From Pro Athletes to Physicians
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SPRING 2015 UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE MAAMATTERS TEAM PLAYERS From pro athletes to physicians Thanks To donors • dr. Peggy hill lecTureshiP TO COME TREASURER’S REPORT Dr. LynDon MaScarenhaS (1984) Increased donor support helps to fund important initiatives DONORS RESPONDED GENEROUSLY augment our support to the Medical conference; the Aboriginal Health Elective in 2013/2014, allowing us to help students Society with $ 25,850 in funds for both (funded by the MAA’s 4T6 Memorial Fund); with interest-free loans, as well as a number academic and non-academic initiatives. and a Daffydil alumni reception. We are of student-life initiatives. In November 2014 we inaugurated the pleased to announce that the MAA hosted its Thanks to your support, we received Dr. Marguerite (Peggy) Hill (5T2) Annual firstL eadership Circle fundraising event, with $335,000 in mail, online and miscellaneous Lectureship on Indigenous Health with a reception and luncheon in April this year. Pho donations, a 36 per cent increase from Dr. Evan Adams as the first guest lecturer; it As of Feb. 28, 2015, with the guidance T o G 2012/2013. We also received over $46,850 was a successful and inspiring event. We have of Mr. Dennis Babcock of BMO Nesbitt ra P in individual bequests and donations to maintained our commitment in 2014/15 Burns, our portfolio grew to $4,437,492, Jay hy: endowed funds, a decrease from the with funding to several student-organized an increase of 12 per cent from 2014. S on Ga previous year. We disbursed $90,000 in groups, conferences and events, including: Thanks to all donors for their support, LL student loans, over $130,000 in awards, the U of T International Health Program as well as our volunteer board and Ruth o scholarships and grants, and were able to (UTIHP) annual health and human rights Gillings, our administrator. P DEAN’S MESSAGE DR. TREVOR YOUNG Walking the talk—for ourselves and our patients NOW THAT SPRING IS FINALLY cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer, doing one-hour weight-lifting workouts every here after a long and cold winter, many of osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, high blood day. Not all of us can be athletes — like Jane us are excited about getting some fresh air pressure, depression, stress and anxiety. But Thornton or any of the other exceptional and exercise again. For those of us with even for us doctors, walking the walk — athlete-physician alumni mentioned in this Pho busy family and work commitments though, literally in this case — is a hard thing to do. issue — but all of us can be active. That T o G staying active can be a real challenge. And because of our profession, people look means making lots of little changes that add ra P If you feel that way, you’re not alone. to us to model healthy lifestyles. up — like taking the stairs or walking to a Fac hy: According to Statistics Canada, only about So as we put away the winter coats and colleague’s desk rather than sending an email. ult 15 per cent of Canadians are getting the bring out the shorts and sneakers this spring, Then, when we speak to patients about y o F recommended 150 minutes of exercise per let’s challenge ourselves to find ways to work how they can make healthier choices, we can Me DI week. As physicians, we know the benefits, regular exercise into our routines. The answer confidently do so from the authority that c I ne of course. Exercise reduces our risk of isn’t necessarily training for a marathon or can only come from personal experience. MAA Matters is published by the Cover photo (inset): Dwayne Brown/ Darcy Marquardt, Buffy Williams, For more information, The Maa respects your privacy. Medical alumni association in canadian Medical association romina Stefancic, ashley Brzozowicz, please contact: We do not rent, trade or sell our co-operation with the University Design & Art Director: Luisa De Vito Sarah Bonikowsky, andreanne Morin, ruth Gillings, room 3249, mailing list. If you do not wish to receive of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. ON THE COVER: (Large photo): heather Mandoli.