/ en /news/u-t-shines-spotlight-exceptional-educators-excellence-teaching-reception <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T shines a spotlight on exceptional educators at Excellence in Teaching reception</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-9-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=cI-2VkXz 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-9-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=1Oa10HYI 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-9-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=bQoimwph 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-9-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=cI-2VkXz" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-11-27T13:02:53-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - 13:02" class="datetime">Wed, 11/27/2024 - 13:02</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><i>U of T Vice-President and Provost Trevor Young (centre) poses with Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award recipients, from left to right: Jasty Singh, Spyridon Kotsovilis, S. Trimble and Roberta K. Timothy (photo by Polina Teif)</i></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/rahul-kalvapalle" hreflang="en">Rahul Kalvapalle</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/temerty-faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Temerty Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trevor-young" hreflang="en">Trevor Young</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/early-career-teaching-award" hreflang="en">Early Career Teaching Award</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/teaching" hreflang="en">Teaching</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/women-and-gender-studies" hreflang="en">Women and Gender Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>At the ���߲ݴ�ý, teaching is about much more than just imparting knowledge – it’s an engaging, dynamic and creative process that expands and enriches the way students think, preparing them for future success in academics and their careers.</p> <p>The recent Excellence in Teaching reception hosted by U of T’s Office of the Provost&nbsp;recognized the fundamental importance of teaching to the university’s mission. In particular, it&nbsp;honoured five faculty members who received&nbsp;<a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-of-toronto-early-career-teaching-award/#section_0">Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Awards</a>, which were recently renamed in honour of <strong>Cheryl Regehr</strong> – Young’s <a href="/news/incredible-leadership-u-t-provost-cheryl-regehr-leaves-enduring-legacy">predecessor as vice-president and provost</a>, a professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and a longtime champion of teaching excellence and innovation at U of T.</p> <p>“These awards recognize burgeoning talent among our most junior faculty. We expect – and we know from experience – that these recipients will continue to lead and excel in teaching,” <strong>Trevor Young</strong>, U of T’s vice-president and provost said at the Nov. 4 event held at the Faculty Club.</p> <p>The event also featured the presentation of the <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-of-toronto-global-educator-award/">Global Educator Award</a>, which recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies U of T’s global mission by incorporating intercultural and international perspectives.</p> <p>“I’m extremely proud of U of T for many reasons,” Young said, “and one of them is what’s evident here today, which is the immense talent and experience of our faculty as well as their deep commitment to our university, to our students, to knowledge [and] to research. All that you’re doing is really incredible.”</p> <p><em>U of T News</em> spoke with all six award winners about their approach to educating students:</p> <hr> <h3>Spyridon Kotsovilis</h3> <p><em>Assistant professor, teaching stream – department of political science, U of T Mississauga</em></p> <p><em>Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award</em></p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-4-CROP.jpg?itok=5qPk70Bo" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Polina Teif)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“I design and conduct my classes so that they engage, motivate and empower our students to connect and interact with the material and their peers in inclusive and respectful ways towards learning and achieving their academic goals.</p> <p>“I feel honoured and humbled by the recognition; as teaching is a collective effort, it also belongs to all those who make it possible&nbsp;–&nbsp;from the administration, to the division, to my department and colleagues, to staff across different units, centres and libraries, to the campus maintenance personnel. Ultimately, this is about our students, and I would like to accept this award on behalf of them.”</p> <h3>Alison Olechowski</h3> <p><em>Associate professor – department of mechanical and industrial engineering and Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering and Practice (ISTEP), Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</em></p> <p><em>Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award</em></p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/0S1A1430-crop.jpg?itok=hq7GULrT" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Liz Do)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“I’m very proud to receive this recognition for my teaching – I believe that teaching is a major channel through which I can have impact in my career, and so I strive to do it well. In my teaching I aim to bring the course content to life, so that my students can understand why they’re learning what they’re learning, and how it connects to the real world and their futures.”</p> <h3>Jasty Singh</h3> <p><em>Associate professor, teaching stream – department of immunology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine</em></p> <p><em>Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award</em></p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-5-CROP.jpg?itok=p11tDS0S" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Polina Teif)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“My approach to teaching is heavily influenced by my own experiences as an undergraduate student, and subsequently a graduate student and postdoctoral fellow at the ���߲ݴ�ý. I’ve always believed that learning happens everywhere –&nbsp;not just in the classroom. My goal is to create inclusive and engaging learning atmospheres that foster personal connections, encourage interdisciplinary exploration and promote ongoing intellectual curiosity.</p> <p>“Receiving this recognition was both an exciting and a deeply validating experience for me – I see it as a reflection of the collaborative efforts of our administrative and teaching support staff, teaching assistants, colleagues and students in the department of immunology.”</p> <h3>Roberta K. Timothy</h3> <p><em>Assistant professor, teaching stream – Dalla Lana School of Public Health</em></p> <p><em>Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award</em></p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-3-CROP.jpg?itok=iiC8L9ub" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Polina Teif)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“I am extremely moved and honoured to be recognized for my teaching, particularly for the work I have dedicated my life to – intersectional, decolonizing, anti-racist, anti-oppression praxis, focusing on Black health and intentionally marginalized populations.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I believe that teaching is one of the most powerful mechanisms to create critical social justice learning and unlearning through creative and actionable change. My teaching is influenced by my over 30 years in community health and activism. It is ancestrally anointed and community led. My hope is that the next generations can continue to create systems and practices that provide healing and wellness for African/Black populations, and that public health can work in solidarity with empathy and deep respect for our health issues and outcomes.”</p> <h3>S. Trimble</h3> <p><em>Assistant professor, teaching stream – Women &amp; Gender Studies Institute, Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</em></p> <p><em>Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award</em></p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-6-CROP.jpg?itok=Q3lxwGbS" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Polina Teif)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“As a teacher I always try to meet students where they are and unlock new ways of connecting with them. To do this, I’ve had to learn to be more vulnerable and playful in and beyond the classroom. This award is a welcome affirmation of my belief that play, creativity and community building are crucial components of teaching excellence.”</p> <h3>Phani Radhakrishnan</h3> <p><em>Associate professor, teaching stream – department of management, U of T Scarborough</em></p> <p><em>Global Educator Award</em></p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/2024-11-04-Excellence-in-teaching_Polina-Teif-2-crop-.jpg?itok=v4d5Y-iB" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Polina Teif)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“I did not expect in my humblest dreams to receive the Global Educator Award from U of T. I&nbsp;grew up in Hyderabad, India, a big city that instills openness to different cultures.&nbsp;I encourage my domestic and international students at the ���߲ݴ�ý to be open-minded when doing business in a multi-cultural environment.&nbsp;My goal is to instill a global and sustainable mindset in my students.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:02:53 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 310652 at /news/u-t-ranked-among-top-10-universities-globally-five-subjects-shanghairanking-consultancy <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T ranked among top 10 universities globally in five subjects: ShanghaiRanking Consultancy</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/UofT%20web%20lead%20instructional%20centre.jpg?h=92953138&amp;itok=69sjwe1L 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/UofT%20web%20lead%20instructional%20centre.jpg?h=92953138&amp;itok=10s1JT8A 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/UofT%20web%20lead%20instructional%20centre.jpg?h=92953138&amp;itok=1ct7qlka 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/UofT%20web%20lead%20instructional%20centre.jpg?h=92953138&amp;itok=69sjwe1L" alt="Students walk through a glass hallway at U of T Scarborough"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-11-18T15:30:13-05:00" title="Monday, November 18, 2024 - 15:30" class="datetime">Mon, 11/18/2024 - 15:30</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>(photo by Matthew Dochstader/Paradox Images)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/temerty-faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Temerty Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rankings" hreflang="en">Rankings</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-school-management" hreflang="en">Rotman School of Management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/shanghai-ranking-consultancy" hreflang="en">Shanghai Ranking Consultancy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sociology" hreflang="en">Sociology</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The ���߲ݴ�ý has placed among the top 10 universities globally in five subjects – sociology (2^nd), medical technology (5^th), public health (7^th), finance (8^th) and management (10^th) – in the latest ShanghaiRanking Consultancy rankings by subject.