Director’s Message

Photo Credit: Mikaeel Valli

DR. LUCY OSBORNE

Acting Director, Institute of Medical Science Professor, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics

DIRECTOR’S

MESSAGE

With the warm entrance of the Spring season also comes the publication of the Spring 2022 IMS Magazine. Spring is a time when the natural world revives and reinvigorates itself from the harsh cold winter—and this notion coincides nicely with the current theme on reviving the importance of engaging patients in research, especially since many patients felt isolated from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Th is issue showcases IMS faculty involved in patient engagement as part of their research. Read the work by Dr. Sean Rourke and his group that are devising ways to connect with at-risk HIV individuals to get free testing and timely treatment. Another feature describes Dr. Samantha Anthony and her team’s eff ort in developing novel ways to engage with children who recently underwent organ transplant to enhance their psychosocial adaptation and quality of life. In another feature, you will learn about the importance of exercise in cancer survivors and how Dr. David Langlier and his team are developing ways to promote that among cancer patients to enhance their quality of life. Dr. Emily Ho and her colleagues are exploring ways to optimize health outcomes in youths with brachial plexus injuries through patient engagement. Th e faculty spotlight showcased Dr. Ahmed Hassan’s eff ort in developing a holistic program with the goal to encourage the Muslim Community to seek treatment for mental health.

Th e Annual Scientifi c Day is the academic highlight of the year for IMS. I am excited that it will be happening in person at the Hart House on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022. We are thrilled that the Bernard Langer Annual Lecture in Health Sciences Keynote Speaker will be one of our own faculty members, Dr. Gelareh Zadeh. She will provide a keynote address on the topic of “Clinically Relevant Molecular Data Driving Surgical Management for Brain Tumors.”

On behalf of the entire IMS community, I extend my heartiest congratulations to the new faculty joining IMS and members that have been promoted within the ranks of IMS! We wish you all the best with your research endeavors.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the IMS Magazine’s Editors-in-Chief, Mikaeel and Jason, and all the editors, journalists, social media, and design team for their, yet again, excellent production of another issue. I hope you will enjoy reading this issue as much as I did!

Sincerely,

Dr. Lucy Osborne Acting Director, Institute of Medical Science