Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Music ensembles go online for winter term

The Department of Music at Conrad Grebel University College is once again offering its music ensembles in an online format for 2021.  

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all music department courses will be offered remotely, including our choirs and instrumental ensembles," says a note from the music department. "Each ensemble will meet weekly in an online format, with independent practice and preparation time expected. No grade is assigned, but credit is dependent on participation."

There are five different musical ensembles on offer in the winter 2021 term:

• Balinese Gamelan;
• Integrated Instrumental Music;
• Jazz;
• Choirs@UWaterloo; and
• Chapel Choir.

Participation in these ensembles can result in credit available to undergraduate students in addition to their regular course load. Additionally, private studio lessons are available for credit.

For more information check out the Winter 2021 Choral ensembles and Instrumental ensembles websites.

Pension and Benefits Committee to host benefit plan information sessions

"The Pension and Benefits Committee (P&B) and the benefit plan’s actuarial consultant Aon will be hosting public information sessions for members of the University of Waterloo benefits plan on January 19, 2021 and January 20, 2021," says a memo from Human Resources that was circulated to employees and retirees yesterday.

"The information sessions will provide an update on the work the Holistic Benefits Review Working Group has undertaken and will include potential plan changes under consideration by P&B."

"Based on employee feedback received in 2019, proposed recommendations will not result in an increase to employee contributions," the memo continues. "These information sessions will provide the background and details of the proposed changes. After the presentation, members of P&B and representatives from Aon will be available to answer questions."

"Benefit plan members are encouraged to attend. Managers are requested to allow employees to take time to attend these meetings during work hours. The meetings will each be one hour in length and hosted on Microsoft Teams. If you are interested in attending, please register online."

"In the event you are unable to attend, a copy of the presentation as well as a video recording of one of the presentations will be posted to the Holistic Benefits Working Group website after January 19, 2021," the memo continues. "Those unable to attend an information session but wish to provide input, are invited to do so through an anonymous survey."

"It is anticipated that the Pension & Benefits Committee will formally consider the changes to the benefits plan in late January 2021; subject to approval by the committee, the final recommendation would be brought to the Board of Governors meeting on February 2, 2021."

Using AI to clear the pandemic's elective surgery backlog

This article was originally published on Waterloo Stories.

In a new study led by University of Waterloo student Natasha Rozario, machine learning was used to create customized models to optimize the efficiency of operating room (OR) booking times. The model enables a 40 per cent increase in the frequency of ORs running on time.

Rozario was inspired to undertake the study after the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the declaration of an emergency leading to the cessation of elective surgery in Ontario. It is estimated that between March 15 and June 13, there was a provincial backlog of 148,364 surgeries.

“Given the system-level challenges we face now, and in the months ahead as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a focus on the most efficient use of our limited and precious resources will be vital to provide the level of care our community requires,” said Rozario, an undergraduate student in Waterloo’s David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science.

“The cancellation of large numbers of surgical procedures because of the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically extended waitlists and negatively affected patient care and experience. All these procedures will need to be addressed, so we have created a more efficient way to make sure these patients are all getting the care they need in an efficient manner.”

The model also results in a reduction in nursing overtime of 21 per cent. This reduction could save hospitals almost half-a-million dollars over three years.

Currently, surgeons commonly use the average time of their last 10 cases as the booking time for future procedures, which results in about 50 per cent of cases running overtime. Cases that run late incur staff overtime costs, affect physician scheduling, decrease morale and delay the ability to complete urgent or emergent cases. Conversely, operating rooms that finish early do not maximize the use of available time and waste costly resources. In some centres, cases that will finish late are cancelled, resulting in significant patient dissatisfaction. 

In conducting the study, researchers used machine learning to analyze 36 months of anonymized operating room historical or booking data from 2017 to 2019, comprising 10, 553 cases. The algorithm determined the time required for each operating procedure and showed the overtime rate based on the old schedule and the new overtime rate if new scheduling times are used.

“Our machine learning algorithm proved to be a lot more effective at minimizing overtime frequency, so the rate at which operating rooms are going over the scheduled time,” said Rozario. “This means that more operations can be conducted, and there is a better estimation of how long cases are going to take and how many patients you can see in a day. There are also cost savings for the hospital.”

The study, Can machine learning optimize the efficiency of the operating room in the era of COVID-19?, authored by Rozario of Waterloo’s Faculty of Mathematics and Dr. Duncan Rozario, was recently published in the Canadian Journal of Surgery.

Renison, Waterloo Public Library hold event with Giller Prize-winning author

Renison University College and the Waterloo Public Library have partnered to host An Evening with Giller Prize winning author Souvankham Thammavongsa on Thursday, January 7.

"Described by CBC as “one of the most striking voices of her generation,” Souvankham Thammavongsa’s debut book of fiction, How to Pronounce Knife, has deservedly won international acclaim," say the event organizers. "Meet Souvankham as she reads from her award winning book, and engages in a candid discussion on her writing with award winning author and associate professor of English Literature Vinh Nguyen."

Thammavongsa’s fiction has appeared in Harper’s, Granta, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, Ploughshares, The Journey Prize Stories, and O. Henry Prize Stories. Her debut book of fiction, How to Pronounce Knife, is the winner of the 2020 Scotiabank Giller Prize and is one of Time’s Must-Read Books of 2020. Thammavongsa is also the author of four poetry books: Light, winner of the Trillium Book Award for Poetry; Found; Small Arguments, winner of the ReLit Award; and, most recently, Cluster. Born in the Lao refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand, she was raised and educated in Toronto, where she now lives.

Register for the event.