</p> <p>U of T also ranked in the top 100 globally in 42 subjects in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/gras/2024" target="_blank">Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024</a>, released last week – a feat matched only by the University of Michigan.&nbsp;</p> <p>Among Canadian universities, U of T ranked first in 27 subjects. That’s more than any other institution.</p> <p>“The ���߲ݴ�ý’s performance in the latest Shanghai subject rankings underscores our academic excellence across an extremely broad range of fields,” said U of T President&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler</strong>.</p> <p>“These results are a testament to the talent and dedication of our world-leading researchers and scholars.”</p> <p>More than 1,900 universities across 96 countries and regions are listed in the 2024 edition of the Shanghai subject rankings, which cover 55 subjects across natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences and social sciences.&nbsp;</p> <p>This year, the methodology was updated with four new indicators, increasing the total to nine. The new evaluation criteria include the number of faculty who are: recipients of significant awards, chief editors of academic journals, leaders in international academic organizations and considered highly cited researchers.&nbsp;</p> <p>Existing criteria continue to assess research output, quality and influence, international collaboration and other academic awards.&nbsp;</p> <p>Of the 55 subject areas covered by the rankings, U of T ranked in the top 50 globally in 28 subjects and in the top 25 globally in 21 subjects.&nbsp;</p> <p>The updated methodology resulted in significant changes for U of T in several subjects, including 25 where U of T moved up the rankings. Notable gains included: chemistry, which moved into 37^th&nbsp;place from outside the top 50; political science, which climbed 23 spots to 18^th; biology, which rose 12 spots to 21^st; human biology, which rose 12 spots to 24^th; and computer science, which climbed seven places to 17^th. U of T declined in 18 subjects and remain unchanged in 5 subjects.&nbsp;</p> <p>The ShanghaiRanking Consultancy also produces the influential Academic Ranking of World Universities, the most recent edition of which <a href="/news/u-t-ranked-1st-canada-26th-globally-shanghairanking-consultancy">ranked&nbsp;U of T as Canada’s top university&nbsp;and 26^th&nbsp;in the world</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Overall, U of T continues to be the highest-ranked Canadian university and one of the top-ranked public universities in the five most closely watched international rankings:&nbsp;<em>Times Higher Education’s</em>&nbsp;World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities,&nbsp;<em>U.S. News &amp; World Report’s</em>&nbsp;Best Global Universities and National Taiwan University World University Rankings.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:30:13 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 310653 at /news/why-it-s-important-get-your-2024-flu-shot-and-how-get-it <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Why it's important to get your 2024 flu shot – and how to get it</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/Influenza%20vaccine_Canva-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=AoFex_nT 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/Influenza%20vaccine_Canva-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=7dCxE8u4 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/Influenza%20vaccine_Canva-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=pICM5WiQ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/Influenza%20vaccine_Canva-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=AoFex_nT" alt="older man recieves a flu shot from a doctor"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-11-07T09:23:42-05:00" title="Thursday, November 7, 2024 - 09:23" class="datetime">Thu, 11/07/2024 - 09:23</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>The flu vaccine is especially important for adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant people and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from influenza infection, U of T experts say (photo by Canva)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/ishani-nath" hreflang="en">Ishani Nath</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/centre-vaccine-preventable-diseases" hreflang="en">Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/leslie-dan-faculty-pharmacy" hreflang="en">Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">U of T experts on the flu vaccine, where it's available and when's the best time to get it<br> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>None of<strong> Jeff Kwong</strong>’s patients has asked him about the influenza vaccine yet this fall – but the family physician wants to make sure that getting vaccinated is on people’s radar.</p> <p>That’s because influenza causes <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/flu-influenza/health-professionals.html" target="_blank">an&nbsp;estimated</a>&nbsp;12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths in Canada each year.</p> <p>Moreover, public health officials are doubly concerned this season because of a strain of influenza circulating in wild birds and some agricultural animals. While the risk of avian influenza&nbsp;to the general population remains low, A&nbsp;H5N1&nbsp;has nevertheless infected some humans who have close contact with sick animals.</p> <p>“While current influenza vaccines don’t protect against avian influenza, they may reduce the risk of infection with human influenza viruses and therefore the possibility of both human and avian influenza viruses infecting someone at the same time,” says Kwong, an associate scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and professor at the ���߲ݴ�ý’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.&nbsp;</p> <p>“These co-infections could create a new ‘version’ of influenza that might spread easily among humans and cause very severe disease.”</p> <h4>What is influenza?</h4> <p>Influenza is a respiratory disease that typically causes fever, cough and body aches. While many people recover from influenza within a week to 10 days, for some, an infection can cause severe illness.</p> <p>“It’s a good idea for everyone aged six months or older to get an influenza vaccine, but it’s especially important for adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant people and individuals who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from influenza infection,” says Kwong, who is the associate director of U of T’s <a href="https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institutes/centre-for-vaccine-preventable-diseases/">Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases</a> (CVPD), adding that medical conditions of concern include heart diseases, diabetes and even obesity.</p> <p>The most common reason <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccines/vaccination-coverage/seasonal-influenza-survey-results-2023-2024.html" target="_blank">Canadians give</a> for not getting a flu shot is because they don’t think it’s necessary – a sentiment <strong>Natalie Crown</strong>, associate professor, teaching stream, in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, has heard before.</p> <p>“Sometimes people will tell me they don’t get vaccinated because they think they don’t need it – for example, they’ll say they are healthy and rarely get sick themselves,” says Crown, who is also a CVPD member. “The reality is getting the flu vaccine is one of most effective ways of protecting ourselves from the flu and its complications, and we are doing our part to protect the more vulnerable people around us who are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu.”</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/DSC04496-crop.jpg?itok=LvFwmJEx" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>U of T’s Discovery Pharmacy's new location in the atrium of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building is among the places U of T community members can get their shot across the three campuses (photo by Dana Thompson)</em></figcaption> </figure> <h4>When to get the influenza vaccine&nbsp;</h4> <p>The flu season doesn’t have a precise start and end date. <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/vaccines-immunization/national-advisory-committee-immunization-statement-seasonal-influenza-vaccine-2024-2025.html" target="_blank">According to the&nbsp;National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI)</a>, influenza season typically starts in December but can start as early as October or as late as February.</p> <p>Influenza vaccines were first made available for high-risk individuals and then for the public, beginning in late October and early November.</p> <p>Since antibodies generated by influenza vaccines gradually decrease over time, Kwong takes a strategic approach to timing his influenza vaccine – but notes that may not be the best approach for everyone.</p> <p>“I tend to wait until around mid-November to get my influenza vaccine, so I will be protected in December when influenza activity often starts, and I can be fairly confident that the vaccine will still offer some protection up to May,” says Kwong. “However, for those at high risk, getting the influenza vaccine in late October is not a bad idea because occasionally influenza activity can start earlier than December.”</p> <h4>Where to get the influenza vaccine</h4> <p>Influenza vaccines are typically available at local community pharmacies, through primary care providers or at dedicated community clinics offered by public health units across the country.</p> <p>Members of the U of T community can also <a href="/utogether#clinics">visit ���߲ݴ�ý</a> for more information on where to get influenza, as well as COVID-19, vaccines across the university’s three campuses.</p> <h3><a href="/utogether#clinics">Learn more about vaccines at ���߲ݴ�ý</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:23:42 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 310463 at /news/going-digital-save-lives-u-t-grad-student-aims-eliminate-barriers-health-care <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Going digital to save lives: ���߲ݴ�ý grad student aims to eliminate barriers to health care </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-10/IMG_4871-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=mp6HsMEF 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-10/IMG_4871-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=RPpKabqt 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-10/IMG_4871-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=mu-fBp4w 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-10/IMG_4871-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=mp6HsMEF" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-10-07T09:40:31-04:00" title="Monday, October 7, 2024 - 09:40" class="datetime">Mon, 10/07/2024 - 09:40</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>Naturinda Emmanuel, a Mastercard Scholar who grew up in Uganda, studies intelligent medicine and electronic medical records at U of T's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (supplied image)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/tina-adamopoulos" hreflang="en">Tina Adamopoulos</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-research-network" hreflang="en">Black Research Network</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institutional-strategic-initiatives" hreflang="en">Institutional Strategic Initiatives</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/africa" hreflang="en">Africa</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institute-health-policy-management-and-evaluation" hreflang="en">Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mastercard-scholars" hreflang="en">Mastercard Scholars</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Naturinda Emmanuel, a scholar and entrepreneur, says the digitization of medical records, when coupled with AI, will reduce errors in patient care and help spot public health threats before they occur</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Growing up in Uganda,&nbsp;<strong>Naturinda Emmanuel</strong>&nbsp;aspired to be a medical doctor and health leader who eliminates barriers to health-care access for those in underserved, remote communities.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I always wanted to address different health-care issues in my country –&nbsp;that is my motivation,” he says.&nbsp;“I want to gain the skills and expertise to strengthen health-care systems to ensure that those who need care can receive it.”</p> <p>Naturinda (his surname) is now a graduate student at the ���߲ݴ�ý, where he studies intelligent medicine and electronic medical records in the master of health informatics program at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health's Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME).</p> <p>He’s also actively involved with the startup community, having launched a successful, impact-focused enterprise in Uganda and training other entrepreneurs.</p> <p>Naturinda joined IHPME with the support of the <a href="https://mastercardfdn.org/all/scholars/">Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program</a>, a global education initiative focused on the next generation of African leaders, and&nbsp;Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative&nbsp;(AHEHC), <a href="/news/u-t-partners-leading-african-universities-and-mastercard-foundation-advance-health-care-africa">a partnership between U of T, the Mastercard Foundation and leading African universities</a>. The AHEHC was established in 2022 to drive primary health-care workforce education, entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.&nbsp;</p> <p>This is Naturinda’s second time studying abroad with the Mastercard Foundation. He became the first in his family to study outside the country when he was awarded a scholarship to pursue an undergraduate degree in laboratory medicine at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.</p> <p>He later returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic to volunteer in the clinical microbiology and immunology departments at a local hospital. The experience prompted him to think about how to improve systems that were suddenly facing new pressures at already burdened hospitals –&nbsp;namely the continued use of paper records.&nbsp;</p> <p>Medical records are the building blocks for developing efficient and effective intelligent medicine models, he says, while intelligent medicine refers to the use of machine learning models to process medical data and reduce errors in patient care. Large datasets may also allow medical professionals to spot health patterns – an emerging epidemic, for example – to better prepare for public health threats.&nbsp;</p> <p>However, low-to-middle-income countries face many barriers to digitizing medical data, including limited access to technology and the absence of standardized data formats. The use of paper records also causes delays in retrieving laboratory results and makes it difficult to understand patients’ medical histories efficiently.</p> <p>“The digitization of medical records is essential for developing and training predictive models,” Naturinda says. “Unique electronic datasets from these communities provide the more accurate and reliable information needed to account for unique socio-cultural factors and effectively develop models tailored to address those specific challenges.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Naturinda will work under the&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;of&nbsp;<strong>Karim Keshavjee</strong>, an assistant professor and director of the master of health informatics program. In addition to intelligent medicine, Naturinda says he also has a key interest in implementation science, or the study of methods to ensure research is translated into policy, programs and startups.</p> <p>One of Canada’s few professional graduate programs in the field, the master of health informatics program provides students with the skills and strategic vision to take on leadership positions in health-care landscape.</p> <p>The opportunity to learn industry-specific knowledge from health leaders is what made the program a perfect fit, Naturinda says.</p> <p>“One of the reasons I chose the MHI program is because it is training us to be leaders, innovators and policymakers. I wanted to seek mentorship from people who were making a big impact in strengthening health-care systems in Canada.”</p> <p>Public health isn’t the only field where Naturinda is hoping to make an impact. He also wants to help others as an entrepreneur – a journey that’s already well underway.</p> <p>During his undergrad, he co-founded the Nugget Poultry Farm to help smallholder farmers in western Uganda raise poultry more effectively and improve food access back home. The venture aims to support 1,000 farmers in 20 communities by 2027 and has received a&nbsp;Social Venture Challenge Award&nbsp;from the Mastercard Foundation and the Resolution Project.&nbsp;</p> <p>Naturinda enhanced his business knowledge through the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University. Now a program coach, he has trained more than 500 entrepreneurs from Africa-based startups addressing various issues in agribusiness, climate change and health care.</p> <p>Naturinda is eager to tap into U of T’s network of entrepreneurs and has wasted no time reaching out to various groups, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/for-entrepreneurs/black-founders-network/">Black Founders Network</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>“When I train entrepreneurs, I see the impact of them pitching their ventures or winning a grant. It’s the type of impact that I want to see with my research, and bridging those two passions is an ideal step forward,” Naturinda says.&nbsp;</p> <p>“As I progress at U of T, I look forward to leveraging opportunities that speak to my background in entrepreneurship, health care and research to make sure that I implement them together.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:40:31 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 309742 at /news/first-48-hours-documentary-spotlights-journey-international-students <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">First 48 Hours: Documentary spotlights the journey of international students&nbsp;</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-09/First48Hr_YouTubeThumbnail_v1_White_Final-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=y_KWNHxG 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-09/First48Hr_YouTubeThumbnail_v1_White_Final-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=MaUNMyG0 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-09/First48Hr_YouTubeThumbnail_v1_White_Final-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=lvVtPqlw 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-09/First48Hr_YouTubeThumbnail_v1_White_Final-%281%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=y_KWNHxG" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-10-01T15:53:06-04:00" title="Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 15:53" class="datetime">Tue, 10/01/2024 - 15:53</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>(supplied image)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/adam-elliott-segal" hreflang="en">Adam Elliott Segal</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institute-health-policy-management-and-evaluation" hreflang="en">Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/centre-international-experience" hreflang="en">Centre for International Experience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/student-life" hreflang="en">Student Life</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">International Students: First 48 Hours will be screened across U of T’s three campuses this fall</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The first few days of a new school year can be as frantic as they are exciting – but for several international students at the ���߲ݴ�ý, there was an extra wrinkle: a new country.</p> <p>The students are featured in a 22-minute documentary called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCT5e_HaWVCmrnggUI4ymO8dfxrl0ZhtX"><em>International Students: First 48 Hours in Canada</em></a>,&nbsp;which&nbsp;is&nbsp;directed by&nbsp;<strong>Cal Campos</strong>&nbsp;and was shot at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.</p> <p>It&nbsp;uses a combination of the students’ own footage and sit-down interviews to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the excitement of packing, traveling and finally setting foot on each of U of T’s three campuses.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-09/Obinna-Photo-crop.jpg" width="250" height="250" alt="Obinna "> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Obinna Ezeani (supplied image)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Obinna Ezeani</strong>, who is featured in the film and spent 17 hours traveling from Lagos to Toronto, says he is thrilled to see the final product come to life.</p> <p>“It’s an opportunity to relive those moments and memories from a year ago and remind myself why I embarked on this journey,” says Ezeani, who is working on a master’s degree in health informatics and recalls his first few days in Canada as “exciting.”</p> <p>A joint partnership between U of T’s&nbsp;<a href="https://internationalexperience.utoronto.ca/">Centre for International Experience</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca/innovationhub/">Innovation Hub</a>&nbsp;in the division of&nbsp;<a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/">Student Life</a>, the documentary&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca/innovationhub/register-to-attend-first-48-hours-documentary-screening/">is being screened across the three campuses in October and November</a>&nbsp;– with the first screening scheduled at U of T Scarborough this week.&nbsp;</p> <p>It will later be available for streaming on YouTube.</p> <p><strong>Julia Allworth</strong>, the Innovation Hub’s manager of innovation projects, says the goal of the project was to shine a light on the multitude of diverse global perspectives that make up nearly a third of the university’s student body.&nbsp;</p> <p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="500" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kMO5U99K6EM?si=-WNNU-tSUCYUCI8p" title="YouTube video player" width="100%"></iframe></p> <p>“We wanted to zoom in on what it’s like for students when they first arrive in Canada. What challenges do they face as they step off the plane and into Canada? What decisions do they need to make along the way?” says Allworth.&nbsp;</p> <p>“International students bring tremendous value to the university.