Convocation 2019 / en 'In this work to move forward in a good way': ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad focused on improving Indigenous public health /news/work-move-forward-good-way-u-t-grad-focused-improving-indigenous-public-health <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'In this work to move forward in a good way': ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad focused on improving Indigenous public health</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/Maureen%20Gustafson%202.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=XCSRCEUQ 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Maureen%20Gustafson%202.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=FGmek_x1 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Maureen%20Gustafson%202.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=BtlcGmQJ 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/Maureen%20Gustafson%202.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=XCSRCEUQ" alt="Portrait of Maureen Gustafson in her graduation robes in front of University College"> </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="2019-11-22T15:01:43-05:00" title="Friday, November 22, 2019 - 15:01" class="datetime">Fri, 11/22/2019 - 15:01</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">Maureen Gustafson recently graduated from ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ with a master's degree in public health (all photos courtesy of Maureen Gustafson)</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/francoise-makanda" hreflang="en">FranƧoise Makanda</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/waakebiness-bryce-institute-indigenous-health" hreflang="en">Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health</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/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Maureen Gustafson</strong> walked towards the stage at her University of Toronto convocation wearing the moccasins her mother gave her the day before.</p> <p>ā€œI was really excited to wear them because, for a lot of people, moccasins are a symbol of Indigenous cultures,ā€ says Gustafson, who recently graduated with a masterā€™s degree in public health, health promotion and Indigenous health.</p> <p>ā€œIt made me feel really proud of who I am and where I come from, and I think thatā€™s important.ā€ &nbsp;</p> <p>Indigenous Peoples who pursue higher education experience barriers,&nbsp;Gustafson says. Her mom didnā€™t finish high school. She lived on her own at 15 years old.</p> <p>ā€œMy mom was living on her own to cope with the impacts that colonization had on her family. At my age, post-secondary was not an option for her. She was just trying to get by,ā€ Gustafson says.</p> <p>ā€œShe did end up going back to school later in life, and has since obtained a number of degrees including her masterā€™s of education. Sheā€™s been an amazing role model for me and knowing what she went through made my experience that much more meaningful.ā€</p> <p>Gustafson, a member of Couchiching First Nation, has Ojibwe and settler ancestry. She was born and raised in Fort Frances, Ont. She took part in the <a href="http://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institutes/wbiih/collaborative-specialization-in-indigenous-health/">Indigenous Collaborative Program</a> based at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, an experience she says reaffirmed her commitment to improving Indigenous health.</p> <p>Gustafsonā€™s journey has been one of acceptance of the adversity she faced during her studies, in&nbsp;society and from within.</p> <p>ā€œI realized in the last five or six years that I wasnā€™t always open about my Indigenous roots because of the racism that I encountered growing up,ā€ she says.</p> <p>She vividly remembers when classmates skipped the yearly powwow because their parents didnā€™t think it was important to go. She would hear the offhand comments, ā€œā€˜Oh well, we will just keep you out of school that day because you donā€™t need to go to that,ā€™ā€ she recalls.</p> <p>Along with her Indigenous roots, Gustafson has settler ancestry. She believes it has shielded her from the overt racism her peers might have faced. But&nbsp;she also heard things not meant for her ears.</p> <p>ā€œI didnā€™t realize that it was wrong, and that I was internalizing some of it. I think part of me was trying to protect myself. I didnā€™t talk about it or say ā€˜Well, actually, I am Indigenous.ā€™ā€</p> <p>Her confidence would strengthen as she grew older. She describes a trip to New Zealand in her last year of her undergraduate degree at McMaster University as a pivotal point in the journey. As part of a knowledge exchange, she, along with other Indigenous youth, stayed&nbsp;with a Māori&nbsp;family. The Māori are Indigenous to the land. On her trip, she received her acceptance letter from Dalla Lana.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>ā€œWe were all reflecting and thinking about our shared experiences as Indigenous youth from opposite ends of the world. That impacted the way I reacted to the acceptance.ā€</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/moccasins.jpg" alt="Gustafson's mother's moccasins sit in front of Gustafson's degree">Once admitted, Gustafson jumped into her studies and the concentration in Indigenous health. She met other Indigenous students, guest speakers and notably, the administrative team and concentrationā€™s program leads at the <a href="http://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/institutes/wbiih/">Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health,</a> who made her feel at home.</p> <p>She completed two practicums. One at the <a href="http://www.welllivinghouse.com/">Well Living House</a> at Unity Health Toronto, and a second that sent her all the way to Australia, where she worked at the Australian National University. She supported <a href="https://mkstudy.com.au/">Mayi Kuwayu: The National Study of Aboriginal &amp; Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing</a>.</p> <p>Itā€™s there that she came to understand the broader meaning of the word ā€œIndigenous.ā€ Her practicum and studies have helped her reaffirm what she already knew: ā€œAs Indigenous people, we already know the issues weā€™re facing&nbsp;ā€“&nbsp;we donā€™t need researchers or the media to tell us. We should focus on our strengths and build off the capacity that already exists within our communities.ā€</p> <p>ā€œThere are ways we can incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing, doing&nbsp;and being in this work to move forward in a good way,ā€ she adds.</p> <p>While working with Canadian and Australian Indigenous researchers, she learned to frame the discourse around improvements rather than gaps, and to compare health outcomes against non-Indigenous populations sparingly.&nbsp;</p> <p>ā€œThereā€™s a lot of talk about the deficits and the problems that weā€™re facing. Itā€™s important to acknowledge them, but if thatā€™s all we're talking about, what kind of message are we sending to our people and especially to our youth? There needs to be a balance.ā€</p> <p>Although her connection to her roots has been strengthened, her peers and ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ faculty could do more to acknowledge the impact of systemic racism, she says. Gustafson saw how Indigenous people were represented in academia. She saw the workload Indigenous professors did to maintain the instituteā€™s presence and to support Indigenous students. She also noticed her peersā€™ attitude during a condensed lecture on Indigenous health history.</p> <p>ā€œYou heard a few people saying ā€˜We canā€™t focus on the past,ā€™ā€ Gustafson says. ā€œItā€™s a common thing to hear, but that was hard, and it definitely influenced how I moved through the program.ā€</p> <p>It does not deter her from her commitment to Indigenous health. She has already landed a job at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit as a health promotion planner in Indigenous engagement.