Dean's Update - October 2021

Lili Liu

Dear faculty, staff and graduate students,

For me, fall is the time of year to start thinking about giving. After the United Way annual campaign kick-off on September 28, the deans huddled to decide on our annual theme for dressing up. This year, we donned customized chef aprons and showcased our culinary skills honed during the pandemic. Our goods were auctioned off at a silent auction and raised nearly $1,800 for local community groups serviced by the organization.

United Way also teamed up with UWaterloo's Thrive mental health campaign to host a live cooking show inspired by United Way's focus of "Basic Needs" on October 28. Check out additional fundraising events, including other silent auctions. We will also be hosting a Faculty of Health Thrive event in mid-November; details will be forthcoming.

The theme of giving continues into next month with Giving Tuesday on November 30. This year, Health Studies alumnus Krista McKerracher (BSc ‘84) is challenging us to increase overall participation and unlock up to an additional $10,000 in support of our new Student Experiential Learning Fund. See details in the Events below, but I encourage you to participate in any way you can for maximum impact. When we support our students, they are able to flourish and eventually continue the cycle of giving themselves.
 
For now, hope you are enjoying the fall term,
Lili Liu

Deans wearing chef aprons

This monthEvents I Tips and reminders


THIS MONTH

New designated eating areas

Starbucks eating area
The Faculty has assigned new designated eating areas where students, staff and faculty can eat and study. Please note that masks are still required in all eating and lounge spaces unless actively eating.

  • Starbucks area in the Expansion building
  • Kitchen/lounge area (LHS 1623)
  • Undergraduate student lounge (BMH 1035)

Graduate Mentorship Awards announced

Kim Lopez, Mark Ferro, John Hirdes
Congratulations to the three faculty members who received the 2021 Faculty of Health Graduate Mentorship Awards. The award, established in 2020, acknowledges and rewards faculty members who have made a significant impact in the mentorship of graduate students.

  • Kim Lopez (Recreation and Leisure Studies) - Emerging Graduate Mentorship Award
  • Mark Ferro (School of Public Health Sciences) - Mid-Career Graduate Mentorship Award
  • John Hirdes (School of Public Health Sciences) - Senior Mentorship Award

Distinguished Member Award for Paul Stolee

Paul Stolee
Congratulations to Paul Stolee, professor in the School of Public Health Sciences and director of the Geriatrics Health Systems Research Group, who received the 2021 Distinguished Member Award from the Canadian Association of Gerontology (CAG). The award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the field of gerontology and to the CAG itself.

Alumni and Convocation awards

Convocation lawn sign
Convocation took place last week, with 274 students graduating from the Faculty of Health [PDF]. Sara Wyngaarten received the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding achievement in a master's program, and Michael Paris was a University Finalist for the Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding achievement in a doctoral program. Two alumni were also honoured for their contributions to society: Marc Lafleur (BSc '14) as the Young Alumni recipient and Natasha Lane (MSc '11) as the Alumni Achievement recipient. 

Remote video URL

New graduate studies animated promotional video

A new graduate studies promotional video for the Faculty of Health has been unveiled. This video will be added to the suite of recruitment tools for our graduate programs. For more information, feel free to reach out to Jasmin English.

Remote video URL

UPCOMING EVENTS

Waterloo Virtual Open House: October 30

Illustrated laptop with Waterloo Virtual Open House on the screen

The Faculty of Health will have virtual presentations from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with an overview of the Faculty, the four main entry programs and a medicine and health-care student panel. Please let current high school students know about the event. Registration is required. If they can't make it on October 30, they should still register as they can watch recordings, download brochures and more for up to 30 days afterward.

GRADflix training session: November 1

Illustrated clapperboard

Each year, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) hosts GRADflix, a research communication initiative for graduate students. It is an opportunity for you to use digital narrative to explain a complex idea, develop an elevator pitch and have a chance to win a monetary prize. You can also submit your video to other competitions, such as SSHRC’s Storytellers. Note that because the Three-minute thesis (3MT) competition will not be held in 2022, GRADflix is key opportunity to promote your work.

Important dates:

  • November 1: GRADflix training session
  • November 17: GRADflix drop-in feedback session 
  • November 24: Deadline to register to participate in GRADflix 
  • December 1: GRADflix drop-in feedback session 
  • Jan 10: GRADflix submission deadline
  • Jan 31: GRADflix virtual showcase event 

Alumni Office Hours: November 3, 17 and 24

Alumni Office Hours Event Series banner

Students and new grads have an opportunity to grow their networks and expand their knowledge and awareness of career opportunities with the Alumni Office Hour Event Series. This month, Tanya Casole-Gouveia (BA ‘09, RLS), Laura Healey (MSc ‘19, KHS) and Jessica Vandermey (BA ‘14, RLS) will host small group sessions on career-focused topics, answer questions, offer advice and more. Only 30 spots are available for these conversations, so let your students know to register for Alumni Office Hours.

Student Mental Health Research Conference: November 10

Thrive logo

The University's second annual Student Mental Health Research Conference is taking place November 10 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. The conference brings together students, faculty and staff to share knowledge, connect researchers and promote mental wellness through presentations and interactive Q and A sessions. Themes include mental health-care strategies, suicide prevention, impact of trauma and sexual violence and impact of COVID-19 on mental health. Please register on the Thrive website.

Kinesiology Lab Days: Until November 12

Kinesiology Lab Days banner

This high school student outreach event continues to be offered asynchronously and synchronously until November 12. If you know of kinesiology teachers who might use these workshops, please have them register through the Kinesiology Lab Days website.

The Workplace Revolution: November 22

Ellen MacEachen

Join Ellen MacEachen (School of Public Health Sciences) and other speakers for a Research Talks event called "The workplace revolution: Envisioning the future of employment" on November 22 at 11:45 a.m.. Please register on the Research Talks web page.

Finding a Supervisor - Ask Me Anything: November 23-25

Three lunchtime sessions, one for each academic unit, will be held to help students considering grad studies understand more about finding a supervisor for their research-based master’s or doctoral program. Please consider sharing this information with your undergraduate students as they start thinking about graduate studies as a potential option. See details for Kinesiology and Health Sciences (November 23), Recreation and Leisure Studies (November 24) and School of Public Health Sciences (November 25); all start at noon.

Healthy Conversations: November 30

Illustrated speach bubbles

This consultation series gives undergraduate students a chance to ask questions of senior administrators and give input on decisions that are affecting their university experience. If there are topics or questions that you want undergraduate student input on, you can contact Josh Edmondstone to see if it can be worked into the conversation. The event takes place Tuesday, November 30, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Giving Tuesday: November 30

Graphic showing date and time of event

Join the University on November 30 for an action-packed day of challenges, where you can unlock thousands of dollars in charitable support. This year, Health Studies alumnus Krista McKerracher (BSc '84) is challenging the Faculty of Health to increase overall participation and unlock up to an additional $10,000 in support of our new Student Experiential Learning Fund. When we reach 25 donors, we unlock $5,000 and at 50 donors, we unlock another $5,000. We hope you will join the community to raise more than $10,000 for our students! Watch your email for updates on how to participate.


TIPS AND REMINDERS

(Re)Orientation Tours on offer

Four students getting a tour of the Expansion building

Building tours are being offered for Faculty of Health students, faculty and staff who want to get more familiar with our spaces. Tours are 30 minutes, available Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., and occasionally between 4:30 - 6 p.m. Groups will be organized based on academic unit. Interested? 


Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.