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May 7, 2003

Posted on May 7: McMaster researcher leads comprehensive study on aging

McMaster's Parminder Raina will lead one of the country's most comprehensive longitudinal studies on aging to improve the health and quality of life of older Canadians. The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) received a $400,000 boost Tuesday from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The study will provide knowledge about the aging process that will be used to develop improved treatments and prevention methods for illnesses associated with aging. The announcement was made at the close of the National Seniors' Forum on Research in Ottawa. "The CLSA is going to be a unique multidisciplinary study of aging because of its magnitude and breadth," says the associate professor of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, adding about 50,000 individuals will be recruited for the study. The study plans to understand the contribution of a large number of factors related to the evolution and progression of disease and illness, and healthy and successful aging among men and women over the age of 45, Raina explains. Some of the factors to be examined include genetics, lifestyle, cultural issues, retirement and leading diseases. "The study will follow individuals for a 20-year period and will provide valuable information about today and tomorrows seniors," Raina says. Several sites will be established across Canada to carry out the study. It will be the most comprehensive longitudinal study in the country's history, involving approximately 180 researchers. Raina joins Susan Kirkland, from Dalhousie University and Christina Wolfson, from McGill University in leading the protocol that will take 18 months to develop and outline how the CLSA will be conducted. "We believe that this study is unique in its approach and will profile Canada as a leader in research on aging globally," Raina says. "The goal of this study is not just to advance the science but ultimately to improve the health and quality of life of older Canadians by linking research and practice. That is why the CLSA research team is delighted to be part of this exciting initiative. We will have a road map to carry out this study completed by March 2004."

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May 7, 2003

Posted on May 7: Family Medicine launches new division of palliative care

McMaster's Department of Family Medicine has launched a new division of palliative care. Much has changed in the delivery of end-of-life care. Palliative care has developed into a specialty and there is a need for more primary care support and integration. For example, family doctors have become more clinic-based and home care and hospital care needs to be fostered. Family doctors have continuing education needs and require frequent advice and support from palliative care specialists and there is a shortage of family doctors to care for terminally ill patients. The team approach to palliative care has become well established. The team includes family doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, occupational and physiotherapists and volunteers. A Senate Committee, chaired by senator Sharon Carstairs, identified these systemic issues, and made many recommendations on how to improve the present situation. McMaster's division will develop an academic program that will: Forge partnerships with local institutions and experts to develop a comprehensive region-wide academic program Recruit and retain the finest faculty to teach learners Work closely with other stakeholders to ensure a model of service delivery that is sustainable Establish state-of-the-art curricula for training students, residents and physicians Develop a recognized research program to evaluate effectiveness in meeting the needs of the community to provide palliative care In announcing the new division, the Department of Family Medicine is renewing a commitment to this area of primary care. The development of the division will include reorganizing training programs, enhancing undergraduate, postgraduate and fellowship curricula, establishing renewed leadership, promoting scholarship, forging new partnerships and creating a business plan to ensure that future physicians are trained to provide comprehensive end-of-life care to the community in a sustainable model.

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May 7, 2003

Posted on May 7: Fifth annual Carl Moore Lecture on Facing Death, Embracing Life takes place tonight