(Inset photo): Medical Sciences Building, Maa Matters, please contact us. Editor: Fiona Irvine-Goulet World rowing champion, Jane Dr. Jane Thornton (2014), member 1 King’s college circle canadian Publications Mail Product Contributors: Dr. Suan-Seh Foo, ruth Thornton, with her Women’s eight of Toronto’s 2015 Panam/Parapan am Toronto M5S 1a8 cUSToMer # 7022738 Gillings, Dr. Peter Kopplin, Julie Lafford, rowing team at the 2008 Beijing athlete advisory council. Tel.: (416) 978-0991 contract # 41679520 Dr. Lyndon Mascarenhas, andrea olympics. L to r : Lesley e-mail: [email protected] Santos, Morgan Tilley, Dr. Trevor young Thompson-Willie, Jane Thornton, Website: http://maautoronto.ca Medical Alumni Association 2 University of Toronto • Spring 2015 Inaugural Dr. Peggy Hill lecture Dr. evan adams on a new model of First nations health Dr. Evan Adams, former BC Deputy Provincial Health Officer, delivered the first Dr. Peggy Hill Lectureship on Indigenous Health here’s an Indian in the doctor’s lounge.” That’s what health in the BC provincial system. Until December 2014 he was BC Deputy a fellow resident of Dr. Evan Adams told a hospital Provincial Health Officer; he has just security guard the first day of Dr. Adams’s residency begun a new position as chief medical officer of the First Nations Health Authority at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. “Better get used “T (FNHA) in BC. to it,” was Dr. Adams’s response. A proud member Dr. Adams put to rest some myths of the Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation in BC, concerning indigenous peoples’ health, noting that despite the often dismal picture Dr. Adams related this story as part of the inaugural we have of aboriginal poverty, housing and Dr. Marguerite (Peggy) Hill (1952) Lectureship on health status, there is also a little known middle class that doesn’t fit the stereotypes. Indigenous Health this past November. He explained that his position as Deputy Provincial Health Officer was to monitor The lectureship was established by a generous female chief resident at Toronto General the health of aboriginal people. “Our job bequest from the Dr. Marguerite (Peggy) Hospital and a pioneer in establishing a is to do more and more surveillance of Hill estate, and supported by the MAA in culture of compassionate, interdisciplinary, aboriginal populations and react in real partnership with the Indigenous Medical patient-centred care. time,” he said. He’s proud of the BC Education Office. Spearheaded by MAA Dr. Adams’s lecture touched on many government’s health tracking efforts, vice-president, the late Dr. Don Cowan aspects of indigenous health care, weaving something that most other provinces (1956), the lectureship was created to his personal story—he is also a playwright don’t do, making it difficult to get a honour the barrier-breaking work of the and an actor who starred in the 1998 indie true picture of health and health care. late Dr. Marguerite (Peggy) Hill. An Order hit movie Smoke Signals—throughout his He presented data that showed that First of Canada recipient, Dr. Hill was the first presentation, championing aboriginal Nations people are not using the health Medical alumni association 3 federal government to the BC FNHA, supporting the integration of First Nations The story of how Dr. Adams grew up health care into provincial health services. Now the FNHA has established a new on-reserve, balanced studying medicine and inverted model of health care that moves the arts, came into his own as a physician, the emphasis from hospitals and spending resources on later-life care to a model and how he now is involved at a health systems of health promotion and prevention. “We think that’s more culturally appropri- level, is inspiring and encouraging.” ate,” Dr. Adams said, “and perhaps reflects better spending.” At the same time, other provincial ministries such as housing and care system as much as non-native Leadership Council, Dr. Adams talked education are coming together to improve “BC residents, arguing that the notion of about the Transformative Change Accord, the economic and social outlook of First aboriginal people frequenting emergency which is intended to close the social Nations people in BC. rooms and clinics is wrong. “In fact, we’re and economic gap between First Nations The lecture was enthusiastically received: staying away,” Dr. Adams said. He believes and other British Columbians over a “[Dr. Adams’s] story of how he grew up that the barriers to care, which include 10-year period. In this agreement, First on-reserve, balanced studying medicine a mistrust of physicians and the health Nations people—bolstered by Dr. Adams’s and the arts, came into his own as a care system, must be broken, finding appointment—are now leaders instead physician, and how he now is involved ways to encourage indigenous people of bystanders in determining their own at a health systems level is inspiring and to seek services. health care needs. encouraging,” commented med student Citing a 2005 health care initiative In 2013 the Canada Funding Agreement Ryan Giroux (2017). “I look to physicians struck by the BC provincial and federal was created, transferring First Nations like him as a model of how I can develop governments and the First Nations health care authority and funding from the in my future practice.” Love what you do? Students will too! The Department of Family & Community Benefits Medicine needs community family physicians to participate in teaching medical students at As a preceptor, you: U of T.