Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
Using the Health and Well-being Advisory Committee as a model, I have set up a Dean’s Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and Anti-racism that will identify and implement ways to be inclusive, including addressing physical accessibility.In collaboration with our academic units, we have established its terms of reference and are in the process of appointing members. I would like to thank Monica Maly for agreeing to serve as chair and Sam Sawant as administrative support.
This committee builds on work our Faculty and the campus started during the pandemic and will help our community address issues that continue to concern us. Recently, I attended a national remembrance ceremony in the Senate Chamber in Ottawa to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Introduction of Chinese Exclusion Act. This racist act in 1923 followed several other discriminatory acts from 1885 that targeted persons of Chinese descent, propagating damaging ideas that created discrimination and isolation among Chinese immigrants for generations after.
To paraphrase one of the speakers in the Senate Chamber, if it were not for the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, we could not have had Truth and Reconciliation, nor Pride Month or other efforts at developing equity because under-represented groups rely on each other's allyship.
But the attack on a gender studies class on June 28 underscored the continued need to recognize, name and act against hate and discrimination. It came off the heels of many positive and affirming activities aimed at celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community during the month of Pride, showing that while there is progress, we are not yet at a stage where we can all safely and publicly express our identities. While a committee dedicated to EDI and anti-racism will not be able to immediately ensure safety for all, it can bring allies together to show and act on our values for EDI and anti-racism.
Best,
Lili Liu
News I Events I Did you know?
NEWS
New Network for Aging Research director
The Faculty of Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Plinio Morita as the new director of the Network for Aging Research (NAR), reporting to the Dean for a five-year period starting July 1. Many thanks to Dr. Paul Stolee for his tenure as NAR director and best wishes on his upcoming retirement. The Faculty and University will continue to benefit from his leadership and contributions for many years to come.
Funding spotlight: Dr. Mark Ferro
Dr. Mark Ferro (Public Health Sciences) received three grants in 2023 to expand his research in understanding the intersection of physical and mental illness (multimorbidity) in children. The first is a $75,000 Operating Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the second is a $125,000 U.S. Innovation Grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the third is a $100,000 Bridge Grant from Canadian Institutes of Health Research to allow Ferro to continue to follow the cohort of children enrolled in his Multimorbidity in Children and Youth Across the Life-course (MY LIFE) study.
Funding spotlight: Dr. Lili Liu
Dean Lili Liu is part of a research team led by the University of Toronto that also received a grant from CIHR. Four years of funding at $153,957 per year will support their WEAR-IT (Wearable Assistive and Rehabilitation robot facilitation Intensive Telerehabilitation) project, ;which evaluates the feasibility of an easy-to-use robotic glove as a tool for recovery after a stroke. The team ranked third out of 20.
New faculty members
Please welcome Dr. Abel Torres Espín (left), a new tenure-track faculty member in Public Health Sciences, who starts August 1, and Alyssa Vanwyck (right), joining us as a definite-term lecturer in Recreation and Leisure Studies for a two-year term starting this month. Torres Espín is a data scientist with research experience in spinal cord and traumatic brain injury. He earned his degrees in Spain and completed postdoc training at University of California, San Francisco, and at the University of Alberta. Vanwyck is a registered recreation therapist with 10 years of mental health field experience and has taught at Seneca College. Welcome, both!
Dean's Office staff changes
Gaby McInnis, formerly a staff member in Public Health Sciences, joins the Dean's Office as executive assistant to the Dean and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, while Katelyn Gordner begins as alumni engagement officer this month, taking over for Jenn Bentley. Jenna Braun, a Waterloo graduate, is a new part-time writer and communications specialist with the Faculty's communications team. Welcome, all!
Changes in SPHS administrative roles
There have been several recent changes to leadership positions within the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS). Dr. Narveen Jandu takes on the role of Associate Director of the Graduate Professional Programs for a three-year term. Dr. Samantha Meyer is Associate Director of the Graduate Research program through to next June. Dr. Diane Williams begins a new four-year term as Associate Director, Undergraduate Studies and Dr. Elena Neiterman takes up an expanded Teaching Fellow role in addition to Teaching Fellow Lead for the Faculty. Thank you to these individuals for taking on these important roles.
August Wellness bingo prize is $50 to Indigo
Wellness Bingo is open to everyone in the Faculty in an effort to promote healthy habits and behaviours. When you complete a line, send a picture to health.wellbeing@uwaterloo.ca to be entered into a monthly prize draw. This month, the prize is a $50 gift card to Indigo. Download the August bingo card here. Congratulation to Brooke Adams in Public Health Sciences for being the June winner. Wellness Bingo is organized by the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being.
Indigenous Movie Night: August 10
Join us for an Indigenous Movie Night, featuring The Grizzlies, a movie about a small Inuit town that is transformed through the power of team sport. August 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sun Life Auditorium (LHI 1621). Popcorn and drinks provided. Everyone welcome!
New Faculty Teaching Days: August 15-18
The Centre for Teaching Excellence will be hosting the annual New Faculty Teaching Days from Tuesday, August 15 to Friday, August 18. This event is for all new faculty who have arrived since September 1 of last year (2022), as well as any new faculty who were unable to attend last year or are new to their current teaching assignment. Contact Laura Williams for more information.
Annual steam shutdown: August 21
An annual utility steam shutdown will occur between Monday, August 21 at 12 a.m. and Friday, August 25 at 12 p.m. This shutdown will affect Health buildings situated within Ring Road. Domestic hot water, heating and steam will not be available, but cold water will still run.
Faculty of Health Book Club: August 22
The next Faculty of Health Book Club will be held August 22. It is open to anyone in the Faculty during lunch hour in BMH 3119. The group will be discussing The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel. For more information, please contact Gaby McInnis.
DID YOU KNOW?
What to do in case of emergency
In the event of emergency in any of the Faculty of Health buildings, including chemical spills, active attack or tornado touchdown, ensure that 911 has been called, then please notify Executive Officer Katherine Marshall, Dean Lili Liu or Eugenia Xenos Anderson, communications director. They will activate an emergency response team to coordinate with emergency responders, the broader university and the affected academic unit, if applicable.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.