Daily News

May 24, 2001

John G. Kelton has been appointed as the new vice-president and dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. His appointment for a five-year term begins July 1. "Dr. Kelton has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to McMaster since his arrival in 1977," said McMaster President Peter George. "His significant research record, his excellent leadership as chair of the Department of Medicine at a critical stage of its development, and his strong, constructive vision of the future of the Faculty of Health Sciences and its partner institutions made him the unanimous choice of the selection committee." Educated at the University of Western Ontario medical school, Kelton has developed a national and international reputation in the study of thrombosis and hematology. He has pioneered tests to diagnose and treat platelet and bleeding conditions that are now used around the world. His studies have significantly enhanced the understanding of blood illnesses and led to new ways to diagnose and treat them. "I am honoured that President George and the other members of the selection committee have entrusted this significant responsibility to me," Kelton said. "The Faculty of Health Sciences, with its schools of medicine, nursing and rehabilitation science, as well as its other programs, represents an outstanding resource of skilled and knowledgeable clinicians, educators, scientists and students. "I look forward to working with these colleagues to ensure we continue our innovative approach to health care and reputation for excellence. We must also further strengthen the relationship between the University and its regional and other partners so that the citizens of Hamilton and Ontario continue to benefit from the advances in health care pioneered at McMaster." Kelton is an elected member of both the Canadian and American Societies for Clinical Investigation, and was this year's winner of the Scripps Cancer Foundation's Bernard L. Schwartz Award and Lectureship. He is a member of the scientific review committee of the American Society of Hematology and is on the College of Reviewers for the Canada Research Chairs program. Kelton's research credentials are more than matched by his administrative experience. He is currently chair of the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and previously served as chief of medicine, McMaster Medical Centre. He also acts as scientific advisor to the Canadian Blood Services. He has held a number of administrative positions within the Faculty of Health Sciences, including head of the Hematology Residency Training Program and director for the Regional Hematology Group. He was appointed chair of the Department of Medicine in 1997. "Kelton's understanding of the University, the Faculty, its students, its affiliated teaching hospitals and other community organizations is a tremendous asset," added President George. "His experience and skills will help to enhance the synergy between the Faculty's basic and clinical scientists and will build on the Faculty's capacity to deliver its educational, research and service mission successfully."

May 23, 2001

More than 2,000 children will be on campus this summer to participate in a number of different camp experiences. McMaster provides opportunities for children to swim, learn a sport from a varsity coach, create a Web site and learn about the body's healing powers, in addition to having lots of fun. Here's a brief look at what will be happening on campus this summer for the younger set: Sports Fitness School Now in its 24th year, the fitness school remains popular. The camp is already full with 1,560 children signed up for the two-week sessions, held in July and August. Children, aged 6 to 14, choose to participate in three sports from 20 different options. More than 90 per cent of the camp counsellors who help the children enjoy themselves are McMaster students. In addition to the two-week sports fitness camps, McMaster's Department of Athletics & Recreation also offers one-week, sports-specific camps where children learn from varsity coaches. The children can choose to do basketball, football, swimming or volleyball. At press time there were still openings for the one-week sports camps. Mini-University These two-week camps combine some academic subjects with swimming and outdoor recreation. The children select one module to pursue from a choice of three. The modules focus on science, biology and kinesiology or the humanities. Engineering and Science Camps The Faculty of Engineering offers two different one-week camps for children this summer. The Venture Engineering & Science program is designed for children in Grades 4 to 8. The children do hands-on activities in biology, chemistry and physics. They also do sports at noon and have one pool day during their week. The Adventures in Engineering Computing program is for children in Grades 5 through 10. Children who attend this camp will do lots of computing activities from Web design to taking old computers apart to see what's inside, in addition to swimming and sports activities. There will be an all-girls Adventure Camp the week of July 23. Shad Valley Experience The Shad Valley Experience is for senior high school students interested in science, technology and engineering. Fifty-two students from across Canada and Scotland will spend the month of July on campus, living in residence, while they attend lectures and workshops. During the month of August the students do work placements at sponsoring companies across Canada. (End of story)

May 22, 2001

McMaster has been awarded about $3 million from the Ontario government's new Research Performance Fund. "This is welcome news for McMaster," said President Peter George. "In setting up the Research Performance Fund, the government has demonstrated that it understands what research will do for Ontario's economy and quality of life and that it is willing to share the costs." The $30 million fund was set up to help universities and other research institutions pay for the indirect costs -- utilities, computer support, libraries -- of scientific research. The fund was announced in the 2000 provincial budget. The combined total for Hamilton's share of the Research Performance Fund is $4.5 million with the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre and other affiliated research institutes receiving some of the fund money. (End of story)

May 18, 2001

McMaster will do its share to quickly implement any new medical student places that emerge from the provincial government adopting recommendations from the expert panel on health professional human resources. President Peter George, who chaired the 18-member expert panel, said he is pleased the government has accepted the group's recommendations on undergraduate education. "I am pleased that the government has accepted our recommendation to increase undergraduate enrolment by 120 positions and that they have chosen to implement it over two years rather than the recommended three years," George said. As well, George said he is happy the government is moving to implement some of the decentralized training opportunities recommended. "The panel worked hard to develop practical recommendations," he said. The panel and its working groups included family doctors and specialists, nurse practitioners, academics, researchers, health care administrators, students and the international medical graduate community. The panel's mandate was to suggest solutions to solve the province-wide family doctor shortage. The panel's report, Shaping Ontario's Physician Workforce, was released yesterday by Health Minister Tony Clement. The University doesn't know exactly how many student places it might be assigned, but the number would likely be between 30 and 40. Ministry officials will be meeting with the medical school deans to decide exactly how the 120 positions will be allocated. In addition to committing to expand undergraduate and post-graduate medical school enrolment (from 572 to 692), the government said it will create a northern medical school with a main site at Laurentian University in Sudbury and a clinical education campus at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. The government also pledged to increase post-graduate training positions by up to 25 in northern and rural communities, beginning in 2002. See also: Harris government announces new northern medical school and increased medical school enrolment. (End of story)

May 16, 2001

Don't put those winter clothes away just yet. MacSOC or the McMaster Student Outreach Clinic initiative has launched its first annual summer "WINTER" clothing drive. Nursing student Melinda Gillies is MacSoc's clothing co-ordinator. She came up with the idea of a winter clothing drive in the summer months after organizing a successful clothing drive last December. Although the drive was hugely successful with the McMaster community donating 4,000 pounds of clothing, Gillies found sorting the material required the hours of a full-time job. Juggling her volunteer work with her studies was demanding. Getting a head start on the process during the summer made sense. "I thought if we did it during the summer, people could sort their stuff while changing their closets over from winter to summer and we would have a big stockpile for the fall," said Gillies, who is entering Level IV nursing and is studying for a minor in indigenous studies. "I didn't want to get caught in the fall without a good reserve of clothing. Our name is out there on the street. We go through 20 pairs of mitts and gloves in a night. That's a lot to keep up with." The drop-off point is the Health Sciences bookstore (known as mediashop.com) in the Health Sciences Centre. Items required include winter coats, mitts, hats, gloves, scarves, winter boots, blankets and sleeping bags. Gillies sorts and stores the clothing in her former landlord's garage but she would love to find a place on campus. Last year more than 120 volunteers -- students and faculty mainly from nursing but also medicine, midwifery and occupational therapy and physiotherapy -- visited three areas in downtown Hamilton on Wednesday nights delivering clothing and food to homeless people. MacSOC members anticipate interest in helping the homeless will be strong again when the bulk of students return to campus in September. WINTER STORAGE: Melinda Gillies and Bruno survey the inventory of clothing now stored for use this fall when MacSOC's homeless initiative restarts. Photo: Shelly Easton (End of story)

May 16, 2001

Nearly two years after the University, the federal and provincial governments and a number of leading industrial partners committed $19 million to create the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI), the facility is open for business. Industrial partners, government officials, faculty, staff and students gathered this morning to celebrate the opening of the new institute, housed in an addition to the John Hodgins Engineering building. University President Peter George said the institute provides undergraduate and graduate students with a tremendous opportunity to apply their knowledge to industry-relevant research and development issues, adding that these kinds of partnerships with industry will continue to be a major thrust at McMaster. "We have become a partner, a player in the international markets, a resource for the industrial sector and a crucial link in our province's and country's economic well-being." Experts consider the MMRI to be Canada's most advanced and best-equipped manufacturing research laboratory. David Braley, president of Orlick Industries, donated $1 million to establish an endowment fund for the David Braley Chair in Advanced Manufacturing. Braley, chair of the MMRI advisory board, told the gathering that partnerships between business and education are positive for the community and a "tremendous asset" for research and development initiatives. Through the institute, McMaster engineers will conduct industry-relevant research connected to the polymer, automotive and aerospace industries and the tool, die and mould industry. Mo Elbestawi, MMRI director and a professor of mechanical engineering, said the 15,000 sq. ft. facility, which will house 13 industrial machines and a robot, is designed to meet the sophisticated research and development needs of leading manufacturers. "The institute is of international calibre and our work here will undoubtedly lead to advances in several manufacturing technologies in the areas of machining, metal forming, polymer processing and automation." MMRI Opening: Andy Hrymak, MMRI associate director (left); Jennifer Jonkers, student; Mo Elbestawi, MMRI director Photo: Shelly Easton

May 15, 2001

An online election is being held this week for a teaching staff representative on the Board of Governors. The candidates in this election are: Richard Butler, Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine Barbara Carroll, Department of Political Science Ian Hambleton, Department of Mathematics & Statistics The elected candidate will serve a term commencing July 1, 2001 and continuing until June 30, 2004. Complete information on this election and the candidates may be found at the Board of Governors Web site: http://www.mcmaster.ca/bog/elections, then go to the section on Teaching Staff Election. You may cast your ballot in this election any time between 9 a.m., Monday, May 14, 2001 and 4:30 p.m., Friday, May 18, 2001. Eligible voters who do not have access to the Web site may come to the Board of Governors office (Room 115, University Hall), between 9 a.m. and 12 noon and between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., during the election period. (End of story)

May 14, 2001

Hamilton firefighter Peter DeBoer visited campus last week to remind employees of the importance of fire safety. His visit coincided with North America Health and Safety Week. "Everyone should be familiar with the evacuation procedures for their particular building," said DeBoer, who is with the department's fire prevention division. "And everyone should be on the lookout for fire hazards. If you see something dangerous then you should act." These are the hazards to watch for: Self-closing doors which have been propped open or have had their pins removed. A self-closing door will contain a fire, keeping the fire away from corridors and other people. If the door is disabled it won't serve its purpose. DeBoer says if you see that the door has been propped open with a wooden door stop, you should throw the door stop away. If the door doesn't latch properly, you should report it. Blocked exits. If you see anything that is blocking an exit you should either move it yourself or report it. Exit signs which no longer light up. "They should be lit at all times," says DeBoer. "You should report a sign which no longer works properly." Corridors with boxes or goods stored in them. "Maintaining the width of a corridor is important," he says. If the corridor is blocked it could stop people from getting out of a building in case of an emergency evacuation. "Every bit of the system is important, says DeBoer. "A fire safety plan relies on everything in the system working as planned." DeBoer's talk was a part of a three-day agenda of health and safety activities presented by Risk Management Services. (End of story)

May 14, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Mayopenhousefood.jpg”]They came. They ate. They saw McMaster in all its spring glory. Prospective students and their families packed Saturday's open house, checking out . . .

May 14, 2001

Hours of operation for the McMaster Museum of Art have been irregular lately while physical plant and risk management services staff investigate reports of a . . .

May 11, 2001

The Faculty of Health Sciences will confer 239 degrees to undergraduate and graduate students at its Convocation this afternoon (2:30 p.m.)at Hamilton Place. Degrees will be conferred for Doctor of Philosophy(4), Master of Science(18), Doctor of Medicine(92), Bachelor of Science in Nursing(88) and Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery (8). Diplomas will be awarded in Advanced Neonatal Nursing(3), Child Life Studies(11), Environmental Health(5) and Occupational Health and Safety (8). Two Nurse Practitioner Certificates will also be awarded. Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degrees will be awarded to McMaster MD graduates Richard Heinzl and James Orbinski and professor emeritus John V. Basmajian will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.). Honorary Degree Recipients Richard Heinzl (LLD) '87 is a distinguished humanitarian and leader at a national and international level. He is the founder of the Canadian chapter of Midecins Sans Frontihres/Doctors Without Borders. Heinzl provided humanitarian health care to people in Iraq, Cambodia and with the first Canadian mission of Doctors Without Borders in Mozambique. He co-founded an internet company called medispecialist.com designed to make consultations with medical specialists more readily available to people in remote locations in the world. Heinzl was named one of the "People Who Make A Difference" in Canada in 1995 and was named mone of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 in 2000. Distinguished humanitarian and leader James Orbinski (LLD) '89 is a founding member of the Canadian chapter of Midecins Sans Frontihres/Dcotors Without Borders. In 1999 Orbinski, as president of the humanitarian group's international council, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for group's work. Orbinski worked in Somalia, Afghanistan and Rwanda in the 1990s, providing care to thousands during the civil wars, famine and genocides that occurred in these countries. He was recognized for his work by the Governor General with the Meritorious Service Cross in 1998. John Basmajian's (D.Sc.) resume reflects a distinguished career in rehabilitation medicine that has taken him around the world. The professor emeritus of medicine and anatomy at McMaster and director-emeritus of the Rehabilitation Centre, Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals, has received several awards including the Order of Canada. He has authored or edited more than 380 scientific articles and 66 books, and is the series editor of the 26-volume Rehabilitation Medicine Library. He has also produced several films and invented several widely used scientific or medical devices and techniques. (End of story)

May 11, 2001

A structure for the mediation phase of the mediation/arbitration process was determined yesterday when negotiators for the University and the McMaster University Staff Association met . . .

May 11, 2001

Master the mystery and magic of molecules. Meet “Adam” an interactive “body” used to learn about anatomy. Have your jewelry tested for lead content. Kick . . .

May 10, 2001

The Society of Management Accountants of Ontario has notified McMaster University that it is one of nine universities to be granted accreditation toward the Certified . . .

May 10, 2001

The Ontario government's commitment to new funding for universities is welcome news for McMaster, President Peter George says. "The three-year commitment to increased operating grants will allow us to better prepare for the fiscal challenges that we will face over the next few years," George said. "It also provides assurance to students and parents that university places will be available at a time when the double cohort and other demographic factors mean substantially higher demands for access to university." George was commenting on the Ontario budget released yesterday in the legislature. The government promised to "increase operating grants to colleges and universities by an estimated $293 million by 2003-04, directly proportional to the projected enrolment growth." McMaster anticipates receiving about a 1.9 per cent increase in the operating money it receives from the government this year based on the budget announcement. The increase is devised to help universities cope with the record number of students, known as the double cohort, who will arrive on campuses in the fall of 2003. However, despite the new funding, George remains concerned that a key issue -- the lack of government funding for some student places -- was not dealt with in the budget. "Because McMaster has tried to maintain accessibility, the University currently has more than 1,000 students for whom we receive no provincial funding. The only money we receive for these students is from their tuition which covers only a small portion of the expense the University incurs. This is our highest priority with the province and we look forward to working with the minister to seeing it addressed successfully."

May 10, 2001

More than $14 million in new federal research money has been awarded to 111 McMaster professors. The research grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering . . .

May 9, 2001

The Board of Governors is holding an online election next week to fill a three-year teaching staff position on the Board. The candidates nominated for the position are: Richard Butler, Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine Barbara Carroll, Department of Political Science Ian Hambleton, Department of Mathematics & Statistics. The candidates' resumes may be viewed online at the Board's election Web site, http://www.mcmaster.ca/bog/elections. The elected member will serve on the Board from July 1, 2001 until June 30, 2004. The election voting period will run from 9 a.m. Monday, May 14 until 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 18. The election will only be conducted online. Voters may cast their ballots one of two ways: If you have a personal identification number (PIN) issued by the human resources department you can use it to cast a ballot electronically. If you do not have a PIN you can request one by sending an e-mail to pinreset@mcmaster.ca and including your employee ID number, surname, given names and birth date (month,day,year). If you do not have access to e-mail, you may go to the human resources department to obtain one. If you do not wish to obtain a PIN you can still vote by entering the following information at the time of casting your ballot: your McMaster employee number, your surname and your date of birth. Voters who obtained PINs in the past but who have forgotten them may either apply again to the human resources department or enter their employee number, surname and date of birth at the time of voting. Eligible voters who do not have access to the Board's Web site can go to the Board of Governors' office, Room 115, University Hall, between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. during the election period to cast ballots. (END OF STORY)

May 7, 2001

Divinity College will confer degrees to 34 new graduates at its Convocation this evening at 8 p.m. in Convocation Hall. The ceremony is the first of eight Convocations that McMaster will hold this spring. Degrees will be conferred for Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, Master of Religious Education, Master of Theological Studies and Master of Theology. Certificates will be awarded for the Diploma in Ministry and Certificate in Christian Studies. Honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD)degrees will be awarded to Theodor Angelov and Rick Tobias. Theodor Angelov (DD) is a biochemist who has been general secretary of the European Baptist Federation since 1999. Prior to his appointment, he was the president of the federation. Since 1992 he has been pastor of Sofia Baptist Church and president of the Bulgarian Baptist Union. From 1970 until 1992, Angelov was a research scientist at the Institute of Microbiology and then the Institute of Biotechnology. Rick Tobias(DD) has plenty of international experience but he is equally well known at home for his extensive lectures on the issue of poverty in Canada, the urban ministry and youth at risk. Tobias was the first chair of the Street Level conference for Christian street workers, which drew national attention to issues of life on the street. In 1983 he came to Toronto as co-ordinator of Evergreen at Yonge Street Mission, which he refoucsed on street youth. In 1989 he became the mission's executive director. (END OF STORY)

May 4, 2001

Negotiators for the University and the McMaster University Staff Association have taken the first steps toward a mediated/arbitrated collective agreement. The two parties met with . . .

May 3, 2001

Family, friends, colleagues and former students have honoured the late professor David Kinsley by establishing a bursary in his name for mature part-time students. To . . .