2013-2014
News Release
REF NO.: 121
SUBJECT: Discovery Days in Health Sciences to bring over 100 high school students to Memorial's Faculty of Medicine
DATE: May 12, 2014
What better way to explore career options in the health sciences than to participate in a day-long event filled with hands-on workshops and stimulating talks?
For 119 high school students and teachers from 18 schools in Eastern Newfoundland, this opportunity will take place Wednesday, May 14, on Memorial’s St. John’s campus. Discovery Days in Health Sciences is an annual event hosted by Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine and organized by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
The keynote speaker this year is Dr. Gary Paterno, an oncology professor and senior scientist in the Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratories. Dr. Paterno is well-known for his engaging presentations and recently received the Memorial University Student Union’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Outstanding Contribution to Student Life. His topic is DNA, Genes and Stuff.
“The Faculty of Medicine is pleased to once again offer this highly successful national program that raises students’ level of interest and knowledge about a career in the health sciences,” said Dr. James Rourke, dean of medicine at Memorial. “We're confident that exposure to events like Discovery Days will pique a lifelong interest in the health sciences, and many of those attending Discovery Days will pursue careers that help advance practice and research in medicine and other health professions.”
Discovery Days in Health Sciences is offering 11 workshops this year. The popular Body Works workshop with anatomist Dr. Shakti Chandra allows students to see all the bones and most of the organs of the human body and how they work. Students also have the opportunity to learn about making pharmaceutical compounds, working with DNA, interacting with a computer-driven patient simulator and surgery skills in veterinarian medicine.
High schools participating in this year’s Discovery Days in Health Sciences are Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts), Bishops College (St. John’s), Booth Memorial (St. John’s), Crescent Collegiate (Blaketown), Gonzaga High (St. John’s), Heritage Collegiate (Lethbridge), Holy Heart of Mary (St. John’s), Holy Spirit (Manuels), Holy Trinity High (Torbay), O’Donel High (Mount Pearl), Prince of Wales Collegiate (St. John’s), Queen Elizabeth Regional High (CBS), Roncalli Central High (Avondale), Southwest Arm Academy (Little Heart’s Ease), St. Bonaventure’s College (St. John’s), St. Kevin’s (Goulds) and the Murphy Centre (St. John’s).
The day’s activities conclude with a panel discussion titled Health Pros Tell All, moderated by Deborah Ash, administrative officer with the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Panel members include Dr. Ann Dorward, assistant professor of biomedical sciences; Matt Eagles, a first-year medical student; Alison Farrell, public services librarian with the Health Sciences Library; Kim Kelly, student services co-ordinator with the School of Social Work; Dr. Jennifer Keyte, director of Animal Care Services; and Dr. Aimée Surprenant, professor of psychology.
“Through TD Discovery Days we team up with Canadian universities, hospitals and research centres to introduce Canada’s youth to the wide variety of career options in medicine and the health-care field. Since 1997 we have introduced more than 24,000 high school students to world-class health clinicians and scientists – a recognized strategy to nurture more Canadian health professionals,” said Ms. Ash.
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization that offers this program at no cost to students or schools thanks to the generous support of lead sponsor TD, national sponsors Great-West Life, London Life, Canada Life and Rx&D, with local support from provincial Department of Health and Community Services and Manna Bakery.
REF NO.: 121
SUBJECT: Discovery Days in Health Sciences to bring over 100 high school students to Memorial's Faculty of Medicine
DATE: May 12, 2014
What better way to explore career options in the health sciences than to participate in a day-long event filled with hands-on workshops and stimulating talks?
For 119 high school students and teachers from 18 schools in Eastern Newfoundland, this opportunity will take place Wednesday, May 14, on Memorial’s St. John’s campus. Discovery Days in Health Sciences is an annual event hosted by Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine and organized by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
The keynote speaker this year is Dr. Gary Paterno, an oncology professor and senior scientist in the Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratories. Dr. Paterno is well-known for his engaging presentations and recently received the Memorial University Student Union’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Outstanding Contribution to Student Life. His topic is DNA, Genes and Stuff.
“The Faculty of Medicine is pleased to once again offer this highly successful national program that raises students’ level of interest and knowledge about a career in the health sciences,” said Dr. James Rourke, dean of medicine at Memorial. “We're confident that exposure to events like Discovery Days will pique a lifelong interest in the health sciences, and many of those attending Discovery Days will pursue careers that help advance practice and research in medicine and other health professions.”
Discovery Days in Health Sciences is offering 11 workshops this year. The popular Body Works workshop with anatomist Dr. Shakti Chandra allows students to see all the bones and most of the organs of the human body and how they work. Students also have the opportunity to learn about making pharmaceutical compounds, working with DNA, interacting with a computer-driven patient simulator and surgery skills in veterinarian medicine.
High schools participating in this year’s Discovery Days in Health Sciences are Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts), Bishops College (St. John’s), Booth Memorial (St. John’s), Crescent Collegiate (Blaketown), Gonzaga High (St. John’s), Heritage Collegiate (Lethbridge), Holy Heart of Mary (St. John’s), Holy Spirit (Manuels), Holy Trinity High (Torbay), O’Donel High (Mount Pearl), Prince of Wales Collegiate (St. John’s), Queen Elizabeth Regional High (CBS), Roncalli Central High (Avondale), Southwest Arm Academy (Little Heart’s Ease), St. Bonaventure’s College (St. John’s), St. Kevin’s (Goulds) and the Murphy Centre (St. John’s).
The day’s activities conclude with a panel discussion titled Health Pros Tell All, moderated by Deborah Ash, administrative officer with the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Panel members include Dr. Ann Dorward, assistant professor of biomedical sciences; Matt Eagles, a first-year medical student; Alison Farrell, public services librarian with the Health Sciences Library; Kim Kelly, student services co-ordinator with the School of Social Work; Dr. Jennifer Keyte, director of Animal Care Services; and Dr. Aimée Surprenant, professor of psychology.
“Through TD Discovery Days we team up with Canadian universities, hospitals and research centres to introduce Canada’s youth to the wide variety of career options in medicine and the health-care field. Since 1997 we have introduced more than 24,000 high school students to world-class health clinicians and scientists – a recognized strategy to nurture more Canadian health professionals,” said Ms. Ash.
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization that offers this program at no cost to students or schools thanks to the generous support of lead sponsor TD, national sponsors Great-West Life, London Life, Canada Life and Rx&D, with local support from provincial Department of Health and Community Services and Manna Bakery.
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