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The biggest challenge, according to Campos, was figuring out how to show the diversity and complexity of student life at U of T in just 22 minutes.&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-09/Rectangle-10-crop.jpg" width="250" height="250" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Jo Antonia Sepulveda Guzman (supplied image)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>“The beauty of documentary is you think it’s going to go in one direction, and then it goes a totally different way,” says Campos, who was selected to helm the project for their thoughtful approach to equity and diversity.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jo Antonia Sepulveda Guzman</strong>, who is from Chile and is working on a bachelor’s degree in the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education, says she is looking forward to sharing the doc with her family.</p> <p>“[They were] so excited when I told them I would be doing the&nbsp;48 hours&nbsp;project,” she says. “My sister started giving me tips on how to record and took me to change my phone screen protector so that the camera was not blurry. My mom is expecting to cry.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Sepulveda is nostalgic about the experience.</p> <p>“The person I was then is completely different from the person I am today. I worked so hard to come here. Remembering the beginning will be emotional for me.”</p> <p><strong>Shraddha Prasad</strong>, associate director, international student experience and global fluency at the Centre for International Experience, says she couldn’t be prouder of the year-long project, which received support from U of T’s&nbsp;<a href="https://international.utoronto.ca/opportunities/isef/">International Student Experience Fund</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>“International students have such impact in the U of T community through the perspectives they bring to the university through their lived experiences and their cultural backgrounds,” she says, noting that funding is already underway for a second film project titled&nbsp;<em>International Students:&nbsp;Life After Graduation</em>.</p> <p>“Being able to elevate these stories has been a huge highlight for us.”&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:53:06 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 309626 at /news/caution-needed-when-drawing-links-between-improving-symptoms-and-unproven-remedies-study <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Caution needed when drawing links between improving symptoms and unproven remedies: Study </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-09/GettyImages-1481433552-crop.jpg?h=1f3480b4&amp;itok=5u4uz5K5 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-09/GettyImages-1481433552-crop.jpg?h=1f3480b4&amp;itok=_YKv15oC 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-09/GettyImages-1481433552-crop.jpg?h=1f3480b4&amp;itok=j9VhcB__ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-09/GettyImages-1481433552-crop.jpg?h=1f3480b4&amp;itok=5u4uz5K5" alt="a person mixes various liquid ingredients into a bottle"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-09-06T12:03:17-04:00" title="Friday, September 6, 2024 - 12:03" class="datetime">Fri, 09/06/2024 - 12:03</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>(photo by&nbsp;Oleksandra Yagello/Getty Images)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/sunnybrook-staff" hreflang="en">Sunnybrook Staff</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/breaking-research" hreflang="en">Breaking Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6923" hreflang="en">Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/temerty-faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Temerty Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institute-health-policy-management-and-evaluation" hreflang="en">Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">"Post-hoc bias can play tricks on patients that can eventually lead to serious disappointments –&nbsp;and for health-care workers, it can ultimately lead to shortfalls in care"</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>People&nbsp;tend to continue with unproven treatments even if there’s no evidence to suggest an initial marginal improvement in symptoms is anything more than a potential coincidence, a new study has found.</p> <p>"I've noticed many of my patients take unnecessary vitamins, pills or alternative remedies with little evidence to inform their choice, leading to a lot of distraction, wishful thinking and wasted money,” says senior study author&nbsp;<strong>Donald Redelmeier</strong>, a staff internist and senior scientist at&nbsp;Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and professor in the department of medicine in the ���߲ݴ�ý’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.</p> <p>“Perhaps even more concerning is a false belief that leads to a missed diagnosis that later becomes incurable.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The study, <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823147">published in the journal&nbsp;<em>JAMA Network Open</em></a>, explores “post-hoc bias” – a tendency in reasoning that causes many patients to continue taking dubious or unreliable treatments. The bias encourages a popular misconception: that because one action preceded another later event, the first must have caused the second since it occurred in sequence.</p> <p>But medical science, the researchers note, stresses that the order of two events does not prove a cause-and-effect since coincidences are frequent. The implication for medical care is that a patient who improved after a treatment is not necessarily a patient who improved because of the treatment.</p> <p>Instead, other potential explanations include withdrawal from an adverse activity, added rest or the body’s own healing powers.</p> <p>To test bias across a variety of clinical cases, the researchers ran multiple experiments using hypothetical clinical scenarios administered by a randomized survey of pharmacists and members of the community.</p> <p>The scenarios described a patient with fatigue or another vague symptom who feels a bit better after trying a vitamin, shampoo, sugar pill or other treatment.</p> <p>“We found that most respondents suggested continuing the treatment indefinitely even though the change in symptoms might be pure random chance," says Redelmeier, who is also affiliated ICES and the&nbsp;Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation&nbsp;in U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.</p> <p>"The post-hoc bias can play tricks on patients that can eventually lead to serious disappointments –&nbsp;and for health-care workers, it can ultimately lead to shortfalls in care."</p> <p>While attributing an initial improvement in – or lack of – symptoms to a treatment is a quick and intuitive approach, the researchers say the study reinforces the need for both patients and clinicians to be cautious when drawing conclusions.</p> <p>“An awareness of post-hoc bias will not make it disappear, however we suggest patients and clinicians need to think twice and stay mindful of alternative explanations.”</p> <p>The study was supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a Canada Research Chair in Medical Decision Sciences, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the PSI Foundation of Ontario and the National Science Foundation.</p> <p><em>This story was <a href="https://sunnybrook.ca/research/media/item.asp?c=2&amp;i=3744&amp;f=scientists-caution-against-hasty-conclusions-for-alternative-remedies" target="_blank">originally posted</a> at Sunnybrook Research Institute</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:03:17 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 309291 at /node/308689 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, Centre for</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>laurie.bulchak</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-27T17:17:11-04:00" title="Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 17:17" class="datetime">Sat, 07/27/2024 - 17:17</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-url field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">URL</div> <div class="field__item">https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/centre-for-sexual-and-gender-minority-health-research/</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above clearfix"> <h3 class="field__label">Tags</h3> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Campus</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6953" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:17:11 +0000 laurie.bulchak 308689 at /node/308687 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Centre for (CVPD)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>laurie.bulchak</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-27T17:11:25-04:00" title="Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 17:11" class="datetime">Sat, 07/27/2024 - 17:11</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-url field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">URL</div> <div class="field__item">https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institutes/centre-for-vaccine-preventable-diseases/</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above clearfix"> <h3 class="field__label">Tags</h3> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Campus</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6953" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:11:25 +0000 laurie.bulchak 308687 at /node/308686 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Occupational Disease Prevention, Centre for</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>laurie.bulchak</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-27T17:09:59-04:00" title="Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 17:09" class="datetime">Sat, 07/27/2024 - 17:09</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-url field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">URL</div> <div class="field__item">https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institute/centre-for-occupational-disease-prevention/</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above clearfix"> <h3 class="field__label">Tags</h3> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Campus</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6953" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> Sat, 27 Jul 2024 21:09:59 +0000 laurie.bulchak 308686 at /node/308622 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Pandemics, Institute for</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>laurie.bulchak</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-27T13:02:47-04:00" title="Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 13:02" class="datetime">Sat, 07/27/2024 - 13:02</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-url field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">URL</div> <div class="field__item">https://pandemics.utoronto.ca</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above clearfix"> <h3 class="field__label">Tags</h3> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/utsg" hreflang="en">UTSG</a></li> <li><a href="/taxonomy/term/6847" hreflang="en">Institute for Pandemics</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Campus</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6953" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> Sat, 27 Jul 2024 17:02:47 +0000 laurie.bulchak 308622 at