Master of Medical Studies program - Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Opportunity Type: Master of Medical Studies

Where: Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Posted on SRPC website: 26-Jul-2021

More Information: The Master of Medical Studies (MMS) program will provide foundational research skills for physicians who want to develop a robust approach to answering health care questions. The program will focus on developing the necessary skills to acquire grant funding, obtain ethics approval, develop a research question and appropriate methodology, complete the research study, and finally write and present the results at conferences and in publication. Our goal is for learners to focus on health care problems in the north to improve the health status of all people in northern, rural, and remote communities. The MMS uses an asynchronous model to deliver the course material, the courses will be available online. Students can complete this program remotely with a flexible schedule. There is no in person requirement for this program.

Website: https://www.nosm.ca/research/graduate-studies/master-of-medical-studies/

Funding is available for graduate students and health professionals who are interested in conducting patient-oriented research

NL SUPPORT and Quality of Care NL are excited to announce that funding is available for graduate students and health professionals who are interested in conducting patient-oriented research. At least one grant for each funding opportunity will be designated for research led by an Indigenous student/health professional or in partnership with an Indigenous community:

GRADUATE STUDENT FUNDING

NL SUPPORT’s annual educational funding competition has reopened for new or current graduate students with an interest in translational, applied or other patient-oriented research. Funding is available for up to two years for an MSc and three years for a PhD student, beginning January 2022. The value of this award will be for a maximum of $14,000/year for Masters’ students and $18,000/year for PhDs. For details, guidelines and application materials, visit https://www.nlsupport.ca/Funding/Educational-Funding-Opportunities

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FUNDING

NL SUPPORT invites health professionals working actively in a clinical role who would like to move into research or have a specific question with a patient-oriented research focus to apply to our annual health professional-led funding competition. Up to five grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded. For details, guidelines and application materials, visit  https://www.nlsupport.ca/Funding/Health-Professional-led-Research-Grants

Inquiries about these funding opportunities?

Contact: NL SUPPORT’s  Julia Elizabeth Burt  juliaburt@mun.ca

Northern Ontario's Obstetrical Services in 2020: A developing rural maternity care desert

Authors: Eliseo Orrantia, MD, Peter Hutten-Czapski, MD, Mathieu Mercier, BScN, Samarth Fageria, MMASc

Journal: Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine (2022)

Summary & Impact: Rural and remote maternity services are an indispensable component in the care of expectant mothers and their families. This study was conducted to survey the state of obstetrical services in Northern Ontario and compare them with a similar study done in 1999. The population included all 40 Northern Ontario hospital communities and 16 midwife practices in the area. Results showed that there was a 22.5% decrease in obstetrical care among surveyed communities. Even though the number of general physicians providing care in these areas has remained the same, there has been a 65% drop in how many of these doctors offer intrapartum care. As services to these communities continue to decline, the average travel times for patients to receive care have therefore increased. This study provides information on a common trend also found within rural communities in the US. Based on these findings, government policies and procedures need to be implemented to increase these essential services.

DOI: 10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_4_21

Meet the Corresponding Author

Dr. Orrantia has a BSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Guelph and a Masters degree in Human Genetics from McMaster University. His MD degree was completed at McMaster University and he completed his Family Medicine Residency with McMaster University's previous Northern Ontario Medical Program (NOMP) out of Thunder Bay. Dr. Orrantia is currently a Professor in the Division of Clinical Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Question: Why is studying rural and remote health in Canada important to you?

Dr. Orrantia: Rural and remote health research is critical in helping us to explore, understand and develop solutions to the many issues that challenge rural communities and their clinicians. This applied research can create innovations that work in these low resource environments, are often transferable to others, and can provide the knowledge to enable effective advocacy for these disadvantaged populations.