Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,
Last week, I carved out time to attend the AgeTech Innovation Week, AGE-WELL and Canadian Association on Gerontology (CAG) conferences. Of the numerous plenaries, panel discussions, poster and paper presentations, and workshops, the one session that struck me most was delivered by Noelannah Neubauer in a symposium she coordinated called, “Unseen and unheard: Access, use and adoption of AgeTech to support autonomy and independence among older adults.”
After completing her PhD and post doc with me, Noelannah completed a degree in occupational therapy and is currently working as a system network manager, bridging clients from acute care to community living.
As someone who devoted her research career to scholarship on age-tech, Noelannah entered her practitioner role with every intention to implement technologies and innovations to address the needs of clients who are under-represented – those who live in rural communities, have no internet, no income, live with severe mental health and multiple chronic conditions, and those with no social support.
After two years in her role, she has not been able to implement any technology or innovation because of structural barriers. She concluded with strong recommendations to make age-tech not only affordable, but free, and the need to make access to these products immediate.
Our academic and start-up ecosystems incentivize commercialization and entrepreneurship. As we envision what the Health Futures framework looks like for the University of Waterloo, we must ultimately address the tough question: Can those who really need our innovations, those who are most vulnerable, finally be seen and heard?
Best,
Lili Liu
News I Events I Did you know?
NEWS
Brendan Riggin receives Faculty of Health Teaching Award
Dr. Brendan Riggin, a lecturer in Recreation and Leisure Studies, is the most recent recipient of the Faculty of Health's Teaching Award. Student nominations celebrated Riggin's encouragement and compassion as an instructor and commented on his ability to provide an exciting and engaged classroom experience. He received an overwhelming number of nominations across both winter and spring terms.
Caryl Russell recognized by CSEP
Caryl Russell, director of programs for the Centre for Community, Clinical and Applied Research Excellence (CCCARE), received the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Professional Standards Program Recognition Award in Calgary earlier this month. She was recognized for her dedication to exercise assessment, application and education, among other areas. She is a Waterloo alum and has worked at Waterloo for more than 43 years. Congratulations!
Dean Liu receives AGE-WELL Honorary Fellow Award
For her outstanding contributions to their network and in the age-tech sector, Dean Lili Liu received the AGE-WELL NCE (Aging Gracefully across Environments using Technology to Support Wellness, Engagement and Long Life, Networks of Centres of Excellence) Honorary Fellow Award last week. As a network investigator with AGE-WELL, Dr. Liu examines how technology can best be used to help older adults, their care partners and health-care professionals.
Funding spotlight: Kaylena Ehgoetz Martens
Congratulations to Dr. Kaylena Ehgoetz Martens (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) for her $180,000 USDgrant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for a project on freezing of gait, a disabling symptom of Parkinson's. The funding is part of a larger $1.35 million USD grant awarded to a team of international experts working towards developing a standardized freezing-of-gait assessment protocol.
Sandy Heise retires
Sandy Heise, longtime administrative officer in Recreation and Leisure Studies, retired this month. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate her contributions and wrote on her Kudoboard (open until the end of the day). In lieu of gifts, donations can be made to the Fostering Leadership Opportunities fund, which was set up through a generous donation by Heise to support leadership opportunities for recreation students.
Other staff changes
Please welcome Rebecca Zehr, who joins Recreation and Leisure Studies as their graduate program manager. Many thanks to Aiysh Rajendram, who held the role previously, for her support and service. Best wishes as well to Sherri Sutherland, who is no longer with the University. Please contact Katelyn Gordner for any Faculty advancement-related requests. Finally, Sam Sawant begins a two-year secondment on November 20 as advocacy specialist with the Waterloo Undergraduate Students Association. All the best!
CRE-MSD annual conference
The Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) kicked off Global Ergonomics Month with a conference on October 2 at full capacity, with more than 240 attendees. Ergonomics as a key component in business: Balancing business performance and worker well-being focused on how ergonomics can influence businesses’ bottom line with the prevention of injuries, which also impacts productivity, product quality and worker engagement.
Athletes on the Academic Honour Roll
Of the 407 athletes on the 2022-23 President's Athlete Academic Honour Roll, 110 are in the Faculty of Health, the highest proportion of all the Faculties.
Thank you, Ontario Universities' Fair volunteers
Thank you to the 40 student and staff volunteers who represented the Faculty of Health recently at the Ontario Universities’ Fair in Toronto. This two-day event saw more than 86,000 people visiting booths by all the Ontario universities. The Faculty of Health captured 769 unique leads, the second-highest of the six Faculties.
Annual employee equity census
Please take a few minutes to fill out the University's new employee equity census, even if you completed it last year.This data is used to identify equity gaps in our programs, services and policies. Once logged in, choose All under Request Type, then Employee Equity Census.You may opt out of any questions, but the University requires full participation to better understand the composition of the UWaterloo community and to inform equity initiatives across the institution. You can monitor the response of our Faculty by checking out the leaderboard. We currently lead on campus with the highest response rate at 50 per cent. Let's strive for 100 per cent by October 31!
November Wellness Bingo prize is $50 to Massage Addict
When you complete a line in Wellness Bingo, 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 Massage Addict. Download the November bingo card here. Congratulations to the most recent winner, Ashley King! Wellness Bingo is organized by the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Health and Well-being.
Fall 2023 Health Hub is live
The fall issue of the Faculty's online alumni magazine, Health Hub, is live! The theme is Research in action, and it features Katelyn (Godin) Colonnier (BSc '13, PhD '18, SPHS), Lindsay Kalbfleisch (BA '15, MA '17, RLS) and William Weijia Lu (PhD '95, KHS).
Pivot-RP training: November 9
The next virtual Pivot-RP workshop for faculty members and graduate students is scheduled for November 9 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. It will include a review of the key functionalities of Pivot-RP for researchers and a demo covering topics such as claiming your profile, searching for funding, tracking, sharing and exporting funding opportunities and highlighting available resources. Register at the Pivot-RP training web page.
Spirit of the Treaties: November 9
Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Myeengun Henry will guide attendees on an interactive journey back through time as he discusses how treaties and agreements were spiritually significant, emphasizing the intent and meaning Indigenous peoples carried into these agreements. Please register through the Indigenous Relations Office to attend in person (EC5-1111) or online.
GRADflix competition registration: November 10
Grad students are invited to present their research in one minute or less in the annual GRADflix competition with a chance to win a monetary prize. Please register by November 10. A virtual drop-in feedback session is also available November 15.
Academic Industry Meeting day registration: November 10
If you are a faculty member looking to connect with corporate and industry professionals to bring your research to life, consider attending Academic Industry Meeting day (AIMday) on November 22. Read more about AIMday at the University of Waterloo and the ongoing challenges being addressed. Registration is required by Friday, November 10.
Graduate studies info sessions: November 23-29
Please pass along the dates and registration links for these virtual grad information sessions to any current students interested in graduate studies in the Faculty: SPHS research-based programs: November 23, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; SPHS course-based programs: November 24, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.; KHS programs: November 28, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.; RLS programs: November 29, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Fall Open House: November 25
The University's Fall Open House for future undergraduate students is taking place on Saturday, November 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highlights include a campus tour, visiting residences, chatting with professors and students and offering information about programs, co-op, admissions, student life and more. High school students may register here.
Giving Tuesday: November 28
Please mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday, which takes place November 28. Our goal is for everyone in the Faculty to participate by donating any amount they wish. There are two 'challenges' that unlock extra funding for the Faculty's Student Experiential Learning Fund, thanks to a generous anonymous donor. When $7,500 is donated to the Fund, an extra $2,500 will be unlocked. When $15,000 is donated, an extra $2,500 will be unlocked! Details will follow in the coming weeks.
DID YOU KNOW?
Graham Seed Fund applications open
The Graham Seed Fund is now accepting applications for new projects that work towards innovative health-care solutions to challenges of today and tomorrow. Apply by December 18.
CBB Seed Fund accepting applications
The Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CBB) is accepting applications for its seventh annual Seed Fund. Designed to encourage multi-disciplinary research initiatives across University of Waterloo faculties, awardees can receive up to $10,000 for projects in the core stream or up to $15,000 for projects in one of CBB's priority funding pools. Applications close January 10.
Last day for United Way
Today is the last day to contribute to our United Way campaign. So far, we've raised $460 in cash with an estimated $100 in e-pledge donations from our bake and book sales. Plus, if you missed it, check out Dean Lili Liu and the other Dancing Deans during a surprise flash mob to raise awareness at Senate:
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.