</p> <p>ā€œI canā€™t see myself working in any other field,ā€ she says.&nbsp;ā€œIā€™m open to what the future holds, but I think it will always be Indigenous health and public health. Itā€™s my passion.ā€</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, 22 Nov 2019 20:01:43 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 160859 at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad recreates 31-year-old photo from her first graduation /news/u-t-grad-recreates-31-year-old-photo-her-first-graduation <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad recreates 31-year-old photo from her first graduation</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/composite.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=WSM4uPL- 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/composite.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=yFk-wdie 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/composite.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jHK-jbhP 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/composite.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=WSM4uPL-" alt="Left is photo of Unnati Patel and family from 31 years ago; Friday is recreated photo from graduation in November"> </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="2019-11-18T10:07:19-05:00" title="Monday, November 18, 2019 - 10:07" class="datetime">Mon, 11/18/2019 - 10:07</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">Then and now: Unnati Patel and her family (left) during convocation at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ when she graduated in 1988; and (right) recreating her graduation photo in November after earning a degree in philosophy at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Mississauga (photos courtesy of Unnati Patel)</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/patricia-lonergan" hreflang="en">Patricia Lonergan</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</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/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/philosophy" hreflang="en">Philosophy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Four years ago, <strong>Unnati Patel </strong>stepped away from a decades-long engineering career and returned to her alma mater to rekindle her dream of studying humanities. She and her family celebrated that labour of love by recreating the photos from her first graduation at the University of Toronto 31 years ago.</p> <p>Earlier this month, Patel graduated with a degree in philosophy from the ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Mississauga. It is her second degree from ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ following a successful career as an engineer, much of it in leadership roles with multinational corporations in aerospace, high-technology and manufacturing.</p> <p>After 25 years in her chosen field, Patel decided to check off an item on her bucket list. Using her retirement savings, she went back to university.</p> <p>ā€œI closed my eyes and jumped in with both feet,ā€ she says of putting her career on hold at the age of 50, proving itā€™s never too late to follow your dreams.</p> <p>That leap of faith proved to be deeply rewarding for Patel, who ā€œfell in love with philosophy.ā€</p> <p>The first time Patel donned a cap and gown at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ was in 1988 when she received a bachelor's degree in applied science in electrical engineering. At the time, she was joined by her mother, father and then four-year-old nephew for some family photos. Her sister was the one behind the camera capturing the happy day.</p> <p>Those original graduation photos still sit in the family rooms of her relatives.</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/composite2.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Unnati Patel with her mother, Indu, in 1988 (left) and in November (right):&nbsp;Her mother&nbsp;dressed in the same sari she wore to her daughterā€™s first graduation (photo courtesy of Unnati Patel)</em></p> <p>It was time for an updated photo. Patel asked her family if they would help recreate a fondly remembered time from the past. They readily agreed.</p> <p>The road toward recapturing that special memory, however, turned into an emotional journey.</p> <p>Patelā€™s father, Kanti, was admitted to hospital with a brain injury while she was still working toward her degree. He died on March 9.</p> <p>Within an hour of ā€œletting him go,ā€ Patel was sitting by her fatherā€™s bedside with family when she received a message that she was accepted into the graduate program at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ.</p> <p>ā€œEveryone around the bed said, ā€˜Go for it,ā€™ā€ Patel recalls. But having planned to graduate in 2020 given all that had been happening in her personal life, she was two credits shy of finishing her undergraduate degree, which she would need to complete before starting graduate studies.</p> <p>With support from family and ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ staff and faculty, Patel studied throughout the summer so she could complete the necessary course work by August, allowing her to start graduate school.</p> <p>When November convocation came, she asked her family if they still wanted to recreate the photo they had planned. They assured her they did.</p> <p>Patelā€™s mother, Indu, dressed in the same sari she wore to her daughterā€™s first graduation in 1988. Anup, her now-adult nephew, found a pair of red suspenders on Amazon and managed to duplicate the outfit he wore when he was a young boy. Patelā€™s sister, Prerana, handed the camera to another person and stood in for their father, holding his picture.</p> <p>Coming together and recapturing that moment was ā€œbittersweetā€ for Patel.</p> <p>It was the first time her mother wore colour since saying goodbye to her husband of 65 years. Patel says her mother was ā€œbeamingā€ and it was nice to see her laughing that day.</p> <p>ā€œIt turned out really well,ā€ Patel says of duplicating her old graduation photo. ā€œNeedless to say, we're all older, wrinklier, greyer, bigger ā€¦ but [we] celebrated this milestone nonetheless.ā€</p> <p>Patel is now working toward her master's degree in philosophy at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ.</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 2019 15:07:19 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 160726 at Jumping for joy: 12 of our favourite photos from this year's fall convocation /news/jumping-joy-12-our-favourite-photos-year-s-fall-convocation <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Jumping for joy: 12 of our favourite photos from this year's fall convocation </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/1106Convocation005.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=K742OzrE 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/1106Convocation005.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=auAqkt8w 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/1106Convocation005.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=j5Eoi_FF 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/1106Convocation005.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=K742OzrE" alt="graduands jumping for joy in front of convocation hall"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>davidlee1</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-11-08T09:59:54-05:00" title="Friday, November 8, 2019 - 09:59" class="datetime">Fri, 11/08/2019 - 09:59</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">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ graduates perform for the cameras following convocation ceremonies on the St. George campus (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</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/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-hall" hreflang="en">Convocation Hall</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The changing leaves served as a appropriate backdrop for fall convocation as graduates from the University of Toronto embark on the next chapter of their lives after accepting their degrees at Convocation Hall.&nbsp;</p> <p>About 3,500 students attended the ceremonies this fall, along with&nbsp;friends and family.&nbsp;</p> <p>Check out some of the highlights as captured through the lenses of <em>³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ</em> photographers.</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/1106Convocation001.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> <p>Convocation marks the end of an era in oneā€™s studies, but the friendships made in university can last a lifetime. Here, a group of very recent graduates&nbsp;pose&nbsp;for a picture outside Convocation Hall.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/DZ6_7975.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>Wearing his blue and white robe, ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ President&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler&nbsp;</strong>makes his way to Convocation Hall.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/1106Convocation003.jpg" alt></em></p> <p><em>(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> <p>Many graduating students posed for a memorable photo inside a giant frame set up on Front Campus, with a picturesque view of University College&nbsp;as a backdrop.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/DZ6_7783.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p><strong>Lee Maracle</strong>, a critically acclaimed Sto:lo author and instructor in Indigenous Studies and at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻā€™s First Nations House, addresses graduating students&nbsp;in Convocation Hall. Maracle was part of an all-female lineup of convocation speakers.</p> <p><br> <img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/1106Convocation004.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>&nbsp;(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> <p>Un-bear-ably cute. A graduate poses for a photo on Front Campus.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/1106Convocation006.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> <p><em>No filter needed: A graduating student takes a quick selfie before entering Convocation Hall.&nbsp;</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/085A1688.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Chancellor&nbsp;<strong>Rose Patten&nbsp;</strong>shakes the hand of a graduating student during a ceremony in Convocation Hall.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/1106Convocation007.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> <p>There's always time&nbsp;for hugs at convocation.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/085A1695.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>A graduating student waves to her fans during a ceremony inside Convocation Hall.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/085A1821.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>After years of studying, it's finally here! A graduate walks in front of Convocation Hall with flowers in hand.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/DZ6_8007.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</em></p> <p>A round of applause for all graduating students!&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&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> Fri, 08 Nov 2019 14:59:54 +0000 davidlee1 160368 at 'Anything is possible through passion, perseverance and hard work,' says athlete and ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad /news/anything-possible-through-passion-perseverance-and-hard-work-says-athlete-and-u-t-grad <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'Anything is possible through passion, perseverance and hard work,' says athlete and ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad</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/EIzREzzXkAArJ6Y.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=JxXBruve 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/EIzREzzXkAArJ6Y.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_nL7rhhV 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/EIzREzzXkAArJ6Y.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=VIwM14HZ 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/EIzREzzXkAArJ6Y.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=JxXBruve" alt="Erica Gavel outside Convocation Hall in her graduation robes"> </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="2019-11-08T08:36:59-05:00" title="Friday, November 8, 2019 - 08:36" class="datetime">Fri, 11/08/2019 - 08:36</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">Erica Gavel, who graduated this week, became a wheelchair athlete in basketball after tearing the articular cartilage off of her femur and tibia. She doesn't use the wheelchair in her daily life (photo courtesy of Erica Gavel)</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/jelena-damjanovic" hreflang="en">Jelena Damjanovic</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</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/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/olympics" hreflang="en">Olympics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For <strong>Erica Gavel</strong>, earning a master's degree in exercise science at&nbsp;the University of Torontoā€™s Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education (KPE) was a labour of love that could end up&nbsp;helping her when she takes part in&nbsp;the&nbsp;2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.</p> <p>Gavel's research focused on environmental physiology and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Summer Games. For her project, which&nbsp;was a collaboration between ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ, the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario&nbsp;and Ontario Tech University, she&nbsp;researched and developed a method that could potentially help athletes at the Games deal with&nbsp;hot weather conditions.</p> <p>ā€œWhile we were going through the literature, my committee and I came across the menthol mouth rinse,ā€ says Gavel.&nbsp;ā€œEssentially, menthol increases activity among the reward centres of the brain and has been shown to translate to an increase in motor output or performance.ā€ &nbsp;</p> <p>Menthol mouth rinsing has only been used by men, so Gavel and the team of researchers decided to try it with women.</p> <p>ā€œFrom an athlete standpoint, this was palatable as menthol can be purchased from the local supermarket, itā€™s low in cost and easy to transport,ā€ says Gavel.</p> <p>ā€œFrom there, we replicated the 2020 Tokyo Olympic environmental conditions of 30 degrees C, 70 per cent relative humidity and 12 km/h wind speed and used the Olympic time trial distance for females, which is 30 km. Our research showed a 2.3 per cent increase of performance, which is huge from an Olympic placing standpointā€” the difference between first and fourth&nbsp;place&nbsp;is 0.88 per cent and the difference between first&nbsp;and eighth place&nbsp;is 2.5 per cent.ā€</p> <p>Earlier this year, Gavel&nbsp;was recognized with the Own the Podium Dr. Gordon Sleivert Young Investigator Award, given to students committed to performance sciences, research and innovation.</p> <p>Her&nbsp;research will benefit her personally when she travels to Tokyo for the 2020 Paralympic Games as part of Team Canadaā€™s womenā€™s wheelchair basketball team. She used to play basketball with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, but suffered a&nbsp;career-ending injury when she tore the articular cartilage off of her femur and tibia.</p> <p>ā€œLuckily, my university coach Lisa Thomaidis&nbsp;was also one of the coaches on the Olympic team. Itā€™s a little ironic, but I actually called her about my knee while she was coaching at the 2012 London Olympic Games. When she came back, she and a sport scientist, Bruce Craven, encouraged me to get involved with wheelchair basketball. Initially, I thought they were crazy, but we stuck with the process and I made the team.ā€&nbsp;</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Erica%20Gavel_0.jpg" alt="Erica Gavel poses with her teammates after qualifying for 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games"></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(117, 117, 117); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;"></span></p> <p><em>Erica Gavel poses with her teammates after qualifying for the&nbsp;2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games (photo courtesy of Erica Gavel)</em></p> <p>Gavel credits Heather Logan-Sprenger, an assistant professor at the Ontario Tech University and a member of her thesis committee, for showing her the tricks of travelling the world and hitting deadlines.</p> <p>ā€œShe was the best role model and mentor that I could ever ask for,ā€ she says of&nbsp;Logan-Sprenger, who earned her PhD while competing on both the national hockey and cycling teams.</p> <p>ā€œProfessor <strong>Scott Thomas</strong>, my supervisor at KPE, Professor [and Dean]&nbsp;<strong>Ira Jacobs</strong>, who was a member of my committee, and Michael Frogley, my basketball coach, have also been the most amazing when it comes to accommodating my training and academics. I am so grateful for all of them.ā€&nbsp;</p> <p>Gavel is also thankful for the mentorship she received from KPE Assistant Professor <strong>Jenna Gillen</strong>, who helped her with the research process and was always available to answer questions.</p> <p>ā€œAll of them have inspired me to pursue research and to believe that,&nbsp;just like in sport, anything is possible through passion, perseverance and hard work.ā€<br> <br> Gavel will next&nbsp;pursue&nbsp;a PhD at the Ontario Tech University and the&nbsp;Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.</p> <p>ā€œItā€™s pretty funny, but the idea behind my PhD project came from a class assignment I did for Professor Jacob,ā€ she says. ā€œEssentially, weā€™re working with an engineer in the development of an ergogenic aid for Paralympic athletes.ā€</p> <hr> <p><strong>Sadiya Abdulrabba</strong> has always been fascinated with the human body and its mechanisms. That passion&nbsp;led her to an undergraduate degree in kinesiology at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ. She graduated this week and will now pursue a masterā€™s degree in motor control with KPE Associate Professor <strong>Luc Tremblay</strong>.</p> <p>ā€œIā€™ve always been interested in how humans interact with the environment, as well as how we use sensory information in our environment to optimize movement,ā€ says Abdulrabba.</p> <p>During her undergraduate studies, she took part in two summer exchange programs&nbsp;ā€“ one in Hong Kong at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the other at KOC University in Turkey. She describes those experiences as enlightening, both&nbsp;academically and personally.</p> <p>Still, her fondest memories are centred around the friends she made in the kinesiology program.</p> <p>ā€œFrom outdoor projects to study jams at the library, it was my friends and the collegial atmosphere at this faculty that made my experience in this program so memorable,ā€ she says.</p> <p>She made her best friends in the ODP100, a mandatory camping trip a week before frosh week.</p> <p>ā€œThe small size of the program allowed for greater intimacy among the students, so while we were in the cabins and doing activities, such as canoeing, mountain biking, etc., we had the opportunity to form greater collegiality,ā€ says Abdulrabba.</p> <p>ā€œMost of the courses in the first two years of kinesiology are pre-planned, so we would often be in the same lecture hall and then head to Robarts Library to get some work done.&nbsp;</p> <p>ā€œWe helped each other cope academically, as well as mentally.ā€</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, 08 Nov 2019 13:36:59 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 160365 at 'Representing disability for what it is': ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad Chandler Fitzpatrick on overcoming obstacles, building community /news/representing-disability-what-it-u-t-grad-chandler-fitzpatrick-overcoming-obstacles-building <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'Representing disability for what it is': ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad Chandler Fitzpatrick on overcoming obstacles, building community </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/chandler-fitzpatrick.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-rY4i5Nb 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/chandler-fitzpatrick.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=OGRQ5zI_ 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/chandler-fitzpatrick.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=9xnmT3PW 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/chandler-fitzpatrick.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-rY4i5Nb" alt="Portrait of Chandler Fitzpatrick outside of New College"> </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="2019-11-08T08:34:27-05:00" title="Friday, November 8, 2019 - 08:34" class="datetime">Fri, 11/08/2019 - 08:34</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">A member of Woodsworth College, Chandler Fitzpatrick was awarded the Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Gold Scholarship for demonstrating leadership, community involvement and high academic achievement (photo by Diana Tyszko)</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/jovana-jankovic" hreflang="en">Jovana Jankovic</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/equity-studies" hreflang="en">Equity Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/student-experience" hreflang="en">Student Experience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</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/new-college" hreflang="en">New College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/women-and-gender-studies" hreflang="en">Women and Gender Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/woodsworth-college" hreflang="en">Woodsworth College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Chandler Fitzpatrick</strong> came to the University of Toronto as an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science&nbsp;through a college-to-university transfer program.&nbsp;</p> <p>In addition to graduating with a major in equity studies and a specialist in women and gender studies, Fitzpatrick has been involved in a variety of extracurricular roles, including vice-president, finance in the&nbsp;Equity Studies Student Union&nbsp;(ESSU) and as a member of the&nbsp;Arts &amp; Science Student Union's&nbsp;Budget Review Committee.&nbsp;A member of&nbsp;Woodsworth College, Fitzpatrick was awarded the&nbsp;Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Gold Scholarship&nbsp;for demonstrating leadership, community involvement and high academic achievement.</p> <p>Fitzpatrick has been open about their struggles with various disabilities, and speaks about navigating the university landscape, seeking support and the importance of finding a community of like-minded people.</p> <hr> <p><strong>What have been your most memorable experiences at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ?</strong></p> <p>I was supposed to graduate last spring, but I started taking a new medication because I live with disabilities, and it prevented me from completing my work within the universityā€™s timelines. So, I had to go through the petition process.</p> <p>That was memorable because I never thought I would find myself in that position. I was really lost and confused.&nbsp;</p> <p>One much more positive memory was winning the Brookfield Bronfman Gold Scholarship. It completely changed my situation. The recognition for the hard work I've put in and receiving financial aid when I needed it were key.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tell us a little bit about what you're planning for the future.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>I started to pursue the American Sign Language and Deaf studies program at George Brown College this year, but I'm withdrawing because, like a lot of other students, I have misunderstood or undiagnosed disabilities which sometimes prevent me from navigating environments in ways that allow me to meet my goals. But I'm hopeful that Iā€™ll be able to take the program again.&nbsp;</p> <p>Otherwise, I'm very interested in grad school. Overall, I hope to use my experiences to work towards increasing access to post-secondary education for students of all backgrounds and walks of life.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What makes you so passionate about equity and disability studies?</strong></p> <p>I'm always in favour of representing disability for what it is rather than hiding it. Thatā€™s why I talk openly about it.&nbsp;</p> <p>I move through the world observing people's behaviour and learning how to interact with them. And equity studies also does just that: We study what is happening with people in a certain space or context. Often, thatā€™s about how power functions and what people in power decide for those who aren't in power.&nbsp;</p> <p>Part of what I love about equity studies is the idea that everybody can have opportunities in a world that can be really difficult. It's so validating to study and participate in that.&nbsp;</p> <p>These programs really gave me a language to interact with the world and fight injustice and oppression. It's cool to be involved in building change. Sometimes itā€™s really difficult, but it gives me hope.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tell us a bit about your experiences living and studying in Toronto.</strong></p> <p>I'm from the Newmarket/Aurora area, and the biggest thing for me was the difference between being queer inside and outside of Toronto. My partner and I were the only openly queer couple in our Catholic high school and moving to Toronto liberated me completely. I could hold my partner's hand in public without feeling nervous. I found lots of other queer folks here.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What about your&nbsp;involvement with the Equity Studies Student Union?&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>My involvement in the ESSU gave me a lot of energy. There was so much openness and space to discuss and work through a lot of things we were finding on campus that were difficult.</p> <p>I also incorporated my work with ESSU into a project for Professor&nbsp;<strong>Michelle Murphy's</strong>&nbsp;course,&nbsp;ā€œToxic Worlds, Decolonial Futures.ā€ The idea is that we don't have to leave this campus to talk about equity or decolonization. There's so much to know and change about this institution.</p> <p><strong>What has it been like to seek support services on campus? What advice would you give to other students going through a similar experience?</strong></p> <p>I've had different challenges as a student: academic ones, disability-related challenges, financial struggles. Once I started to seek support ā€“ like workshops, engagement programming, financial assistance ā€“ it gave me opportunities without which I wouldā€™ve floundered unnecessarily.&nbsp;</p> <p>I went through the Blueprint Program ā€“ now known as&nbsp;Starting Point&nbsp;ā€“ to get to know the campus and its resources. I had a transfer adviser through the diploma-to-degree program who helped me get settled and made sure things were on track. And I got a lot of help with decision-making from my college registrar.</p> <p>If a student doesnā€™t do well, theyā€™ll sometimes assume there's something wrong with them. And that is not the case at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>Finally, itā€™s been really useful to access writing support. At&nbsp;New College&nbsp;there are writing sessions, retreats and the&nbsp;Caribbean, African and Equity Studies Writing Group. That became a place for me to go and do some work around some really wonderful people.&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the best parts of getting involved in support systems is that if you keep going back, you end up seeing the same folks. They become your team.</p> <p><strong>Do you have any words of advice for current or prospective ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ students?</strong></p> <p>I think a lot of students entering post-secondary studies feel pressured into pursuing certain things or completing their studies in a certain way. I would encourage students to think carefully about what they take on. Be aware from the outset that things can get stressful.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also, it can at times feel lonely and isolating trying to get through your degree. There are things we can do about that. If students can honour who they are instead of punishing themselves, that can be so beneficial.</p> <p>Campus involvement hugely benefited my personal wellbeing. I really urge students who have the capacity to involve themselves in student activism. Learn as much as possible about how the university functions ā€“ the history, dates and deadlines, restrictions, procedures, services ā€“&nbsp;and then find a community of people that will fight with you for what you need. For example, the awards officer at Woodsworth helped me access thousands of dollars of financial support, on multiple occasions, which really improved my well-being and academic capacity.</p> <p>Finally, communicate to the best of your ability with your college registrar and professors if youā€™re experiencing problems. It can feel like the end of the world, but if you say, ā€œI'm struggling, is there a way I can get an extension?ā€ ā€“ they might just say yes.</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, 08 Nov 2019 13:34:27 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 160364 at 'I went out and started my own thing': ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad on his decision to build a cryptocurrency-focused startup /news/i-went-out-and-started-my-own-thing-u-t-grad-his-decision-build-cryptocurrency-focused-startup <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'I went out and started my own thing': ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad on his decision to build a cryptocurrency-focused startup </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/UTSC_MGMT_WEB-325.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=XhDF_Mvu 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UTSC_MGMT_WEB-325.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=pmL8dVHC 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UTSC_MGMT_WEB-325.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=WFkl-TK1 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/UTSC_MGMT_WEB-325.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=XhDF_Mvu" alt="Portrait of Christian Cordero"> </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="2019-11-07T08:56:19-05:00" title="Thursday, November 7, 2019 - 08:56" class="datetime">Thu, 11/07/2019 - 08:56</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">Christian Cordero completed three co-op terms and founded a web-based company that teaches users about cyptocurrency mining while completing a bachelor's degree in business administration at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Scarborough (photo by Andy King)</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/elaine-smith" hreflang="en">Elaine Smith</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/thisistheplace" hreflang="en">ThisIsThePlace</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Christian Cordero</strong>, who graduates this week with a bachelorā€™s degree in&nbsp;business administration from the University of Toronto Scarborough, is someone who gets things done.</p> <p>So, it should come as little surprise to anyone who knows him that, during his undergraduate career, he participated in three co-op terms and, during his third year, collaborated in an online business that is already making modest profits.</p> <p>ā€œI learned a lot of theory in class, but I wanted to apply it&nbsp;ā€“&nbsp;so I went out and started my own thing,ā€ Cordero says.</p> <p>That ā€œthingā€ is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.febbit.com">www.febbit.com</a>, a website that teaches users about cryptocurrency mining via a videogame that illustrates the process. Players earn cryptocurrency rewards as they progress, an incentive to keep returning to the site. ā€œItā€™s such a new industry and I latched onto it,ā€ Cordero says.</p> <p>Corderoā€™s path to becoming an entrepreneur began&nbsp;reading and researching about cryptocurrency technology and investing some of his own money. During his fourth year at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Scarborough, he completed a co-op term with TD Bankā€™s blockchain group. The experience gave Cordero&nbsp;the confidence to look for opportunities in the world of cryptocurrency. Before long he was assisting clients in the industry.</p> <p>A soccer pal connected Cordero to ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ alumnus&nbsp;<strong>Paul Bursu</strong>, who also had an interest in cryptocurrency. Together, they and two partners began to build the Febbit concept with the support of ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Scarboroughā€™s&nbsp;Hub accelerator, one of several entrepreneurship hubs on campus. The site now boasts an online community of more than 200,000 registered users. While the business doesnā€™t earn enough to support any of its founders, it has nevertheless&nbsp;provided them with valuable experience. It also gave Cordero the opportunity to mentor a student intern.</p> <p>ā€œItā€™s not something I would have imagined doing as an undergraduate,ā€ Cordero says.</p> <p>In addition to his stint with TDā€™s blockchain group, Cordero completed two other co-op terms during his time at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Scarborough: one in sales for a moving company, which gave him valuable insights into how a business is run; and he spent a term in TD Bankā€™s digital channels group.</p> <p>ā€œWhen I was younger, I used to read John Grisham legal suspense novels and had a romantic idea about becoming a lawyer,ā€ says Cordero, ā€œbut ... as I grew up, I looked at my skills and realized I had a knack for business. I learned to capitalize on my strengths and would advise other students to learn to do the same. I found that, whatever my weaknesses, Iā€™d have a team behind me to compensate.ā€</p> <p>He hopes to inspire other students to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.</p> <p>ā€œIf I could do this as a third-year university student and make a small profit, others can, too,ā€ Cordero says. ā€œItā€™s cool to try. Donā€™t worry about what others think and donā€™t be afraid to make the jump. Now is a good time to try these things&nbsp;ā€“&nbsp;when you donā€™t have a lot of financial responsibilities.ā€</p> <p>After convocation, Cordero plans to look for full-time job opportunities in the business world to supplement the income he gets from Febbit.&nbsp;</p> <p>ā€œYou have to put yourself out there,ā€ Cordero says. ā€œYou need to be comfortable with yourself, friendly, empathetic and kind ā€“ people recognize that. Itā€™s all about being genuine.ā€</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> Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:56:19 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 160358 at Social Work's Indigenous trauma and resiliency program focuses on the personal and professional /news/social-work-s-indigenous-trauma-and-resiliency-program-focuses-personal-and-professional <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Social Work's Indigenous trauma and resiliency program focuses on the personal and professional</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/UofT83973_1105JulieBlair003.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=eBBqMlQn 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT83973_1105JulieBlair003.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7fz5fgWm 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT83973_1105JulieBlair003.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Hf8pjPOb 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/UofT83973_1105JulieBlair003.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=eBBqMlQn" alt="Portrait of Julie Blair"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-11-07T00:00:00-05:00" title="Thursday, November 7, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Thu, 11/07/2019 - 00:00</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">ā€œOne thing I learned is to reflect upon how we're taking care of ourselves as people moving through the program on this journey, and that I need to consider myself as part of the community I'm taking care of,ā€ says Julie Blair (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</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/peter-boisseau" hreflang="en">Peter Boisseau</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/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/factor-inwentash-faculty-social-work" hreflang="en">Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work</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/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When <strong>Julie Blair </strong>returned to school in 2013 as a mature student after nearly 20 years, she had no idea what a profound journey she had started.</p> <p>As she prepares to formally receive her Master&nbsp;of Social Work&nbsp;degree from the Indigenous trauma and resiliency program (MSW-ITR) at convocation on Thursday, Blair has not only carved out a personal legacy but left an imprint on the university itself.</p> <p>Blairā€™s personal legacy includes being part of the second cohort in a groundbreaking masterā€™s program, earning a previous undergraduate degree in Indigenous studies with a 3.9 GPA, winning the Presidentā€™s Award for Outstanding Indigenous Student of the Year, and being the first Indigenous student to receive the Brookfield Peter F. Bronfman Gold Scholarship from Woodsworth College. She also helped organize the first powwow at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ in 20 years in 2017, establishing a tradition that has continued since then.</p> <h3><a href="/convocation">Read more about Convocation 2019</a></h3> <h3><a href="/news/u-t-honours-outstanding-indigenous-students-whose-achievements-go-beyond-academics">Read more about Julie Blair</a></h3> <p>ā€œWhen I went back to school, I couldnā€™t decide what I wanted to take, and my partner told me to follow my heart and just take the first course that looks like it might be interesting, so I kind of stumbled into taking an Indigenous studies course,ā€ says Blair, who is of Anishinaabe and Dutch ancestry and a member of the Serpent River First Nation.</p> <p>ā€œAnd thatā€™s how it all got started. I was so upset by the things I learned about the colonial history of whatā€™s happened to Indigenous Peoples in Canada and what our contemporary realities are. As an Indigenous person myself, I never learned this in school,ā€ she says.</p> <p>ā€œI was not part of the Indigenous community in Toronto when I came to ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ. I didn't really know any other Indigenous people. And that Indigenous studies course just sparked a longer journey of wanting to learn more about my own culture and becoming part of a community that has really supported me along my journey.ā€</p> <p>The MSW-ITR program was inspired by seven Indigenous women&nbsp;ā€“ <strong>Kim Anderson</strong>, <strong>Maria Campbell</strong>,<strong> Suzy Goodleaf</strong>, <strong>JoAnn Kauffman</strong>, <strong>Sylvia Maracle</strong>, <strong>Rebecca Martell</strong> and <strong>Jane Middelton-Moz</strong> ā€“ and a unique collaboration among the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC), the Middelton-Moz Institute and the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW).</p> <p>The two-year masterā€™s program prepares its graduates to help individuals, families and communities affected by historical and generational trauma. It focuses on theoretical knowledge, personal development and skills-building through face-to-face, week-long courses, online distance learning and field placements.</p> <p>Only 44 students in two cohorts have graduated from the program, but they are already having a big impact, says Middelton-Moz.</p> <p>ā€œI keep in touch with the graduates of our program and a large number of them have already been put into executive director positions,ā€ she says. ā€œWe couldnā€™t be happier.ā€&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Dexter Voisin</strong>, dean of the&nbsp;Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, agrees.&nbsp;ā€œWe are beginning to witness the impact of the ITR field of study for students in this program and the communities in which they live and work.</p> <p>ā€œThis field of study is innovative in both design and content. Many of the MSW-ITR students are located outside of the Greater Toronto Area. They are uniquely positioned to have impact in their own communities, while building on a supportive network that they have developed here at the FIFSW,ā€ he says.</p> <p>ā€œAs the first few cohorts graduate and enter the field, they represent our deep commitment to transforming social work practice and honouring the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.ā€</p> <p>Middelton-Moz says one of the things that makes the program so unique is that itā€™s based on North American Indigenous values of kindness, respect, inclusion, belonging and co-operation.</p> <p>ā€œAnd because of that, we welcome people from Indigenous cultures throughout the world,ā€ she says, adding that another key component is the emphasis on wellness plans for every student.</p> <p>After 50 years in mental health and education, she says she recognized many students graduating from other universities were dealing with personal problems that made them unprepared to deal with the trauma in the communities they were trying to help.</p> <p>ā€œWe wanted our students to get the help they needed so they in turn could go out and help other people.ā€</p> <p>Students in the MSW-ITR program develop individual wellness plans and evaluate them every three months throughout the two years in order to assure their mental, spiritual, physical and&nbsp;emotional health when working with individuals, families and communities.</p> <p>Blair says she appreciated that the program incorporated the personal as well as the professional.</p> <p>ā€œOne thing I learned is to reflect upon how weā€™re taking care of ourselves as people moving through the program on this journey, and that I need to consider myself as part of the community Iā€™m taking care of.ā€</p> <p>Middelton-Moz says Blair is an amazing person.</p> <p>&nbsp;ā€œShe is very grounded in spirituality, and incredibly ethical, and worked hard on her own wellness throughout the program. I canā€™t say enough about Julie.ā€</p> <p>&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> Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000 noreen.rasbach 160313 at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ graduate Dede Akolo, a writer and poet, on why it's 'important to find a community' /news/u-t-graduate-dede-akolo-writer-and-poet-why-it-s-important-find-community <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ graduate Dede Akolo, a writer and poet, on why it's 'important to find a community'</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/dede-akolo.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=K9jAFGfI 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/dede-akolo.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=11OBp9bx 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/dede-akolo.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=I7h6mCRM 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/dede-akolo.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=K9jAFGfI" alt="Dede Akolo holds their Cressy Award"> </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="2019-11-06T08:43:50-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 6, 2019 - 08:43" class="datetime">Wed, 11/06/2019 - 08:43</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">Dede Akolo, who is graduating with a double major in equity studies and literature and critical theory, poses with their 2019 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award (photo courtesy of University of Toronto)</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/jovana-jankovic" hreflang="en">Jovana Jankovic</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/equity-studies" hreflang="en">Equity Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/student-experience" hreflang="en">Student Experience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</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/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/literature" hreflang="en">Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/poetry" hreflang="en">Poetry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Originally from Vancouver, <strong>Dede Akolo</strong> graduated from the University of Toronto this week with&nbsp;a double major in&nbsp;equity studies&nbsp;and&nbsp;literature and critical theory. A member of&nbsp;University College, Akolo was also the recipient of a&nbsp;2019 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award&nbsp;and editor-in-chief of the University College newspaper&nbsp;<em>The Gargoyle</em>.</p> <p>Akolo is also an avid writer, with a particular interest in composing and performing poetry.&nbsp;</p> <p>ā€œUniversity College has open mics every month and I used to perform readings there all the time,ā€ Akolo says.</p> <p>We spoke to Akolo about their experiences at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ, plans for the future and the importance of finding oneā€™s community ā€“ in school and in life.&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><strong>What has been your most memorable experience at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ?&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>I think it was my first year and everyone I met while living in residence. Moving across the country from Vancouver, Toronto was so different in so many ways. So, I think having a good foundation of relationships was important.&nbsp;</p> <p>In my second year, I befriended some [senior] people as a younger student, and then when I became a fourth- and fifth-year student, I started mentoring younger people myself, through <em>The Gargoyle</em> and as a don in residence.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tell us a little bit about your major in equity studies and what your plans are after graduation.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>It was really cool to see a lot of mature students in equity studies ā€“ people who worked in the field, in non-profits and with certain communities. Itā€™s very interdisciplinary in that way. There are so many people coming from different backgrounds.</p> <p>I know I want to do something of service to people. I think I want to go to graduate school, but I don't know yet. I'm taking this year off and applying to schools for next fall.