April 29, 2016 Volume 23, Issue 16 Publication Mail Agreement #40065156 ON CAMPUS NEWS [email protected] news.usask.ca SHOW ME THE MONEY When the grain gridlock hit the Prairies, all attention was on the railways. Richard Gray, professor in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources was following the money and saw billions disappear. Read the full story on Page 5. DAVID STOBBE School of Public Health review Task force report outlines next steps for school KRIS FOSTER On the heels of the March 2015 external internal and external stake- those consultations, Mutwiri holders that the school remain continued, is the “development review of the School of Public Health, independent is very important. of a strategic plan for the next That is a really positive message.” five to 10 years.” a series of consultations took place to Barber stressed that while Barber said that in response there is no expectation of a to the eight recommendations determine next steps for the school. merger, faculty of both units of the report, Mutwiri has been must meet as soon as possible tasked with developing precise From September to December standing academic and research to review the task force report goals and metrics in order to 2015, the task force charged with entity,” with this status being and “clarify expectations that evaluate progress. this undertaking met with 68 re-evaluated within two years. each has of the other during the “I have asked that those be individuals, including faculty, “One of the many important upcoming work to refresh the developed and endorsed by the staff and students in the school outcomes of the external review vision of the school, to develop Provost’s Committee on Inte- and in the College of Medicine’s and of the task force analysis is a goals and to recruit the school’s grated Planning by June 30, 2016, Department of Community recognition that, while the rela- next executive director.” and followed by annual reports Health and Epidemiology, senior tionships between the school and And while internal and on progress,” said Barber. administration at the univer- the Department of Community external stakeholders reached Another immediate action, sity, as well as many external Health and Epidemiology are consensus on the best gover- Mutwiri Barber continued, is that the partners, explained interim important, there should be no nance structure for the school, search for the school’s next Provost Ernie Barber. intention or expectation that Mutwiri said there was also campus,” said Mutwiri. “In executive director—a search Stemming from those these two units be merged,” consensus on the need for the this regard, we will be holding that was suspended pending consultations, a series of eight explained Barber. school to strengthen relation- consultations that are necessary the development of a university recommendations were made, For George Mutwiri, the ships. to move forward and refresh the response to the external review— Barber said. Top among them is school’s interim executive “Going forward there is an mission, vision and goals of the is to be resumed immediately. that “the School of Public Health director, this is a key take away. expectation to build stronger school.” should remain a distinct, free “That there is consensus among relationships, both on and off Another outcome of See Engagement, Page 4 INSIDE PUT A BIRD ON IT 2 PICTURE THIS7 2 April 29, 2016 For the birds New facility focuses on avian research LESLEY PORTER Bird health and the conserva- facility—had a vision to do more tion of declining bird species are captive research on wild birds. unifying themes for a new avian “Most of our research research centre on campus. capacity is on aquatic animals, The Facility for Applied so we have a lot of that,” she said. Avian Research is a combined “We have an animal care facility indoor-outdoor research space mostly for small mammals to do set to open on May 1. health research, but no dedicated Spanning close to 350 square space to work on wildlife and no metres, the facility has six indoor dedicated place to work on birds, bird rooms and 12 outdoor enclo- other than poultry.” sures, capable of holding a large Along with co-applicants variety of bird species such as John Giesy and Karen Machin, songbirds, waterfowl and raptors. both from the Western College Morrissey The Facility for Applied Avian Research. Tucked behind the Western of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Veterinary Medicine’s facility received infrastructure could be anything from ecology birds still act as indicators of the with their immune system Bovine Facility on Veterinary funding from the Canada Foun- and migration studies to toxi- health of the environment and and endocrine system, are all Road, it is one of only two such dation for Innovation. Thanks to cology work and veterinary potentially the health of the envi- signaling problems, potentially facilities in Canada capable of some internal contributions from medicine.” ronment to support humans as for us, too.” advanced research on birds, as the College of Arts and Science, Birds have a long, storied well. Besides magnifying poten- well as the only facility of its the School of Environment and past as being excellent indica- “Everything is magnified tial environmental stressors, kind dedicated to the studies of Sustainability, and the Office tors of environmental condi- for them,” explained Morrissey. birds are highly visible—lots avian wildlife ecotoxicology and of the Vice-President Research, tions, Morrissey explained. Like “They’re smaller, their life spans of people have backyard bird medicine. Morrissey’s vision is now taking the proverbial canary in a coal are shorter in many cases and feeders or are birdwatchers—and Upon starting at the U of S flight. mine—where the bright, chirpy they are so dependent on their well-studied in terms of their in 2010, biology professor “The whole concept of the bird would accompany under- environment. Even subtle phys- ecology, perhaps more than any Christy Morrissey—who is also facility is to do multidisciplinary ground miners and cease to sing iological changes, like the ways the principal applicant for the research on wild birds—that once the air became too toxic— that chemicals are interacting See Identifying, Page 3 WWW.EDWARDSMBA.CA WORT H Investing in an Edwards School of Business MBA is a solid investment in yourself. You’ll learn the skills of management such as how to manage, how to communicate effectively, and how to lead. By enhancing interpersonal communication, team building and leadership skills, you’ll enter your professional endeavours with confidence, integrity and accountability. Faculty and colleagues within the Edwards MBA program will become valuable business contacts and life-long friends. APPLY NOW! APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 31, 2016. ON CAMPUS NEWS April 29, 2016 3 U of S ready to launch new pharmacy curriculum in fall 2017 KIERAN KOBITZ The University of Saskatchewan granted new responsibili- compared to the current which is an increase over the will launch a Doctor of Pharmacy ties, such as administering flu pharmacy program in which current bachelor degree program. (PharmD) program in fall 2017 to vaccines and prescribing medica- students take classes in basic Pharmacists who hold the replace the Bachelor of Science in tions for minor ailments, such as sciences, such as chemistry and existing Bachelor of Science Pharmacy as the first professional cold sores or seasonal allergies,” pharmacology, during their in Pharmacy will continue to degree required to practice as a Wasan said. first two years, while pharmacy have their degrees recognized licensed pharmacist. classes are scheduled in by the Saskatchewan College “Pharmacists’ roles are the third and fourth years. of Pharmacy Professionals, the changing and we’re proac- Under the new curriculum, regulatory body for pharma- tively adapting our curric- Pharmacists’ roles are students will be required to cists and pharmacy technicians ulum for these new roles,” changing and we’re complete at least two years in Saskatchewan. A bridging said Kishor Wasan, dean of pre-requisite classes program for those pharmacists of the College of Pharmacy proactively adapting our before applying to the interested in upgrading to the and Nutrition. “Our curriculum for these new pharmacy program. Doctor of Pharmacy will be graduates will be compet- The new curriculum will developed after the new program itive in the job market, roles. Our graduates will be include 40 weeks of expe- Wasan is implemented. and they’ll have the skills competitive in the job market. riential learning, with 32 The new degree program needed to provide the weeks of advanced practice programs). has been passed by the Board best possible care to their Kishor Wasan in the fourth year. The first “The U of S is keeping pace of Governors and Univer- Lana Haight is a patients.” three years of the program with a changing industry that sity Council and confirmed Saskatoon freelance The new program, include two four-week requires evolving education,” said by University Senate. Regular writer. Wasan said, is designed to “In the new curriculum, all practice experiences, as well as Wasan, adding that two other updates on the Doctor of provide the skills and knowledge four years of the program will smaller weekly opportunities. Canadian pharmacy schools Pharmacy curriculum develop- necessary for pharmacists to be spent learning the science and Wasan said that out of 10 will also introduce a PharmD ment process are available at: practice as their roles in the skills of pharmacy, including a pharmacy schools in Canada, program in 2017. words.usask.ca/pharmd. healthcare system expand. substantial experiential learning five have already introduced In the Doctor of Pharmacy Kieran Kobitz is a communica- “As recent as 2015, phar- component,” said Wasan.