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 large interdisciplinary team led by two University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers, which is collaborating with community service agencies in Saskatoon and Regina, has been awarded $390,000 by a federal agency to study the wider social and health impacts of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.
Though COVID-19 is still prevalent and impacting the health care system, the experience provides a learning opportunity to prepare for the next global virus.
As Saskatchewan drops its proof-of-vaccine requirements and masking orders, doctors and nurses are angry and frustrated, as they care for record numbers of COVID patients.
From the lingering effects of long COVID on patients, to the long-term impacts of an overburdened health-care system, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are concerned about the post-pandemic legacy of the global health crisis.
As we continue to face Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant of concern, many are wondering about immunity and booster shots.
Dr. Ayisha Kurji first noticed the uptick in children and teens being admitted to hospital in the spring of 2020. Some had cardiovascular damage. Some had gastrointestinal issues. But it wasn't because of Covid-19.
As the pandemic rolls through another year, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers continue to seek out timely responses to the crisis based on scientific discovery.
Dr. John Froh (MD) says the response from Saskatchewan physicians to a skills enhancement program developed by the College of Medicine’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) team shows its value extended far beyond simply preparing doctors who might be called upon to work in new care settings during the pandemic—including intensive care, emergency, even field hospitals.
In Saskatchewan’s northern communities, COVID-19 has exacerbated the gaps in health care, including mental health. This became even more apparent during the pandemic with overall levels of stress increasing.
For people struggling with opioid and other addictions, COVID-19 hit swiftly with devastating results.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have been studying why Saskatchewanians have been refusing or hesitating to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Many people have questions about the changing guidelines for the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. Here are some answers from University of Saskatchewan (USask) infectious disease specialist Dr. Alexander Wong.
I’ve always loved getting outdoors and have made conscious efforts to bring reusable bags to the grocery store. However, I was never one to try and practice minimalism or compost, and definitely not one to try and keep up with the news on climate change.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) and University of Regina (U of R) researchers are joining forces with scientists across the nation to undertake surveillance, sequencing, tracing and research-driven action on the COVID-19 virus variants that have been identified in Canada.
Investing in research results in an even larger return, says vice-dean research Dr. Marek Radomski (MD, PhD).
One year ago, Dr. Preston Smith remembers watching the coronavirus inch closer and closer to the University of Saskatchewan.
The idea of a social event for seniors was floated around at our monthly Senior Social Isolation Prevention Program (SSIPP) meeting in December, a program that connects older adults with medical students for weekly phone calls. The idea was to bring joy, entertainment, and promote SSIPP to the older adult community.
My name is Morgan, and I am a first year-medical student at the University of Saskatchewan. I joined the Saskatchewan Health Authority's (SHA) pandemic supplemental work force, alongside approximately 50 of my classmates, in early December 2020 for the duration of our Christmas break.
During the early days of the pandemic, Saskatchewan emergency departments faced uncertainty—not knowing what to expect—but prepared to face the worst.
An increasing number of studies are examining the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adult Canadians, but little is being done to assess its impact on children and youth, even though children and youth are reporting greater anxiety levels, and the impact on their mental health is manifesting in different behaviours.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has been named one of the 15 winners of the North American 2020 TD Ready Challenge presented by TD Bank Group.
As people around the world wait to receive one of several COVID-19 vaccines developed to help end the coronavirus pandemic, a timely new University of Saskatchewan (USask) course will explore interdisciplinary perspectives on infectious diseases and inoculation.
One hundred made-in-Saskatchewan ventilators will soon be available to support the needs of the province’s residents, thanks to an innovative collaboration among the University of Saskatchewan (USask), the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), and RMD Engineering Inc.
Dr. Gary Groot (MD’82, PhD’11) knew early on that he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. Now, a highly regarded surgical oncologist and researcher, Groot’s work is driving health services research and improving patient care in the province.
Data collected by the University of Saskatchewan (USask) wastewater surveillance team shows Saskatoon’s COVID-19 case numbers are likely to increase exponentially in the next seven days.
From raising tens of thousands of dollars for needed supplies in La Loche to helping health care workers from the sidelines, medical students felt called to help Saskatchewan communities during a global pandemic — the same communities they are being trained to serve as physicians.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers continue to make a positive impact through leadership and teaching.
When COVID-19 came to Canada, researchers knew its implications would go far beyond the direct effects of the virus.
New imaging equipment to help understand COVID-19 infection will soon be coming to the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization—International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), thanks to a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant announced today by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The first three months of medical school have gone by quickly. As we stop to catch our breath in between midterms and finals, we have a lot of milestones to reflect on.
SASKATOON – Helping the community where he was born, Dr. Ivar Mendez has decided to take a six-month unpaid leave as department head of surgery at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) beginning Jan 1, 2021, to provide pandemic support in Bolivia.
The way people perceive threats in a pandemic affects the spread of Covid-19, according to social epidemiologist Nazeem Muhajarine.
At a time when the world was saturated with misinformation, a USask alumna took it upon herself to set the record straight.
I’ve always been told to never discuss politics with family. I broke that rule unwittingly when I went back home during the September long weekend and my dad shared that one of his friends overdosed due to cocaine cut with fentanyl.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
I was in term two of my first year of medical school when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit.
As two long-time friends in first year medicine, the word on our minds when we think about starting medical school during a pandemic isn’t “unprecedented”--it’s “privileged.”
Wearing a mask is now mandatory indoors for those on campus, and a University of Saskatchewan (USask) respiratory expert says there are plenty of good reasons why they help protect you and others around you.
When an outbreak of COVID-19 caused travel restrictions to be instituted in northern Saskatchewan in May, residents’ access to health care services were limited—especially for expectant mothers.
With COVID-19 ravaging the globe, the race is on to accelerate therapeutics research and find effective treatment options.
The rampant spread of COVID-19 south of the border and the increasing number of localized cluster outbreaks in areas of Saskatchewan are clear warning signs to researchers like Dr. Cory Neudorf (MD) that we must remain diligent in the face of the global pandemic.
After finally emerging from months of working and sheltering at home, with the majority of the population following pandemic prevention measures, Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine (PhD) knows the last thing people want to think about right now is a potential second wave.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has awarded three University of Saskatchewan (USask) research teams a total of $900,000 to help strengthen Canada’s rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic which had killed more than 450,000 people worldwide.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are part of two COVID-19-related projects awarded major federal funding today—one to develop a unique saliva-based test for COVID-19 detection and the other to track COVID-19 incidence rates among Canadian dentists.
Like any student in their last year of medical school, Métis student Lacey Jurke has been keeping busy—though not in the way she had envisioned.
Social distancing measures and visiting restrictions at long-term care homes have helped curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, but they also mean isolation and loneliness for some.
SASKATOON – A COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) has cleared another major milestone in moving towards human clinical trials: the novel vaccine has proven highly effective in ferrets, one of the commonly used animal models for COVID-19.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher is helping design personal protective masks for pre-symptomatic COVID-19 patients.
Reading all the articles and studies getting published on COVID-19 inspired me to create something that would help others do just that. A practical framework for supporting our own and others’ psychological needs for motivation and wellness.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
President Peter Stoicheff addresses the University of Saskatchewan campus community during these uncertain times, applauding the immense efforts of all members of the USask community to flatten the COVID-19 curve.
One of the founders of Lucky Bastard Distillers said everyone should make the effort to regularly wash their hands with soap and water as the first line of defence against the COVID-19 virus. Consider it doctor’s orders.
The last few weeks have been a crazy whirlwind of news headlines from across the world, an abundance of information, and disruptions in almost every aspect of life.
This is a reminder that the University of Saskatchewan campus remains closed to our faculty, staff and students, as well as the general public.
We are medical students. For the past several years, we have dedicated innumerable hours to the learning and practice of our trade. Our physicians and other mentors have guided us on this journey, providing us with their valuable time as well.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers in physiotherapy, rehabilitation science, and neurology are combining their expertise to provide a free online, virtual program to people with neurological conditions.
Using 3D printers, a University of Saskatchewan (USask) engineering team is designing a comfortable, reusable and sanitizable N95 class respirator mask aimed at protecting emergency room doctors and nurses from COVID-19 in the midst of a global shortage of medical-grade masks.
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) PAWS Your Stress Therapy Dog program is live online. Students and other members of the community can now connect and receive comfort and support from St. John Ambulance therapy dogs while learning pandemic-specific mental health self-care tips.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are partnering on a way to safely decontaminate and reuse N95 respiratory masks that are normally thrown away after each use.
About 200 University of Saskatchewan (USask) health science students in the province are volunteering to help in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support on another in these uncertain times.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support on another in these uncertain times.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
The Government of Saskatchewan has announced $3.6 million in new funding for the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), one of the world’s most advanced infectious disease labs and a leader in global efforts to find a COVID-19 vaccine.
SASKATOON – As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to rapidly evolve, the federal government is announcing $23.3 million in total support for the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), one of the largest and most advanced infectious disease research facilities in the world.
The University of Saskatchewan will be implementing further preventative measures including, but not limited to: closing all campus buildings with only limited access to employees deemed as critical to our work, cancelling June convocation ceremonies, and suspending all but essential on-campus and field-site research, scholarly works, and creative activities.
As COVID-19 arrived in Canada, medical students found themselves out of the classroom, watching their teachers and mentors prepare for the impending pandemic.
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
With the Government of Saskatchewan declaring a provincial State of Emergency to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Saskatchewan will be immediately implementing a working remotely policy, while ensuring the core functions of the university remain operating.
Please be advised that final exams in the April 2020 period will be completed remotely and the university will use the existing exam schedule with regard to timing of exams. Specific details as to the format of the remote exams for each class will be provided directly by your academic unit. Any qualifications to remote administration of exams are listed in the table below.
Both federal and provincial governments took additional preventative measure related to COVID-19 on March 16, ranging from pre-K to 12 schools shutting down in Saskatchewan later this week, to requesting all Canadians return from international travel immediately.
Message from President Peter Stoicheff.
I want to provide you with an update about the quickly evolving COVID-19 situation, which has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