David Kuhl, a palliative care physician with Providence Health Care in Vancouver, will present the fifth annual Carl Moore Lecture in Primary Care tonight (May 7). The public lecture, hosted by the Department of Family Medicine, will take place at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. The lecture will be followed by a reception, book signing and palliative care displays by Hamilton area organizations. Kuhl will participate in several academic activities with faculty, students and residents during his visit. The events coincide with Palliative Care week, associated with the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. Through his experience as a palliative care physician and the experiences shared by patients living with terminal illness, Kuhl has strived to better understand the physical, psychological, and spiritual realities of the end of life. Kuhl, who has provided care for persons at the end of life for the past 15 years, received his medical degree from McMaster University in 1985. He has written a book, What Dying People Want, Practical Wisdom for the End of Life (Doubleday, Canada), based on the results of his research, work experience, and training in palliative medicine. The book offers practical guidance and support, and a poignant message about finding new life in the process of dying. Senator Sharon Carstairs, who has long championed the cause of palliative care, will be a discussant at the lecture. In 2001, Prime Minister Chritien gave Carstairs a special responsibility for palliative care. She currently assists health minister Anne McLellan in supporting the federal government's interest in the development of palliative care to ensure that palliative care is meeting the needs of Canadian patients, families and caregivers. This new appointment was a major step forward in the federal government's commitment to quality end-of-life care in Canada. The lectureship honours Carl Moore, professor emeritus, who retired from McMaster in 1997. Each year, the lectureship is awarded to an individual who has made a contribution to the understanding or development of primary care as a researcher, educator, analyst, an advocate or policy maker. Last year's lecture was delivered by Wendy Orr, a general practitioner from South Africa, who spoke on ethics and human rights in medical practice. The lecture takes place at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce (Royal Hamilton Yacht Club), 555 Bay St. N., Hamilton, and will be followed by a reception, book signing, and palliative care displays. The lecture begins at 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. For more information call 905-521-2100 ext. 76189 or e-mail karwalt@mcmaster.ca.

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May 6, 2003

Posted on May 6: McMaster Alumni Association recognizes student achievement

At a recent small ceremony in the University Club, Ian Cowan, president of the McMaster Alumni Association, presented fifth-year medical and health physics student Kara Schnarr with the Albert Lager Prize for Student Alumni Relations. The Albert Lager Prize for Student Alumni Relations was created by the Alumni Association to recognize the efforts of students in fostering a relationship between students and alumni, and in sharing the goals of the Alumni Association with students. Schnarr has been involved with the Alumni Association since co-ordinating the 20th anniversary reunion event for the Emergency First Response Team (EFRT). On at least two occasions, she has gone out of her way to bring together alumni and current students. In 2001, Schnarr was the co-ordinator of the National Conference for Campus Emergency Responders (NCCER) at McMaster. One of the priorities with the conference was to highlight the contributions of McMaster's students and alumni to the development of emergency response services. The program featured presentations by McMaster students and alumni, including Eddie Wasser '86, '89. Waser is the founder of the emergency response program at McMaster, the very first program of its kind in Canada. In planning the 20th Anniversary Celebration of EFRT at McMaster, Schnarr made outstanding attempts to include both students and Alumni. She solicited McMaster Student's Union support and helped to foster a lasting partnership between the MSU and the MAA. She also made special arrangements for non-paying guests to attend after dinner to ensure current students, no matter their means, would be able to share in the joint student-alumni event. In the end, the EFRT 20th Anniversary Celebration brought together more than 70 alumni and students to celebrate a uniquely McMaster achievement.

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May 6, 2003

Posted on May 6: Examining the past to discover the future

Current and future directions in Canadian archaeology will be explored at the Canadian Archaeological Association's 36th annual conference hosted by McMaster May 7 to 10. Topics will range from research at national historic sites of Canada, archaeology of health and forensic anthropology. Archaeologists from across Canada will attend the three-day conference, hosted by McMaster for the first time. "There will be a very wide range of topics discussed," says conference co-ordinator Aubrey Cannon, associate professor of anthropology. Topics will span North American archaeology from 12,000 years ago to the recent historical past to archaeology of the future, he says. Hence the conference title, "Current and Future Directions in Canadian Archaeology". "Individuals coming to the conference will take away a wide range of the current thinking in archaeology and the current directions of Canadian archaeology," Cannon says. The conference will be particularly beneficial for students, he notes. "It is important to get students involved because they will set the future directions of archaeology." The conference will open with a reception in the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) marketplace on May 7 at 7 p.m. Conference sessions will take place May 8-10. Click here for the session schedule. Conference attendees may register for daily passes at the registration desk in the lounge area on the third floor of the MUSC each day from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For further details visit http://socserv.socsci.mcmaster.ca/caa2003/.

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