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This is Health in 3D
A message from the Faculty of Health.
The Faculty of Health has launched its latest research impact report, titled Health in 3D, showcasing expertise and innovation across the Faculty. We explore how health and quality of life are enhanced along three dimensions – physical, mental and social – and advanced by our three academic units – Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Recreation and Leisure Studies and Public Health Sciences. With concentrations in health technology, aging, brain and body, mental health, environment, and communities, researchers and other community members in the Faculty are tackling complex and pressing health challenges and creating a healthier future for individuals, communities and populations.
“We examine health from a broad perspective, including illness prevention,” says Dean of Health Lili Liu. “As the World Health Organization points out in its constitution, health is not merely the absence of disease and infirmity, but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.”
To request a print copy of Health in 3D, please contact Eugenia Xenos Anderson.
"Vaccination deserts" identified in northern, rural and French-speaking Ontario
New research out of the University of Waterloo has identified “vaccination deserts” in parts of northern and rural Ontario and in locations where French is predominantly spoken. These areas have little to no access to pharmacist-administered vaccination sites for COVID vaccines or the flu shot.
Researchers used provincial and Statistics Canada data to determine where pharmacists are working in relation to where Ontarians live. They found that most community pharmacists authorized to administer injections work in the urban regions of southern Ontario, confirming a large geographic discrepancy.
“Our biggest realization is that there are many communities that do not have local access to a pharmacy at all,” said Dr. Sherilyn Houle, a professor at Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy and co-author of the study. “While medication can be delivered remotely and virtual care can be used for offsite counselling, access to vaccinations will need a more innovative approach.”
As community pharmacies are becoming the preferred locations for administering vaccinations, the ability for people in northern communities and rural areas to access pharmacies continues to be difficult.
“Reaching these communities of individuals will require innovative ideas, including mobile vaccination clinics and additional training for pharmacists located in these areas,” Houle said.
These findings have immediate and long-term applications for public health as the ongoing pandemic and influenza season mean vaccinations are more important than ever.
“We have to recognize where the gaps remain and plan accordingly to bring seasonal services to provide for hard-to-reach communities and hopefully encourage practising pharmacists in those areas to become trained in vaccination, if they haven’t already,” Houle said.
There is an additional limitation for primarily French-speaking populations in Ontario. In areas where at least 25 per cent of the population speaks French, there are not enough French-speaking pharmacists to service those areas.
Most French-speaking pharmacists practise in areas where the smallest French-speaking population resides, with many of the larger French-speaking populations located in “vaccination deserts”.
“The landscape has changed drastically in these past few years, and a shift has occurred where pharmacies are becoming more relied upon as vaccination providers. However, pharmacists alone can’t meet these needs for all communities. Without a pharmacy, many services cannot be provided,” Houle said.
Policymakers and health professionals need to be creative when addressing these issues since solutions that have been effective in urban centres do not necessarily work for all Ontarians, especially in rural and remote regions.
The study, Identifying vaccination deserts: The availability and distribution of pharmacists with authorization to administer injections in Ontario, co-authored by Houle, Patrick Timony, Nancy M. Waite and Alain Gauthier, was a collaboration between the University of Waterloo and Laurentian University. The study was recently published in the Canadian Pharmacists Journal.
Remembering Distinguished Professor Emeritus Emil Frind
Earth and Environmental Sciences has announced that Distinguished Professor Emeritus Emil Frind passed away on December 25, 2022 at the age of 90.
Born in Germany, Frind emigrated to Canada in 1955.
Frind joined the University of Waterloo in 1971 as a hydrogeologist and groundwater modeller and became a core member of its newly established groundwater hydrology research group, along with John Cherry and Peter Fritz.
His research focuses included groundwater contamination and protection, well vulnerability, sustainability of water resources, predictive uncertainty, physical processes of flow and transport in groundwater systems, and mathematical modelling techniques for groundwater processes
Frind pioneered the field of quantitative groundwater science and over his career was a leader in the development of modelling methodologies for groundwater processes. He was recognized as a Thomson-Reuters Highly Cited Researcher and honoured with a Life Member Award from the US National Ground Water Association.
