During a 12-week foundation, clinical skills preceptors typically dedicate 36 hours, with a weighted value of 54 hours (1.5/hr). PBL tutorials average 72 teaching hours, with a weighted value of 144 hours (2/hr). These figures may vary depending on the specific Medical Foundation. Faculty members are expected to commit 150 weighted hours annually over three years to maintain their academic appointments, ensuring active involvement in providing quality education.

Preceptors and tutors receive different compensation based on their roles. Faculty members earn $100 per hour, while residents are compensated at $75 per hour.

Clinical skills sessions are held on Wednesday afternoons/evenings, lasting three hours each week. These sessions use standardized patients or real patient encounters with informed consent. Tutorials are three hours per session, held twice a week in the afternoons/evenings, and focus on facilitating learning through case work.

Becoming a preceptor or PBL tutor offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the education of future medical professionals. For more information about these roles and responsibilities, contact the NRC Preclerkship team at nrcprec@mcmaster.ca. Join McMaster University in shaping the future of medical education!

Special Call for Substitute Tutors for MF1

The UGME is issuing a special call to recruit substitute tutors for MF1. A substitute tutor is defined as someone who can fill in for one tutorial in place of the group tutor. UGME seeks returning tutors who can be contacted occasionally on an as-needed basis throughout the foundation.

Tutorials can be scheduled in a 3-hour block between 1-9 pm, either on-site at McMaster Campus or off-site at SJH Charlton, HGH, and JHCC, depending on room availability. Room bookings will be managed by the Curriculum Assistant on behalf of the tutors.

The stipend for faculty substitute tutors is $100 per hour, paid to the McMaster clinical department to which they are appointed, in accordance with departmental agreements. Note that this stipend cannot be paid to a medical professional corporation, per CRA regulations. Substitute tutors will also earn two faculty contribution hours per teaching hour, tracked and entered by the UGME Program Admin.

Interested returning tutors are encouraged to join the on-call list by emailing preclerk@mcmaster.ca.

The SkinCARE Project by Miranda Branyiczky Gains Media Attention

Miranda Branyiczky, a dedicated McMaster University medical student, continues to make strides with The SkinCARE Project. This initiative promotes skin health and supports those living on the streets and in shelters. The project's impactful work has garnered significant media attention.

For more details on The SkinCARE Project and its positive influence, check out the coverage from The Spec, Global News, CHCH, and Academica Group's Top Ten in Higher Education.

VitiligoVoices Co-Founded by McMaster UGME Student Gains Media Spotlight

Shahnawaz Towheed, a student in McMaster University's UGME Class of 2026, has garnered attention for co-founding VitiligoVoices Canada with Omar Sharife, Parsa Abdi, and Oana Durcau. The initiative aims to support and advocate for Canadians living with vitiligo, a condition causing skin pigmentation loss. To raise awareness and support, they illuminated the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, and 17 other Canadian monuments across 9 provinces in purple on June 25th for World Vitiligo Day, as part of the #Lit4Vit campaign. The project has been highlighted in recent coverage by The Whig, showcasing its impact and raising awareness about vitiligo.

McMaster Students Lead the Way in Space Medicine Research

Bhavya Gandhi (Class os 2026) (left), Samantha Keow (Class of 2026) (center), and Daniel Olteanu (Class of 2025) (right), from McMaster UGME explore the future of space medicine in their latest article on Healthy Debate. They emphasize the critical role of medical professionals in space missions and advocate for the inclusion of space medicine in Canadian medical curricula. Their research highlights the need for specialized knowledge to address unique challenges faced by astronauts and suggests incorporating space medicine into medical education through case-based learning, supplementary courses, and experiential opportunities.

Click here to read the whole article.

Class of 2025

Following the completion of their 1st Round Appointments, Class of 2025 students can now book their 2nd Round Appointments through the Jane App. These appointments are initially virtual but can be switched to in-person if necessary. A Student Affairs email was sent out on Monday, July 15, encouraging students to schedule their meetings starting on August 19. This round will focus on preparing residency application packages, including CVs, Personal Statement Letters, and initial program application plans. Students are advised to fill out the intake form sent from Jane, mark key CaRMS deadlines on their calendars, and review the Career Counselling and Resources section on Medportal for valuable guides and tips.

Class of 2026

Pre-clerkship electives provide initial exposure to various disciplines, aiding in career exploration. This is an ideal time for Class of 2026 students to seek mentorship and career advice as they begin considering different career paths. Students are encouraged to schedule a 30-minute Career Counselling appointment, available both virtually and in person. Past students have consistently reported that these sessions are highly beneficial for discovering, solidifying, and narrowing down their career interests. They also help in developing a personalized career roadmap and action plan. Career Counselling is here to support you—let’s meet and explore your future opportunities!

MedPortal Resources

It's never too early to start working on a CV, nor too late to refine it. Students are encouraged to explore the digital resources available on Your Career Journey > Tab 4 > CV and Documents, with a particular focus on the CV Guide. This guide provides valuable assistance in customizing a CV for residency applications, including strategies, mechanics, and formatting tips.