Local youth learn about careers in health sciences

Friday, April 12, 2013

WATERLOO, Ont. (Friday, Apr. 12, 2013) — About 250 high school students from Waterloo Region and surrounding areas will spend their day sampling career options at the TD Discovery Day in Health Sciences taking place at the University of Waterloo on Tuesday, April 16. The Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and Faculty of Science are hosting this interactive event, organized by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Waterloo alumnus and physician, Dr. David Wilson, will deliver they keynote address at 9 a.m. Dr. Wilson specializes in treating marginalized populations in Vancouver, and through his volunteer work with Remote Medical Area Volunteers and Doctors Without Borders, has brought healthcare to some of the world’s most isolated populations. His talk will take place in the J.G. Hagey Hall of the Humanities, and will focus on what makes a good healthcare provider and why one of the most demanding and high-pressure career paths is ultimately rewarding. There will be a panel discussion on related careers, as well as workshops for students, including:

Workshop 1:  Athletic Taping – Helping Athletes Maintain Peak Performance

Learn how athletic therapists use taping techniques to help athletes remain healthy and injury-free.

Workshop 2:  Health Information Technology – A New Frontier in Health Sciences

This workshop will present an overview of health information systems and how they are creating new frontiers and career opportunities in industry.

Workshop 3:  Viewing and Imaging the Human Eye

Learn how to view and image the human eye to identify corneal, retinal and other diseases. Instruments will be used to view and image the anterior segment of the eye up to the iris and to image the optic nerve and retina.

Student registration for the event is closed, but media are invited to attend and speak with students. Attending media, please check in at the desk in the foyer outside the theatre. For more information on this national program, please visit http://www.cdnmedhall.org/university-waterloo

About The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Established in 1994 and located in London, Ontario, The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is the only national Hall of Fame in the world dedicated to celebrating medical heroes. By creating an enduring tribute to those men and women who through discovery and innovation have contributed to better health in Canada and the world, The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame inspires the pursuit of careers in the health sciences fostering future innovators and leaders. 

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow.

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Media contacts:

Heather Sercombe
Development and Communications Officer
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
519.488.2003 / 519.661.7785
hsercombe@cdnmedhall.org

Pamela Smyth
Media Relations Officer
Communications & Public Affairs
University of Waterloo
519.888.4777
psmyth@uwaterloo.ca

www.newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca