Education Committee Annual Report - 2000

Meridith Marks, MD

1. Resident Essay Contest

There were eight submissions received for the Resident Essay Contest in 2000. The prize was awarded to Dr. Jennifer Yao from the University of British Columbia for her essay “Perspectives on Medical Marijuana in Rehabilitation.” Each resident who entered the contest received written feedback on their submission from the reviewers.

2. Medical Student Essay Contest

There were five submissions to the Medical student Essay Contest for 2000. This is a marked increase from previous years. Undergraduate coordinators are encouraged to tell students about the contest whenever students attend their clinics, lectures or in-patient services.

The prize was awarded to David Flaschner from the University of Western Ontario for his essay “Effectiveness of Botulinum A Toxin in the Treatment of Focal Hand Dystonia.”

3. Special projects

A survey regarding the availability of Fellowships in PM&R was circulated to all University Affiliated Programs in Canada. Only two fellowship positions were identified as having a definite funding source; both of these positions are offered at Westpark hospital in Toronto and were open to all health science disciplines. Most other University Divisions/Departments indicated they considered requests for Fellowships on a case-by-case basis. Many of these positions are not a true Educational Fellowships but rather are self-funded Clinical Scholar positions. A number of sites offer the opportunity to complete a Master’s program on a part-time basis.

Residents interested in pursuing a Fellowship year should be encouraged to contact University Division/Department of PM&R Chairs to gain a clearer understanding of what opportunities might be available at a specific site. A list of Fellowship options in the United States is available on the AAPM&R web-site.

4. Change in Committee Name and Terms of Reference

The Education Committee and the Research Committee will be combined as the Research and Education Committee with a single Chair. The Terms of Reference for the new committee and the membership will need to be adjusted accordingly.