Dean’s Corner March 2022
Dean’s Message: March 2022
This past month we have slowly transitioned to a return to in-person learning and seeing more of our students, faculty and staff on campus has filled me with a sense of hope. We are all trying our best to come to terms with our new reality, and I am routinely inspired by the ways in which each of you continue to adapt and work together to make Bloomberg Nursing a place of excellence in education and research.
In line with Bloomberg Nursing’s leadership in the field of advanced practice nursing, I am pleased to share the news that the Government of Ontario will be supporting the expansion of health professional education and the development of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Bloomberg Nursing will have an important role as part of SAMIH through our Nurse Practitioner program and the creation of a NP-led clinic, with our NP students completing their placements at regional hospitals, primary care practices and community agencies across eastern Toronto and the Durham region, providing greater access to direct care providers for the communities in these regions.
This is an opportune time to showcase the strengths of our Nurse Practitioner program and our students, as we aim to promote a broader vision of a better health system with a focus on equitable access to primary care for underserved populations.
This month our feature story focuses on an important new study led by Bloomberg Nursing Professor Cindy-Lee Dennis which finds high rates of postpartum anxiety and depression among Canadian fathers in the first year of their child’s life. Professor Dennis’ research further highlights the importance of supporting family centered mental health care.
Graduate students Ashley Ahuja and Shahnaz Kamali are recipients of the 2022 U of T Student Leadership Award, for which I offer my warmest congratulations. This award recognizes the tremendous impact that Ashley and Shahnaz have had on Bloomberg Nursing through their volunteer support and engagement. An additional round of congratulations goes out to our ten RNFOO winners who have been successful in this year’s competition.
The world is a changed place right now. I, along with many of you have been appalled at the current situation in Ukraine, and the continued impact on the health of individuals, particularly children, not only in eastern Europe, but in many countries being ravaged by war. I invite you to read U of T President Meric Gertler’s statement about the war in Ukraine.
As we head into our final weeks of classes, I want to wish all of our students well on their exams. You have overcome a trying and uncertain year, for some of you, a second time, and it is a testament to your strength and character as future nurses.
Stay well.
Sincerely,
Linda Johnston, PhD FEANS FCAHS FAAN
Dean, Lawrence S Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto