Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
This year marks the end of our Faculty of Health five-year strategic plan. We have accomplished much as a Faculty and as a University. For example, we rebranded ourselves as the Faculty of Health (from Applied Health Sciences), and we recruited an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper who is helping us address the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We are enhancing our interdisciplinary research through a new Health Research Hub, UWIN Esports and the Network for Aging Research. We are also developing partnerships with international institutions to build pipelines for student recruitment.
During this time, the University moved away from five-year plans and adopted Waterloo at 100 as a strategic framework, guided by five Global Futures, of which Health Futures aligns perfectly with our Faculty. We are updating the Faculty's strategic plan to align with this framework, with a commitment to review again in three years.
Many of you participated in a survey to gather opinions about our vision, mission, values and priorities; thank you for your valuable feedback. The results showed that, as a whole, our Faculty still supports our vision and mission statements, and our four strategic priorities are still relevant: Meaningful education, Impactful research, Culture of health and well-being and Community engagement. However, half of the respondents wished to preserve unique Faculty values, while the other half wished to adopt the University’s new values. Since they are closely related, it may be possible to map our six values onto the University's three.
Shortly, you will receive another survey to obtain your feedback on the evolution of our strategic plan. I look forward to your responses.
Best,
Lili Liu
News I Events I Did you know?
NEWS
Dr. Lora Giangregorio named Canada Research Chair
Congratulations to Dr. Lora Giangregorio for being named a Tier 1 CIHR Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science, with an award of $1.4 million. She also received $75,000 from the John R. Evans Leaders Fund to support her research.
Dr. Ellen MacEachen lauded for graduate supervision
Dr. Ellen MacEachen, director of the School of Public Health Sciences, is one of four Waterloo recipients of the 2025 University of Waterloo Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision. Graduate students and colleagues praise her contributions as mentor, supervisor, advocate and career advancer for graduate students, and she continues to prioritize graduate supervision even with a heavy administrative workload.
Dr. Robin Duncan receives King Charles III medal
Dr. Robin Duncan (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) is the latest Faculty of Health member to receive a King Charles III Coronation Medal. The Heart and Stroke Foundation nominated her for her exceptional contributions and unwavering commitment to advancing heart and stroke research and awareness. Other recipients affiliated with the Faculty include Elder Myeengun Henry, alumnus Albert Wong and Drs. Vivek Goel and Geoffrey Fong.
Health Co-op Student of the Year: Sarah Larochelle
Congratulations to fourth-year Kinesiology student Sarah Larochelle, who was named Health Co-op Student of the Year. Her experience with patient care and work to improve clinic efficiency were the highlights of her work term as an administrative assistant at PhysioMira Physiotherapy. She co-created more than 1,000 exercise programs for patients, and by taking on program development, she helped to relieve the load on clinicians, allowing for a 15 per cent increase in patient visits during the term.
Research survey on GenAI implementation
Drs. Laura Williams and Michelle Ogrodnik invite students and instructors to participate in a research study, “Comparison of Generative Artificial Intelligence use in the health-related workforce and in Faculty of Health classrooms at the University of Waterloo.” This study aims to assess the adoption of GenAI use among students, instructors and those employed in the health-related workforce. It is funded by a Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Seed grant. Instructors are invited to participate using the instructor survey link, while graduate students are invited to participate using the student survey link.
Nominate an exceptional instructor
If you have a Faculty of Health instructor who has inspired you, gone the extra mile, made course content come alive, or changed the way you think, learn, or live, please consider nominating them for a Faculty of Health Teaching Award. It is a great way to honour the hardworking, dedicated teachers in our Faculty. You can nominate an instructor for winter 2025 using the Teaching Award nomination form.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEADLINES
Making Sacred event: March 31
Celebrate International Poetry Month in community, engaged in a relaxed practice of storying, on March 31 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Giana Tomas, a PhD candidate in Recreation and Leisure Studies, will open the session with a description of the Filipin* talk-story method of Kuwentuhan. Sharing is optional. Register on the Making Sacred: Practices of Story-telling and Story-listening page.
Faculty of Health Book Club: March 31, April 28
March's selection for the Health Book Club is Invisible Women: Data Bias In A World Designed For Men by Caroline Criado Perez, while April's is The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes And Mourning Songs Book by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. The Club meets online or in person in BMH 1048 at noon. Please see the Faculty of Health Book Club page for details or to join the mailing list.
Indigenous cooking classes: April 1
With the support of the Faculty's EDI-AR Seed Fund, the Kinesiology Graduate Students Association is offering two free Indigenous cooking classes. These interactive sessions will be hosted by Cedar Spoon Indigenous Catering, who will guide participants through the preparation of dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and vegan recipes. Students, staff and faculty in Health are welcome on April 1 at either 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. at the Kitchener Market. Registration for the KGSA Indigenous Cooking Class is required.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning journal club: April 1
Grad students and postdocs are invited to join a new journal club to explore the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The next meeting takes place in person on April 1 from 12 to 1 p.m. in EXP 2677. Learn about evidence-based practices and current issues in post-secondary teaching. Light treats will be provided. For more information, please contact Michelle Ogrodnik or Natalie Chow
Grad Class Send-off: April 2
Join us in celebrating our graduating class of 2025 at our annual Grad Class Send-Off on April 2 between 5 and 7 p.m. at Fed Hall. If you have not yet RSVP'd but would like to attend this event, please contact Tijhiana Thobani today, March 28. Full details are available on the Grad Class Send-Off web page.
Puppy Social: April 2
Faculty of Health students, staff and faculty are invited to a Puppy Social for stress relief and to spend time with a litter of puppies, snap some cute photos and enjoy a well-deserved mental health boost. April 2, 1 to 2 p.m. in EXP 1686. Registration is required as spaces are limited.
Aftab Patla Memorial Cup hockey game: April 3
The Aftab Patla Memorial Cup hockey game involves participation from undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, staff and faculty, both on the ice and in the stands. It was created in honour of Dr. Aftab Patla, a faculty member in KHS who passed away in 2007. Please register to play in the hockey game, which takes place April 3, 2:30 to 5 p.m., or join us in the stands.
Echoes of Identity call for submissions: April 3
For Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month, and Sikh Heritage Month, the Dean's Advisory Committee on EDI-AR invites you to share something meaningful to you related to these observances. Whether it's a quote, reflection, personal memory, image, or artwork that resonates with these important themes, we encourage you to submit it by April 3. We will showcase these submissions on the digital screens in the Health buildings. Please visit the Echoes of Identity web page for more details.
Research and Practice in Health Sciences: April 4
The School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) is hosting the Research and Practice in Health Sciences Conference on April 4 in a hybrid format. The aim of this student-led conference is to expose current undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to a range of career paths, including research and practice related to public health. Registration is not required to attend in person.
Annual KHS poster session: April 4
The annual Kinesiology and Health Sciences (KHS) poster session is a combined undergraduate and graduate event to celebrate student research in the department. Check out their work on April 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the EXP foyer.
Art-full restoration event: April 8
Join us for collaging a postcard keepsake focused on grounding, rest and community care on April 8 between 1 and 3:30 p.m. in EXP 1686. This session earmarks time and space to reflect, create and connect with one another. All welcome. Materials will be provided, as well as light refreshments. Please register in advance on the Art-full restoration event page.
Registration deadline for UWTL Conference: April 15
Registration is open for the annual University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning (UWTL) Conference taking place on April 30 (online) and Thursday, May 1 (in person). This year’s theme is Disruption and Uncertainty as Drivers for Change. The deadline to register is Tuesday, April 15.
Accessibility in Very Large Classes workshop: April 16
Accessibility in Very Large Classes will showcase how to implement accessibility practices for very large classes and address the challenges of making accommodations in these situations. It takes place online on April 16 from 1 to 2 p.m. Registration is not required. The workshop is part of Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series #4, offered by the Centre for Teaching Excellence.
Staff appreciation event: April 30
The Faculty is planning a staff appreciation event on April 30 from 2 to 3 p.m. If you have a message of appreciation you would like to share with someone, submit it at this staff appreciation link as soon as possible and we’ll share it anonymously at the event.
DID YOU KNOW?
Women's hockey team wins silver in nationals
Congratulations to the members of the women's varsity hockey team, who had an excellent season and placed second in the national finals. Almost half the players are studying in the Faculty of Health, including Carly Orth (RLS), named OUA Player of the Year, selected to the First Team All-OUA team and recognized as a First Team All-Canadian, and Kara Mark (RLS), who was named First Team OUA All-Star and selected as the OUA Goaltender of the Year. Also, Dr. Katie Misener (RLS) used this opportunity to oversee a large group of student volunteers who gained experiential learning. Waterloo will be hosting the tournament again next year.
WIN Summer School for undergraduate students
Reminder: Let undergraduate students who are interested in STEM know about a new summer school on med-tech and sustainable nanotechnology. Five spots are reserved for undergraduate students from our Faculty, who must apply by April 28. Hosted by the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), the WIN Summer School will take place at Waterloo from June 2 to 4 and offer lab and facilities tours in the Quantum Nano Centre and in-class lectures.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.