Issue 2 December
Happy Holidays Health Studies!
2014
The Apple The Holiday Issue
The Apple - March 2016 HSSA's online Newsletter We are proud to present the second issue of 2016! So close to finishing the school year! Included are upcoming events within the School of Health Studies, recap of past events from January, relevant news and events in the field of Health Sciences and a nutritious recipe for you to try out.
The purpose of this newsletter is to help keep the student body up to date and informed of what's happening within their faculty, any upcoming events and things to look out for. If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, or perhaps a recipe you'd like to subimit or an article topic you'd like to suggest, feel free to email us at westernhssa@gmail.com!
HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE ST. PATTY'S? TARA: Getting a roasted pig MIN: Day drinking JENNA: Green!! NINA: Going to pubs!!! MARISKA: Baking green cupcakes! ABBY: Wearing green!
Follow us on Twitter :
JENNIFER: Celebrating my birthday
www.twitter.com/WesternHSSA
KYLEEN: First year, my roommate tried to fry meat in our room on my hot plate and because we didn't have a kitchen in our suite and there was no proper ventilation, she set off the fire alarm. So we celebrated St. Patty's Day by setting off the smoke detector and getting my hot plate confiscated. I did go to Ceeps after though. Second year, I was on duty as an RA at Saugeeeeeeen. We'll see, this year...
Check out our website: www. westernHSSA.com Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HSSA Snapchat: uwohssa
If you have any articles or recipes you would like to submit, please directly message us through our Facebook page! www.facebook.com/ WesternHSSA
Welcoming words from the incoming 2016-2017 HSSA President: Kyleen Wong Hi friends! My name is Kyleen and I am honoured to be the incoming Health Studies Students’ Association President for the 2016-2017 school year. I look forward to working with the incredible students, professors, and administrators in our school. Having sat on HSSA for the last two years, I am passionate about improving the student experience for undergraduate Health Studies students. HSSA has grown a lot since I began as a year rep, and I hope to continue to expand and improve on the strong foundation Tara set during her two terms as president. I am particularly interested in: • increasing student engagement by providing diverse extracurricular learning, leadership, and wellness opportunities; • increasing transparency and accountability regarding the SOF • increasing and improving student representation among Health Studies administration. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to me through Facebook (Kyleen Wong) or email (kwong527@uwo.ca) as I would love to hear what you think about HSSA, the Health Studies program, and/or life in general.
By: Tara Chen The second annual Health Care Challenge was held on Saturday, February 27th! This year’s judges included VP Academics Kyleen Wong, Women’s Community House and London Homelessness Coalition Shelley Yeo, and Research Associates from the Ivey Centre of Health and Innovation- Alexander Smith and Andrew Schaffe. It was a great event fulfilled with many innovative presentation on how to integrate homelessness into society. With opening remarks from both VP Finance Vanessa Omoruna and Director of School of Health Studies- Dr. Dan Belliveau, the day started off well with our MCs- Jovita Chan and Riley Garno. Each team had a maximum of 10 minutes to explain their idea with a 5 minute question period from the audience. Everyone was excited and presented very well. The judges were thoroughly impressed with the quality of each idea but in the end, only one team may win. We are excited to announce, the winners of 2015/2016 Health Care Challenge are: First Place Winners: Education First Ellen Haber- Community Development and Psychology Tsz-Lok Cassidy Wong - Anthropology and Classics Sarah Pol. Health Studies , Anthropology and Certificate in Community Development, Second Place Winner: Multi-Purpose Housing Christine Tran -Health Studies Cindy Tran- Physiology Shirley Wong - History Third Place Winner: Cars that Care Nicola Paviglianiti -Health Studies Tarah Mosleh-Bio-MedSci Prizzi Mehta- Bio-MedSci Congratulations for everyone who participated in the first round and the second round! Finalists- please check your email to pick up your certificate of participation! See you next year!
Morning Rituals
By: Mariska Batohl
One of the hardest things to do in the morning is to leave your warm, cozy bed to face the day ahead. Hitting that snooze button a few times is hard to resist and we all think that extra 5 minutes of sleep really counts! Instead of sleeping in for that extra 5-20 minutes here are a few things that you could be doing with that time. In 5 minutes you can wake up and do a couple of stretches that will make you feel limber and set the tone for your day. Here are a couple good ones to try out. In 10 minutes you can fit in a quick shower that will wake up your senses and give you a fresh feeling. In 15 minutes you can put some effort into a nutritious breakfast instead of hastily grabbing a bagel to go. This also gives you enough time to make your bed in a pristine fashion. Making your bed seems trivial and unimportant but in reality it can make a big different. Making your bed checks off the first item on your to do list. This is a positive feeling and increases the chance of you doing your next task, and the next, and the next, thereby increasing your overall productivity. If you have an absolutely awful day, then at least you can come home to a made bed to collapse into. Instead of sleeping in for 20 minutes you can go for a brisk morning jog. The exercise requirement for adults is 150 min/week and if you do a quick morning jog 5 days a week you are already at 100 minutes of your 150! If this seems like a daunting task another idea is to work on a morning journal. This journal can include anything from what you dreamt about to what your plans are for the day. Writing is an excellent outlet and gives a different perspective.
Music Therapy Awareness By: Jenna Williamson The month of March is known for its recognition of Music Therapy. “Music therapy is the use of music and musical elements to promote, maintain and restore physical, mental, emotion, and spiritual health� (http:// www.musictherapy.ca/en/ information/musictherapy.html). Many of you [students] may know the benefits that music provides to your health. Whether you listen to it to get you through the long hours of studying, or if it is something that you use to pass time, music can provide great benefits and can help ease the mind and soul. Our bodies are affected in a variety of ways by the sounds and
rhythms that music provides. Our brain is trained from early years to recognize rhythmic patters, at even as young as an infant you have the ability to pick these rhythms up. Our bodies in a physiological way respond to music. You may notice your pattern of breath changes as the beat changes with the song, meaning it can be used as a way to relax. If you are feeling stressed out, or anxious try listening to a slower song, which can help to sync your breaths to a more relaxed and calm pace. Music also has the ability to tap into our emotions, so depending on the type of music you may be
listening to, happy or sad, it can have the ability to alter your emotions, which can work in a therapeutic way if you wish for your emotions to be altered. Another trait that music can provide is its ability to enhance learning, many things we were taught as kids were learned in song form, therefore it could be a useful tool when it comes to studying or trying to remember certain information. With the month of March trying to raise awareness in the benefits music can provide, try taking some of these useful tricks and advice to ease the pain of studying, or to tap into a different area with your emotions!
Physician Assisted Suicide in Canada By: Jennifer Helen Lee
As Canada embarks on its 148th year as a country, the amount of social progress that Canadians have undergone is incredible. Many young people look at the time of our grandparents as an incomprehensible era —could it really have been possible that interracial marriage was highly discouraged (even illegal at times), or that homosexuality was seen as a “criminal psychological disorder”? Haven’t we come a long way? The comparative openness, diversity, and tolerance of our modern Canadian society could lead people to wonder if there even any more major barriers to individual freedom and autonomy left to break through. However, there is one right of Canadian society that presides not only how we live our lives, but how we leave them. Canadian healthcare professional, policy makers, politicians, and everyday citizens are debating whether the right to life, liberty and security of person lends itself to a counterbalancing right; the
right to die. As anyone who has had contact with death will know, the end of life is no clear and simple business; so naturally, the issues surrounding the right to die are complex. Advancements made in modern medical technology have blurred the boundaries between life and death even further. There is much confusion surrounding the current status of the right to die in Canada. What exactly is the current situation with physicianassisted suicide in Canada? In 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada ended the ban on physician-assisted suicide, for patients whose medical condition causes “grievous and irremediable” suffering. Quebec is the only province to have enacted right-to-die legislation; under current law it is still a crime to help someone end their life unless the criteria established by the Supreme Court have been met. The Court ruling has made it necessary for Parliament to draft legislation on physician-assisted suicide by February of next year. If
the government fails to do so then the Supreme Court’s exemption for physicians will stand. Now, the public and policy discourse is centred on determining what constitutes “grievous and irremediable” suffering. Tricky issues include whether mental illnesses should qualify, or whether those under 18 would qualify. The upcoming months and the decisions made by politicians, policy makers, and Canadian citizens will be crucial in shaping the future of the right to die in Canada.
The Grad Column: Alisiyah Daya By: Kyleen Wong
Name: Alisiyah
from research to practice.
School: Western University
What were your aspirations during your undergraduate career? My aspirations during my undergraduate career were to discover what I was passionate about.
Program: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Favourite Health Sciences Course: Advance Health Policy and Health Innovation What topic are you doing your Masters on? Why did you choose this area of focus? My MSc topic is knowledge translation in childhood rehabilitation. I have always had an interest in childhood disability as my sister currently lives with epilepsy, developmental delay and cerebral palsy. I chose this area because I was interested in improving services and contributing to this area of healthcare. My preferred courses as an undergrad also sparked an interest in me about how information is mobilized throughout the healthcare system and
What did you do in your undergraduate years to prepare yourself for grad school? Besides striving for good grades, I also got involved in many extracurricular activities such as HSSA (the original VP Comm here! ;) ), which was a great way for me to get involved with more health science students. I was a Peer Mentor for students with disabilities through the Student Development Centre and a mentor with LiT (Learning it Together) which is a health promotion initiative that pairs volunteers up with a child of low SES living in London to teach them about healthy living skills through play.
