posted on Nov. 29: School of Rehabilitation Science professor appointed to chair in childhood disability research

Professor Mary Law has been appointed to the John and Margaret Lillie Chair in Childhood Disability Research, which is supported by the Jack and Ina Pollock Charitable Foundation. Law is a professor and associate dean in the School of Rehabilitation Science and an associate member of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics. She is co-director of the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, a partnership between researchers at McMaster University and children's rehabilitation centres in Ontario. "There are more than 500,000 children and youth in Canada with disabilities that affect in some way their participation in daily activities," said Law. "The chair in childhood disability will enable continued leadership in childhood disability research at McMaster so that families can benefit from research, resources and information leading to improved outcomes for their children." Law is an occupational therapist with training in both epidemiology and health and social planning and has worked in the area of children's rehabilitation for many years. Her research has led to innovative methods to enhance the participation of children with disabilities in everyday activities. "Dr. Law is a fabulous mentor for young investigators in the field," said John Kelton, Faculty of Health Sciences' dean and vice-president. "Through her work with graduate students and the development of future post-doctoral study opportunities, Dr. Law will be helping to develop our future scientists in rehabilitation science." The funding of this chair will help lead to new discoveries about effective interventions for children and youth with childhood disabilities and the efficient and timely dissemination and use of research information in healthcare practice. Founded in 1997, the Pollock Foundation has continuously supported the School of Rehabilitation Science with particular interests in childhood disability research and the research activities of the CanChild Program. (End of story)

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posted on Nov. 26: Adventure racing team finishes 16th in China

"Skreemin' Fury" indeed. With a speed worthy of their name, a fledgling Hamilton-based team of McMaster professors and graduate students has scorched a trail through the young but growing sport of adventure racing landing a coveted spot this fall on the starting line of one of the sport's top international races. Three members of the team pitted themselves against some 30 entries from around the world in this year's Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, held earlier this month for the fourth time in China. In adventure racing, teams of three or four people tackle a succession of sports - including running, mountain biking, paddling and orienteering -- over outdoor courses ranging anywhere from 50 to 300 kilometres long and lasting from one to four days. Based on its impressive track record - Skreemin' Fury won all five of the races it entered last year after it was formed in June 2000 - the team was selected early this year from among hundreds of would-be competitors. Says team member Mike Waddington, a professor in the School of Geology & Geography, "We were the only team invited from Canada." Theirs may also be the only team made up entirely of academics rather than professional athletes. Besides Waddington, the team includes Mark Tarnopolsky, a professor of medicine, and four graduate students: Doug Mahoney, John Markez, Natalie Perkins and Gianni Parise. Tarnopolsky, Mahoney and Markez, along with Ken Sidney, a cross-country skiing champion and professor at Laurentian University, made up a foursome that finished exactly in the middle of the 32 teams that competed in the race. "I broke my ribs on the first day of the race and we were in the top seven at the time," says Tarnopolsky, about the team's showing. Although he was taped up every morning by doctors, Tarnopolsky and his team finished the race. "Not bad, given the fact that I [could not] take a deep breath. It was hard to run at 11,000 feet above sea level with shallow breaths. Overall it was a great experience." Skreemin' Fury: (l-r) Doug Mahoney, Gianni Parise, Mark Tarnopolsky and Mike Waddington train on the trails in Dundas. Photo by Simon Wilson

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