Shannon Bay is one of the first people you’ll be greeted by when entering the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Medicine’s undergraduate medical education (UGME) office in Saskatoon. Her warm smile and kindness make everyone who walk through the office doors feel welcome and appreciated.
SASKATOON – A recent investment of $17.4 million in a national research and training platform by two federal granting agencies will provide University of Saskatchewan (USask) health and social sciences researchers secure remote access to a wide array of microdata from Statistics Canada.
REGINA – An anatomy lab is being built at Regina General Hospital to support University of Saskatchewan (USask) medical students learning in Regina.
A family fund is a way to remember family members and their contributions to society, and to carry on the family name in a meaningful way for generations to come. There’s no limit to where family funds can be directed, from the education of future doctors and health practitioners to the advancement of research in a particular area of medicine.
When Scott Widenmaier left high school, he wasn't sure what career he wanted to pursue.
SASKATOON – Chemotherapy can be a saving grace when facing cancer. When drug-induced neuropathy results from anti-cancer drugs like Cisplatin (CP), a common drug for breast cancers, a way to combat these unwanted side effects is critical for patients to maintain optimal treatment.
Known for his strong work ethic and humility, Dr. Robert (Bob) Hickie (BSc’58, MSc’60, PhD) touched the lives of countless learners and colleagues during his 45 years at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), and whose legacy continues throughout the province to this day.
Dr. Janet Tootoosis (MD) has a challenge ahead of her to establish the foundation of an administrative home for Indigenous Health in the College of Medicine (CoM).
It’s been a series of firsts for the medical doctor (MD) program on the College of Medicine’s Regina campus. For some, it’s their first time in Regina, for others it’s integrating a whole new year of curriculum, space planning and facilitating cultural experiences.
King is changing the way research is done with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities
How cell mutations and mutagenesis took one microbiologist from Melfort to Malibu and back.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) doctoral students Gilbert Adum, Lindsey Boechler, Cody Koloski, and Pezhman Zolfaghari Didani have been named 2022 Vanier Scholars.
Connective Issue is the annual College of Medicine magazine.
SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have developed a new method of killing brain cancer cells while preserving the delicate tissue around it. The technique also has a remarkable side-benefit: making chemotherapy treatment of brain cancer suddenly possible.
Before you got those nasty gut cramps that sent you scurrying to the washroom, or you came down with a fever, chills, and clogged airways thanks to pneumonia, various cells in your body were battling bacterial invaders who showed up armed with sophisticated toolbox to overcome the body’s defences.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are co-leading a new pan-Canadian and international research team aiming to understand how cities of all sizes in all countries can most efficiently implement and build sustainable transportation infrastructure—such as bike lanes, bus rapid transit, and road safety projects.
Colour-changing reactions and small explosions punctuated life at Dr. Oleg Dmitriev's home, when he was a boy. He loved trying out chemical reactions, and experimenting. As a teenager, he was fascinated by the science fiction novels his father brought home.
A specific family of DNA-modifying proteins normally function as part of the human immune system to combat viral infections. But what happens when these proteins begin to modify DNA – and go rogue?
It was Kevin Britton’s involvement in martial arts that helped spark his interest in physical therapy and led him to apply to the School of Rehabilitation Science. Now the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) student is set to graduate at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Fall Convocation.
The university has provided $360,000 to nine teams to assist in developing and showcasing innovative interdisciplinary research, scholarly, and artistic work
Dr. Soo Kim’s (PhD) students and colleagues in the School of Rehabilitation Science began calling her a “master teacher” long before she was honoured with the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Fall Master Teacher Award.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Colleen Dell (PhD) and her team have partnered with St. John Ambulance in Saskatchewan to offer a first-of-its-kind online certificate course to improve the abilities of therapy dog handlers to prepare and support their interactions with the program’s participants.
Osteoporosis takes heavy toll on Canadians in terms of physical suffering and economic burden.
Asmahan AbuArish grew up in Hebron, surrounded by military checkpoints. She knew she wanted to help people, but she had to give up her dream of being a medical doctor.
We have always had a key interest in writing. Both of us have spent countless hours in our creative space working away at a poem or preparing an eye-catching commentary for classes. It was not until we began the Arts and Humanities course in Year 2 of medical school that we realized the similarities in our interest in writing.
A recently published study authored by a pair of University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers shows that reconstructive surgery after breast cancer treatment has a demonstrable impact on arm and shoulder function.
Lock up the silverware! According to new research from the University of Saskatchewan (USask), that’s how the body responds to Acinetobacter baumannii, a nasty pathogen commonly found in hospitals across the globe.
Dr. Alan Rosenberg (MD’74) has been presented with significant accolades on provincial and university levels, recognizing decades of patient care, research, teaching, and outstanding achievements.
At the beginning of 2020, the Department of Pediatrics was experiencing a transition in leadership and administration.
Pregnancy- or childbirth-related death is rare in high-income, western countries, but not so in low- and middle-income countries.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has moved up in Maclean’s magazine’s annual rankings of Canadian universities for 2023.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) honours professors from across campus for their exceptional achievements in research, scholarly or artistic work.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of when the province’s only medical school officially became a college at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
Have you ever wondered why so many people end up with impacted wisdom teeth, which cause discomfort, pain and infection, and often require expensive surgical removal? A University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate student researcher says your childhood diet may have something to do with it.
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in Canada and have impacted close to 880,000 Canadians over the age of 20.
Diabetes affects about three million Canadians, with the prevalence increasing yearly. About half of those living with diabetes experience nerve pain and sensory issues—called diabetic neuropathy—ranging from mildly uncomfortable to severely debilitating.
September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
In the spring, the College of Medicine put out a call for nominations for awards to recognize staff members at the college who go above and beyond.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) community is observing September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to commemorate the impact of residential schools in Canada.
Three University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been awarded $430,000 in total by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help purchase cutting-edge equipment that will advance research aimed at reducing environmental and health-care burdens for Canadians.
The School of Rehabilitation Science welcomed 40 new students into the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program on August 24.
Even Dr. Scott Napper (PhD) uses words such as scary when describing the focus of his research—a group of diseases caused when otherwise innocuous proteins go rogue, creating conditions that are always fatal and currently untreatable.
Faculty members within the biomedical sciences departments voiced their enthusiastic support to nominate invaluable research facilitator Bruna Bonavia-Fisher in the Create-it category for the 2022 College of Medicine Staff Awards.
Have you ever been asked to rate your pain on a scale of one to 10? Or been shown a chart with different cartoon emoticons, where you are asked to choose one to describe your pain levels?
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher Dr. Vivian Ramsden (PhD) will be inducted today as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS), one of the highest honours for a health scientist in Canada.
In the aftermath of this past weekend’s tragic violence at James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, the university continues to carefully monitor the developing situation.
The tragic acts of violence this past weekend at James Smith Cree Nation and the village of Weldon will have a profound impact on our province and our country.
In the spring, the College of Medicine sent out a call for nominations for awards to recognize staff members at the college who go above and beyond.
As you fret over lunches to send with your child to school, consider that Canada is the only G-7 nation—and one of only a few countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)—that do not have a nationally harmonized school food program.
Research to explore the effectiveness of innovative targeted treatments for HIV infections, and the use of protein therapy to break down fibrous scar tissue are two of five new University of Saskatchewan (USask) projects awarded a total of $3.3 million in federal funding.
Investigating the effectiveness of intermittent low oxygen therapy for nerve regeneration and increasing health professionals’ understanding of menstrual pain in female youth are two of five University of Saskatchewan (USask) research projects awarded a total of $3.3 million in federal funding.
For the first time, researchers have used synchrotron imaging to study both the size and spread of bullet fragments in big game shot by hunters.
On August 21, 2022, University of Saskatchewan (USask) alum Dr. Alika Lafontaine (MD’06) was named president of the Canadian Medical Association, and is the first Indigenous leader and the youngest person ever to hold the prestigious position.
In the spring, the College of Medicine sent out a call for nominations for awards to recognize staff members at the college who go above and beyond.
A research team at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has been awarded a national grant to study genetically modified fish to gain a better understanding of how a human heart beats.
Three interdisciplinary health and agriculture projects led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been awarded $250,000 each under a federal program that aims to foster innovative high-risk research with the potential to yield significant and impactful results.
Pewaseskwan Indigenous Wellness Research Group (pewaseskwan) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has partnered with The Key First Nation and the Yorkton Tribal Council to support research on heart disease and spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy’s Disease.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine Regina Campus welcomed its first cohort of Year 1 students on Aug. 3.
You’re outside exercising in the sun and find yourself suddenly covered in sweat. Obviously, you are losing water. So how does your body retain enough water to keep its internal operations running smoothly while helping you to cool off at the same time? And how does it maintain this state for extended periods of time?
REGINA – Medical residents interested in cancer care will have the opportunity to train at home for the first time in Saskatchewan’s history.
As a pediatric neurologist, Dr. Richard Huntsman sees children with the most medically complex forms of epilepsy.
I'm always questioning things; I'm always looking for meaning. I think that just naturally motivates me to keep going," says Reimer, a women's health physiotherapist with a focus on pelvic care.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have received more than $930,000 in provincial funding support from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) for research addressing pressing health challenges faced by the people of Saskatchewan and impacting global communities.
As a University of Saskatchewan (USask) biomedical sciences professor and researcher, Dr. Erique Lukong (PhD) strives to provide and encourage strong mentorship for graduate students.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, an outpouring of humanitarian assistance has come from around the world to support Ukrainian refugees and displaced individuals. Two College of Medicine alumni are among the many University of Saskatchewan (USask) community members who are helping to make a difference at home and overseas.
Building a new division in the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine will be challenging, but it’s an aspect of the new role Dr. Janet Tootoosis (MD’99) is anticipating.
USask graduates have been recognized with the province’s highest honour.
The Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR) based from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has entered a second phase of operation, thanks to a $12.6-million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and matching funds provided by a group of partners.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine’s Division of Continuing Medical Education (CME) has taken over the delivery of education on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) for primary care providers. Funding of nearly $100,000 from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health will support the program for one year.
The Saskatchewan First Nations Women’s Commission (SFNWC) at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and pewaseskwan—the Indigenous Wellness Research Group (IWRG) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask)—are signing a memorandum of understanding on June 24 to commemorate the start of a research alliance.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers in diverse disciplines were awarded over $7 million in federal government grant funding.
The creation of a bursary that recognizes a group you feel strongly about is one of the most effective ways you can leave a legacy for generations to come. It’s a way to support a college or vocation while making a larger, more universal statement. It’s also a way to continue to make a difference in the lives of others, even after you’re gone.
Researchers in Robert Laprairie's laboratory are hard to miss, wearing tie-dyed lab coats as they oversee mice and lab rats in iPad-sized chambers filled with cannabis smoke.
In our second semester of our first year of medical school, we spent our spare time working with the students at Westmount Community School as part of an urban inner-city practicum for Making the Links: A Global Health Certificate Program.
As Oyin Magbadelo was finishing up her classes to complete her Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biomedical Neuroscience, a friend pointed out that Magbadelo achieved more than her degree.
For Drs. Erin Kot and Jackie Ferguson, graduates of University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Medical Doctor (MD) and Obstetrics and Gynecology programs, building their clinic in Regina was a clear choice. It’s their hometown and where they found support from their colleagues and career opportunities.
As provincial head of the Department of Emergency Medicine, one of Dr. James Stempien’s (MD) goals is to encourage front-line emergency medicine (EM) providers to communicate with each other and ensure similar standards of care are provided across the province.
Dr. Ivar Mendez is one of the world's leading experts in neuroscience and robotics, neuromodulation, and remote medicine.
Since she was a kid, Hanna Dunnigan has always had an internal drive to help people.
Multiple sclerosis (MS), which affects one in 3,000 Saskatchewan residents, is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts how information flows from the brain to the rest of the body. With World MS Day on May 30 focusing on connections – both to others and to quality care – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers Dr. Katherine Knox (MD) and Dr. Sarah Donkers (PhD) are working to bring physical rehabilitation for those living with MS closer to home.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) research findings published in Cell Reports examine how a genetic mutation affects the body’s immune system response to viruses and its link to the development of two types of blood cancers.
A new multi-year provincial mentorship program will support the professional development needs of all new physicians in Saskatchewan who are in their first five years of practice.
Shortly after Dr. Jim Dosman (MD) came to the College of Medicine in 1975, he began studying the link between farm dust and lung health.
A profile of one of Saskatchewan’s top cancer researchers
At the beginning of the pandemic, simulation training was employed to prepare health care professionals for critical events. There was also more interest among this group in using simulation-based medical education for continuing professional development (CPD).
The College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has hired its first vice-dean Indigenous Health. The position was created to bring Indigenous health and issues more fully to the forefront in college priorities, while also serving to improve how these critical areas are addressed.
Leading Indigenous researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will play a critical role in a new national, patient-driven network addressing the challenges of heart failure (HF), a common condition that is often fatal and on the rise in Canada and which disproportionately impacts Indigenous people.
Two Regina physicians were inspired to make a difference for medical students.
Nearly 40 per cent of children and youth in Saskatchewan reported their mental health was worse compared to the beginning of the pandemic, according to survey results published by an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team is creating a provincial program framework to help community organizations better implement smoking cessation programs. The community-informed approach aims to streamline and coordinate existing supports for smokers.
Chandra Dattani's smile lit up the room, and her laughter was contagious.
Imagine waking up to a Saskatchewan sunrise, driving two minutes to work, parking directly outside the hospital, walking inside to be greeted by familiar faces, then working with phenomenal physicians with diverse patients. After a day of histories, physicals, procedures, and personalized attending teachings, you drive home and unwind with a walk at Little Red River Park or a swim in a nearby lake.
Rural and remote Saskatchewan communities will benefit from an increased number of internationally trained family physicians through additional provincial funding to the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program.
USask research plays role in developing space radiation experiments for NASA Artemis I mission
Three transdisciplinary research teams from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have been awarded almost $350,000 to discover solutions to lung health challenges.
When Veronica McKinney was a little girl, she vividly remembers going to the Saskatoon Public Library, borrowing a Time-Life book about the human body.