During my final year I also did a practicum at Victoria Children’s Hospital through the LHSC where I created auditing and evaluation clinical documentation within the OBCU. Finally, I held a research assistant position within the physical therapy department for a study regarding the motor trajectories of children living with cerebral palsy. Were there any classes, extracurricular activities, or other experiences that shaped your current career path? All of my experiences (in class and extracurricular) solidified my interest in working towards achieving best practice outcomes for patients. My most valuable extracurricular was my opportunity to work as a research assistant in rehabilitation. It was through this opportunity that I formed a relationship with a professor who is my MSc supervisor today!
Why did you choose to do a Masters and why at Western? Were there other professional programs or schools that you were interested in? I found that a reoccurring piece of advice given to me by past MSc students was to have a good and flexible relationship with your supervisor and to be passionate about the topic you will be studying. I considered other universities for their general MSc programs, however I did not want to give up a great supervisor and project that suit my interests. I was also drawn to a research Masters vs a generic MSc degree as I felt I had more control of my learning and contribution this way. What is the structure of the program? What do you like best about your program? What would you like to change? What is a typical day like? My MSc work is very independent, so a typical day would depend what tasks need to be done at that given time. During the first semester students must take 2 courses, and in the second term students must
take one course. On top of that, we must attend common seminar and journal club which usually runs biweekly. These seminars are not courses but rather organized time where students can engage in conversations about their programs and work with their peers on various projects. Once classes are completed, the focus is to prepare a literature review, a proposal, an ethics application, implementing the research, analyzing the data, and writing up your thesis! The best part of my project is that I am working on something that I care about and that I have the ability to modify aspects of the project if my supervisor and I see fit.
What are you future career goals? Where do see yourself in five, ten, twenty years? I am still deciding if completing a PhD is the next move for me. I believe I’ll be able to make a better decision once I’ve been in my Masters long enough. In terms of career goals, I would like to either work in
academia or in the healthcare management sector. Is there any advice you would like to share with current Health Studies undergraduate students? Get involved in as many extracurricular activities as you can. You’d be surprised at how small commitments can lead to great opportunities in the future. Take this time to really find what your passion is, and don’t get discouraged. Even if you haven’t figured out what you love, you will surely discover what you don’t see yourself doing – which is just as valuable !
RECIPES BY: Abigail Dzur
Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Chicken INGREDIENTS: 1 1/3 lb boneless chicken thighs 3 tbsp + 1 3/4 tsp soy sauce 2 tbsp + 2 tsp brown sugar 2 tbsp + 2 tsp chili garlic paste 1 1/3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp ginger, minced
DIRECTIONS: 1. Stir the soy sauce, brown sugar, chili garlic paste, garlic, and ginger in the slow cooker. Add the chicken and stir to coat the chicken completely. 2. Cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken is fully cooked. Shred using two forks. 3. Optional but highly recommended: Add the liquid from the slow cooker into a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil and boil for 8-10 minutes until it reduces by half and thickens. Toss chicken in this sauce or drizzle on top.
Satay Sweet Potato Soup INGREDIENTS: 425 g (15oz) sweet potatoes, cut into 2.5cm (1in) chunks 2 tbsp oil 2 onions, sliced 2 carrots, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 5cm (2in) fresh root ginger, grated 1-2 red chills, deseeded and chopped 400g tin chopped tomatoes 125 g (4oz) red lentils 1.4 l (2 ½ pint) vegetable stock Juice 2 limes, plus wedges to serve 3 tbsp good-quality peanut butter 25 g (1oz) natural roasted peanuts, roughly chopped DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Scatter the sweet potato peelings on a baking tray. Toss through 1tbsp of the oil and some seasoning. Cook for 15-20min until golden and crisp. 2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1tbsp oil in a large pan and fry onions and carrots for 5min until beginning to soften. Add garlic, ginger and most of the chili, stirring for 1min. Add sweet potato chunks, tomatoes, lentils, stock and lime juice. Bring to boil, then simmer for 20min, or until the sweet potatoes are tender. 3. Add the peanut butter. For a chunky texture, mash the soup. For a smooth texture, use a blender (in batches, if necessary), then return to pan. Check seasoning, adding water to loosen if needed.
Final Exam Season is almost upon us! Make sure that you know the dates your exams are scheduled on! Tips for studying: - Make a study schedule and stick with it! - Take breaks when necessary - Feed yourself nutritious meals (use some of our recipes!)
Last year, we heard your pleas for study spaces! HSB will be open for the exam season from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm 7 days-a-week. Happy studying!