"He wrote hundreds of professional reports and journal articles, and he served as editor for several scientific journals," his obituary reads. "Emil received many awards for his highly cited research and his teaching. He also enjoyed contributing to the public good on many environmental issues, including the protection of both drinking water supplies and aquatic ecosystems. His work played a key role in developing public awareness of the role of groundwater and the importance of protecting aquifer recharge areas. He loved his work."
Dr. Frind was the recipient of a Distinguished Teacher Award in 1998. Among his other accolades, in 2000 he received the M. King Hubbert Award for major science or engineering contributions to the knowledge of groundwater, National Groundwater Association, in 2007 he received teh Robert N. Farvolden Award for outstanding contributions to the disciplines of science and engineering that emphasize the role or importance of groundwater, International Association of Hydrogeologists and Canadian Geotechnical Society, and in 2015 he received the Hall of Distinction Award for lifelong accomplishments in the profession from the Engineering Alumni Association, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto.
Dr. Frind retired from the University in 1998, and continued to teach and mentor graduate students.
In 2000, he was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus.
In retirement, Dr. Frind was active in the community, particularly when it came to discussions about urban planning and local development's impact on groundwater. His work with Waterloo Region to develop a strategy for the sustainable use of local groundwater as a drinking water source has saved taxpayers billions in infrastructure costs.
Water main repair across the creek and other notes
A water main break between the St. Jerome's University and United College campuses is leading to some temporary closures. Repair work has been tentatively scheduled for Thursday, January 12, 2023, beginning at 6:30 a.m., which should take between 6 to 8 hours to complete.
St. Jerome's University classes will be temporarily moved online for asynchronous or synchronous instruction, and buildings will be temporarily closed. The Community Centre food services outlet and the Funcken Café will also be closed. Students in the SJU residence have been notified and alternate washroom arrangements will be available to them. Employees will be asked to work from home.
Information Systems and Technology (IST) has announced that registration for the IT Professional Development (ITPD) January/February brochure courses is now open. Registering for and dropping a course will continue to be done through Workday. The lineup includes:
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January 23 to 24 |
online via Teams |
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. both days |
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January 25 |
online via Teams |
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
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February 21 |
online via Teams |
1:30 - 4:00 p.m. |
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February 22 |
MC 2009 |
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
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February 23 |
online via Teams |
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. |
The ITPD program offers courses in technical and computing skills to University employees. Training is delivered through instructor-led workshops, many of the courses are hands-on. Workshops range from basic to advanced skills and include courses for applications, website management, project management and more.
For online courses, you will receive an email from your instructor a few days before your course date with complete details for accessing your course.
While we're talking about classes, Athletics and Recreation has announced a series of Staff Excellence Fund Classes this term, funded by—you guessed it—the Staff Excellence Fund.
"To support the health and wellbeing of our campus community, we’re offering a variety of options for staff to take a break, be active, have some fun, connect with others, rejuvenate, and refocus," says a note from Athletics and Recreation. "This term, Waterloo staff can take part in variety of fitness opportunities on-campus free of charge! After signing up for a SEF Staff Membership, Waterloo staff will have access to register for Staff Workouts, yoga classes, Zumba classes, open-rec sport, climbing, and more."
Learn more about this program online.
The Office of Advancement is on the lookout for photos of alumni experiences at the University of Waterloo for a special project that will be published in the next issue of Waterloo Magazine. If you've got any pics from your time as a Waterloo student that are safe for public consumption, consider sending them in for inclusion in the "then and now" style photo project.
President James Downey rocking a pair of shades while being interviewed outside Fed Hall in 1997.
"Email us with your nostalgic photos of campus, and they could be included in the spring 2023 Waterloo Magazine," says the note from Advancement.
The Student Health Pharmacy in the Student Life Centre is running a series of clinics for COVID bivalent doses over the next few days. The clinic days include:
- Wednesday, January 11;
- Thursday, January 12;
- Tuesday, January 17;
- Wednesday, January 18;
- Thursday, January 19.
The clinics are walk-in only, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Employers hosting Virtual Employer Information Sessions (VEIS) this week include Elby and EY. Make sure to register through WaterlooWorks and check the calendar for any updates.