Colleagues,
As we head into the Civic Holiday long weekend, I hope that you aren’t thinking of the summer as half over, but rather as just building momentum. I’d like to draw your attention to a few announcements and news items:
- I am pleased to recognize this year’s winners of the AHS Teaching Award: Joe Quadrilatero and Elham Satvat. Congratulations to both for their exceptional commitment to student success and engaging teaching practices.
- I would like to welcome several new faculty members to AHS:
- Laura Wood and Ryan Snelgrove will join the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies on August 1. Professor Snelgrove’s research is in the area of youth sport and event management. Professor Wood's research focuses on sport marketing and leisure studies.
- Mark Ferro and Plinio Morita will join the School of Public Health and Health Systems on September 1. Professor Ferro specializes in mental health and will have the opportunity to apply for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair. Professor Morita will hold the J.W. Graham Information Technology Emerging Leader Chair in Applied Health Informatics.
- Monica Maly and Michaela DeVries Aboud will join the Department of Kinesiology on September 1. Professor Maly focuses on clinical biomechanics and Professor DeVries Aboud will complement the department’s focus on clinical exercise.
- In my last update I mentioned the AHS proposal to the Federal Government’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (PSIF) competition. Unfortunately, our application for renovations to B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH) was not selected for funding through this program. Recognizing the ongoing need to rejuvenate this space, we will pursue other opportunities for funding renovations.
- As the whole health research community is aware, there are several challenging aspects related to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding and review system. While some positive steps are being made in response to the concerns of the research community, and to the awareness and intervention at the federal cabinet level, I encourage persistence in this trying time. I am also pleased to announce that Scott Leatherdale and Ellen McEachen both received project grants as principal investigators in the most recent round of CIHR funding.
- The first full day of the Waterloo Innovation Summit will take place on Thursday, September 15. The organizers are offering 10 free tickets for AHS faculty members to attend the Thursday morning session. If you are interested in listening to keynote speakers Anita Sands, Walter Issacson and the opening keynote speaker (TBA) at this event, please email Catherine Maine by Wednesday, August 17.
- Due to unexpected printing delays at the vendor, the AHS Impact Report will now be released on September 19. Please contact Christine Bezruki if you have any questions.
- This month Propel achieved bronze certification through the Green Office program. Across the University, 17 departments are participating in the program and Propel is one of six to receive their certification.
- As a result of a central change in plans regarding decorating the new Needles Hall board room, the University’s original Board of Governors table will remain where it is currently housed in BMH 3119 and will not be moving to Needles Hall as previously announced.
- Registration for the 31st annual AHS Fun Run is now open. Last year, over 500 alumni, students, staff, faculty and Waterloo community members participated in the event—and we’re hoping to draw an even bigger crowd this year. As always, 50 per cent of the registration fees will go to UW Fitness’ Teens In Motion program. This year, the day will also mark the grand opening of the AHS expansion building. More information on building-specific activities, including a ‘soft’ opening for the AHS community, will follow next month.
- Our AHS expansion building is nearing completion. Seating is being installed in the lecture hall and cosmetic finishes are being added throughout the building. We are on track to use the space in September.
Lecture hall seating installation
Multi-user lab
- Finally, the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies will welcome Professor Graham Brown for a Hallman Lecture on the impact of the Olympic Games on sport participation and the host city. For those interested in attending, the lecture is scheduled for August 8 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in BMH 1703.
Wishing you all a safe and relaxing long weekend,
Jim
James W.E. Rush, PhD
Professor and Dean
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences