Daily News

Posted on April 12: A founding father of McMaster medical school dies at age 78

Moran Campbell, one of the founding fathers of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, died this morning. Campbell, an officer of the Order of Canada and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, was 78. He was known internationally as a respirology physiologist, responsible for the invention of the Venturi oxygen mask currently in use today, but also as a witty speaker who saw his research as a hobby and education as his main occupation. Born the son of a Yorkshire family physician and trained in England, he came to Canada as the founding chair of medicine for the new medical school in 1968. His first area of responsibility was to have the revolutionary school accepted by the local medical community, and he is known for setting up the excellent and close relationship now shared by McMaster and its affiliated hospitals Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. He became a professor emeritus in 1991. Campbell was one of the architects of medicine at McMaster, said Peter George, president and vice-chancellor of McMaster University. "His reputation as a clinical scientist drew some of the very best physician researchers and educators to start up what is now the renowned Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. He made extraordinary contributions to the science of respirology and to the education of physicians. He was a stimulating colleague and friend, and will be greatly missed."

Posted on April 12: Taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle

More McMaster employees are putting their best foot forward for developing a healthier, more active lifestyle over the lunch hour, thanks to programming provided by Employee Health and Wellness. Debra Earl, employee health educator, says for many employees, after-work demands such as family and home care often bump exercise to the bottom of the priority list. But with health professionals encouraging Canadians to get a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity per day, more people are taking the leap towards fitness. "For many people, the lunch hour is the only hour of the day that's not taken up by other commitments," says Earl. "All of our employee health programs are offered at lunch, and people are expressing a lot of interest in the programs we offer."

Posted on April 12: First Sight: What Babies See

Imagine creating an eye chart for someone who can't read or tell you what they see. This is only one of the many challenges vision scientists have faced when they have tried to determine what babies see. Psychology professor Terri Lewis has some fascinating stories to share about her research with newborns that will be the subject of her Science in the City lecture tomorrow (April 13). Titled First Sight: What Babies See, Lewis will discuss her research -- the challenges she's faced and the discoveries she's made in her studies of a newborn baby's vision. She has tested newborns in their first hour of life and as early as seven minutes after birth. Some of her projects were highlighted in an interview in today's Hamilton Spectator , including one that shows that newborn brains are actually 'hard-wired' to recognize faces and at three days of age prefer the face of their mother to a stranger's face.

Posted on April 8: McMaster University welcomes provincial funding review

The provincial government's commitment to a rapid review of how Ontario universities are funded in light of a confirmed two-year tuition freeze is welcome news, McMaster University President Peter George said today. "We welcome the review and the Ontario government's commitment to establishing a comprehensive policy on how universities can receive adequate funding as we cope with the ongoing pressures of decreased income from tuition and provincial operating grant support that continues to be the lowest in Canada. "We are concerned about our ability to continue delivering a quality educational experience for students. The provincial government's announcement that it will provide partial compensation for one year of the two-year tuition freeze is a first step but we are concerned about the uncertainty for future years. I anticipate the review process will yield constructive solutions that will meet the needs of our students who deserve a quality experience in higher education." The provincial government announced today that tuition fees can not increase for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 academic years in regulated programs in humanities, science and social sciences and in deregulated programs such as medicine and engineering. A comprehensive review and consultation process with Ontario universities will begin this summer and end this fall.