Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
When you are overseas at a conference, the last thing you expect to hear is that a violent incident took place at your institution. However, one did, and it shocked me to the bone. As the details are starting to come out, I am first of all grateful that the injuries inflicted were not life-threatening. I am also reminded, just as we are wrapping up a month where we celebrated Pride and Indigenous history, of how much work we still need to do so that people feel less hate and more compassion and understanding and so they engage in more discussion and less acting on violent impulse.
This incident appears to be an example of recent trends in hate-motivated violence in society at large and shows that our community is not immune. However, I am grateful for the resilience of spirit that keeps us working toward a time when we are all safe and respected. I also recognize this incident may hit hard to some, so please practice self-care and avail yourselves of the resources the University and others have set up, as noted in a message by the Provost.
Best,
Lili Liu
News I Events I Did you know?
NEWS
Remembering Cassie Bechard
The Dean's Office is mourning the loss of friend and colleague Cassie Bechard, who passed away unexpectedly due to a medical incident last weekend. A Waterloo math alum, Bechard served as the Information Systems and Technology (IST) account representative for the Faculty of Health in the Health Computing Office. Bechard provided computing and web support throughout the Faculty and will be missed tremendously. Information on the funeral will be announced in the coming days.
SPHS students win evaluation case competition
Two teams from the School of Public Health Sciences made it to the finals of the Canadian Evaluation Case Competition, with Summit Consulting winning the contest. Made up of grad students Jiselle Bakker (MHE), Amanda Demmer (PhD), Sarah Sousa (PhD), McKenna Szczepanowski (PhD) and Thepikaa Varatharajan (PhD), Summit won first place and is eligible to compete in the World Evaluation Case Competition. The other team, Encompass Solutions, is made up of Tasha Lake (PhD), Karolina Kaminska (PhD), Maria Ramirez Prieto (PhD), Laura Peach (PhD) and Ying Zhu (MHI).
Funding spotlight: AGE-WELL projects
Two research projects from the Faculty of Health received grants from AGE-WELL's 2023 Catalyst Funding Program in Healthy Aging, in collaboration with the Canadian Frailty Network. Both Lili Liu's team, as well as that of Karen Van Ooteghem and Bill McIlroy, were successful applicants. There were 17 successful research projects in total.
Funding spotlight: Lora Giangregorio
Congratulations to Lora Giangregorio, who was a successful co-applicant on a team grant for OsNet: The Canadian Bone Health Research Network. The project was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis) and includes $400,000 over three years with principal applicants Steven Boyd, Angela Cheung and Suzanne Morin.
New Schlegel Chair in Dementia and Active Aging
Laura Middleton (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) has been appointed as a new Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia and Active Aging with the Research Institute of Aging. The term begins July 1 and will last five years with a possible five-year renewal. Congratulations!
New faculty hire
Welcome to Dr. Kaleigh Pennock, who has accepted a tenure-track faculty appointment in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies as of July 1. She was most recently a postdoctoral associate at Western University's Sport Management department, researching concussion management in youth sport, youth sport culture and well-being, among other topics.
Governor General Gold Medal winners
Two of the three Governor General Gold Medal recipients recognized at convocation this spring were from the Faculty of Health: Kendra Fortin (Recreation and Leisure Studies, left) received the Master's level Governor General Gold Medal and Dr. Jackie Zehr (Kinesiology and Health Sciences, right) received one of the two PhD-level Gold Medals. Congratulations to both!
More convocation highlights
Besides the conferring of degrees and the opening of the ceremony with the University's new Eagle Staff, other highlights at this spring's convocation included former staff member Terry Stewart (right) being named an Honorary Member of the University, a powerful speech by Dr. Scott Leatherdale and an inspiring address by valedictorian Katie Ivancic. Please see the convocation story on the Faculty's website for more details and student stories. Other award recipients included:
- President’s Award of Excellence (awarded to the top graduating student in the Faculty of Health, based on highest GPA): Maisha Adil, Health Studies, Honours Co-op
- Alumni Gold Medal (awarded to the next top graduating student in the Faculty of Health, based on academic achievement, contributions to the academic program, contributions to community, and other contributions): Alyssa Marie Hyde, Therapeutic Recreation, Honours
- Highest Academic Achievement awards (awarded to the top graduating student, based on highest GPA):
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences - Rebecca Ashley Knarr, Kinesiology Honours, Co-op
- Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies - Alyssa Marie Hyde, Therapeutic Recreation, Honours
- School of Public Health Sciences - Maisha Adil, Health Studies, Honours Co-op
July Wellness bingo prize is $50 to Vincenzo's
Organized by the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being, 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 for a monthly prize draw. This month, it's a $50 gift card to Vincenzo's. Download the July bingo card here. Eugenia Xenos Anderson was the May winner, receiving a $50 Uptown Waterloo gift card.
CIHR information session: July 18
A virtual info session on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Public, Community and Population Health peer review committee will be held Tuesday, July 18, from 2 to 3 p.m. Join Drs. Kwame McKenzie and Chris McLeod as they cover what sort of proposals are regularly seen in these committees, what aspects are generally well-received by reviewers, what factors are considered particularly important, how the committees’ mandate is interpreted and what types of proposals are transferred to or from other committees. To register, please use this Microsoft Teams link. Hosted by the Office of Research in collaboration with the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
DID YOU KNOW?
Brian Laird is Acting Dean
While Dean Lili Liu is away until July 24, Brian Laird, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, will be serving as Acting Dean.
Health in 3D report won a Communicator Award
The website for the Faculty's Health in 3D research impact report recently won a Communicator Awards 2023 Award of Excellence, the highest level award, in the branded content category (General - Microsites). The Communicator Awards is the leading global awards program honouring creative excellence for marketing and communication professionals. The annual competition recognizes the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and design.
Book Club to meet next in August
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.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.