2005-2006

News Release

REF NO.: 6

SUBJECT: Mini Medical and Health Sciences Schoo lback by popular demand

DATE: September 8, 2005

From the guts of the matter to the far reaches of the Internet – this fall, you can explore new horizons in health at Memorial University’s Mini Medical and Health Sciences School.

This series of six evening presentations is designed for members of the community who've always wanted to learn more about the knowledge and practice of health sciences. The Centre for Collaborative Health Professional Education (CCHPE) developed the program to bring the expertise of Memorial University's health professional schools and faculties to the community in a new and accessible way. Previous series have attracted enthusiastic audiences which included high school students, a keen group of people aged 50 and over, and more. Such a diverse group makes our question and answer sessions lively and informative.

The series starts off Oct. 12 with a talk by Dr. Mary K. Wells, assistant dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, on Getting to the Guts: A Surgeon's Incredible Journey. “Travel with me on a journey through the gastrointestinal tract,” says Dr. Wells. “We will follow a patient from the start of symptoms, including abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding, through the investigations, making a diagnosis, then performing surgery to remove the sick piece of bowel. Once done, then there will be the challenge of getting the patient home, and back to normal. This will give you some idea of the process patients go through on this often complicated and frightening journey.”

Other talks will explore ways to prevent heart attacks with cardiologist Dr. Bruce Sussex; understanding and treating depression by pharmacist Dr. Leslie Phillips and psychiatrist Dr. Kellie LeDrew; the development of the hospital to its present status with medical historian Dr. J.T.H. Connor; and arthritis and drugs with Carla Dillon of the School of Pharmacy. The series finishes up the evening of Nov. 16 with a presentation titled “But Doc, I Read It Online!?” in which librarian Lindsay Glynn helps you evaluate medical information found on the Internet, good starting sites, and even a few not‑so‑good sites just for good measure.

The Mini Medical and Health Sciences School runs Wednesday evenings Oct. 12 to Nov. 16, with each session running from 7:30to 9:30 p.m.in Lecture Theatre A on the first floor of the Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre. The cost is $25 for the series of six sessions or $12 per session drop‑in registration available. Free parking is available in Lot9 of the Health Sciences Centre, off Clinch Avenue

Advance registration on or before Oct. 10 is preferred for the series. Registration can be sent to Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, Room 1775, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL A1B 3V6, fax (709)777‑6032 or register online at www.med.mun.ca/cchpe.

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