Daily News

Posted on Sept. 25: White coat ceremony recognizes medical student commitment

The 139 medical students in the class of 2006 got a taste last night of what it means to take responsibility for patient health, in a ceremony designed to formally present them with their white clerk's coats, typically worn by second-year medical students in teaching hospitals. The white coat ceremony is a popular occasion in other medical schools, and students at McMaster were so enthusiastic that many opted to bring more guests than the original venue, Convocation Hall, could accommodate. The event was moved to the Hamilton Convention Centre, with more than 600 people in attendance. First-year medical student Amanda Jerome brought five guests, including her grandmother, aunt, parents, and fiancie. After graduating from McMaster's new Bachelor of Health Sciences program, she's eager to move forward with her dream of becoming a doctor, and she's happy to share the experience with her family. "I'm thrilled about the ceremony because for me it signifies that first official step," says Jerome. "Becoming a doctor is a lifelong journey and it's really nice to formally appreciate that in the company of my family."

Posted on Sept. 24: Study examines health in the city

Exploring how health outcomes and determinants of health vary at the local level is the broad goal of a large collaborative research project recently conducted by the McMaster Institute of Environment and Health and its community partners. "We know that there are lots of things that influence our health - environment, lifestyle, health services and so on," said medical geographer John Eyles, who is the lead project researcher and the institute's director. "In Canada, most work has been done at the national and provincial levels. This research is unique as it examines these factors and health at the neighbourhood level." A survey, the first of its kind in Canada, was administered to 1,500 Hamilton adult residents, grouped into five zones in the Hamilton area: Chedoke-Kirkendall; central downtown core; northeast industrial; southwest mountain and the former City of Hamilton. Interviews were also conducted with a number of study participants in each of these neighbourhoods. The survey included questions about health status, lifestyle behaviours, social networks, community involvement, health service use, and demographic questions, including age, education, occupation or status in the workforce. People were also asked if they liked their neighbourhood, how it may be improved, and about features of their home, such as the age of their dwelling, and if it was in need of major repairs.