&nbsp;</p> <p>My family is still in Vancouver and I do miss them. I have a lot of roots and a really huge support system there, but I also have a community here, so I think Iā€™d like to stay in Toronto and figure out how to build my roots here. While I love Vancouver, it doesn't have the same opportunities that I'm looking for as Toronto does, such as in the arts or non-profit worlds.</p> <p><strong>Toronto is a very diverse city. What has your experience living and studying here been like?</strong></p> <p>Torontoā€™s different from Vancouver in a lot of ways. In Toronto, people walk faster, theyā€™ve got places to be. The transit system works so differently. Torontoā€™s just bigger and faster and has more concrete!</p> <p>Also, while I wouldn't call myself an activist necessarily, it definitely comes into the kind of work that I want to do ā€“ for social justice and for the betterment of people. And thereā€™s a real hub for that in Toronto, as well as such a history of really amazing social movements because of the cityā€™s diversity. And from within Toronto, you can make big connections to all across the world.</p> <p><strong>How did you develop your interest in writing? What role does writing play in your life, and what do you hope to keep doing with writing?</strong></p> <p>I got interested in writing at a very early age, so I've been writing for a really long time. My parents really believed in making us into citizens of the world, so they put us in a lot of arts programs and we did a lot of travel. So, when I was a kid, they really encouraged my writing.</p> <p>Writing has been an expressive creative outlet for me. Itā€™s a way to put my thoughts into imagery and make them more concrete. It plays a huge part in how I process emotions and itā€™s a way for me to express my views on the world.</p> <p>Writing is actually a big part of why I want to stay in Toronto. The writing community here is really beautiful and blossoming. University College has open mics every month and I used to perform readings there all the time.</p> <p>As editor-in-chief of <em>The Gargoyle</em>, there was actually a lot of office stuff to do as opposed to writing ā€“ like payments, budgeting, managing people, making sure that editors were doing things on time.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>If you had any pieces of advice for younger students, what would it be for them to get the most out of their ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ experience?</strong></p> <p>Itā€™s important to find a community. Find the people who can help you with advocating for yourself. You have to know your rights as a student.</p> <p>Mental health is important. I personally had good experiences with some of the services that Iā€™ve sought, but thatā€™s not the case for everyone. I want people to know that while there are systems that feel like they bog you down, there are also communities and people in place that want to change those systems and want to do so much good.</p> <p>Mental health ties into things like financial security, housing security and accessibility, so organizing a community around yourself is so important for dealing with those things. You'll find a community if you look.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also think itā€™s important to be purposeful with the people you want to see, the things they say and do, and the communities that you want to be a part of ā€“ in order to create the goodness that you want to put out into the world.</p> <p>Organizing with students around issues that are meaningful to you can give you a sense of agency in an atmosphere like a big university that can sometimes be isolating.</p> <p>Itā€™s so much more fruitful to build a community that is purposeful.&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> Wed, 06 Nov 2019 13:43:50 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 160328 at How a master's degree in biomedical communications helped this ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad give back (video) /news/how-master-s-degree-biomedical-communications-helped-u-t-grad-give-back-video <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">How a master's degree in biomedical communications helped this ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad give back (video)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-11-05T14:00:00-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - 14:00" class="datetime">Tue, 11/05/2019 - 14:00</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-youtube field--type-youtube field--label-hidden field__item"><figure class="youtube-container"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4FL7qsIeHDo?wmode=opaque" width="450" height="315" id="youtube-field-player" class="youtube-field-player" title="Embedded video for How a master's degree in biomedical communications helped this ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad give back (video)" aria-label="Embedded video for How a master&amp;#039;s degree in biomedical communications helped this ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ grad give back (video): https://www.youtube.com/embed/4FL7qsIeHDo?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </figure> </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/biomedical-communications" hreflang="en">Biomedical Communications</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</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/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Mississauga</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When he came to the University of Toronto&nbsp;to study biomedical communications, <strong>Alexander Young</strong> says he had a foot in two worlds.</p> <p>He became part of the university community while also maintaining his connection to his MĆ©tis culture and heritage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Young, who graduates on Nov. 6, says his lessons in biomedical communications at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Mississauga gave him the practical skills he will need to jumpstart his career. Youngā€™s portfolio includes magazine covers for the likes of&nbsp;<em>Scientific American&nbsp;</em>and 3D modelling,&nbsp;animation and user-experience projects.</p> <p>But Young also realized that he could use the same skills he honed in university to give back to his community.&nbsp;</p> <p>ā€œIā€™ve had the opportunity to use the design skills and artistic skills that I have to communicate Indigenous language, Indigenenous initiatives both at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ and in the city,ā€ he says.&nbsp;</p> <p>ā€œItā€™s been an interesting realization that I mightā€™ve specialized in this sort of niche field,ā€ he adds, ā€œbut the skills that Iā€™m learning are still applicable to broader communications and can still be used to benefit a broader community as well.ā€</p> <h3><a href="https://youtu.be/4FL7qsIeHDo">Watch the video</a></h3> <h3><a href="/convocation">Read more about Convocation 2019</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> Tue, 05 Nov 2019 19:00:00 +0000 geoff.vendeville 160184 at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Faculty of Dentistry graduate to continue research as university professor /news/u-t-faculty-dentistry-graduate-continue-research-university-professor <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ Faculty of Dentistry graduate to continue research as university professor</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/Thang%2C%20Trevor_2015-12-16_017_courtesy_Jeff_Comber_FofD.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=r3IwFDiW 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Thang%2C%20Trevor_2015-12-16_017_courtesy_Jeff_Comber_FofD.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=TGyZYM4L 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Thang%2C%20Trevor_2015-12-16_017_courtesy_Jeff_Comber_FofD.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=JVQIhSEJ 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/Thang%2C%20Trevor_2015-12-16_017_courtesy_Jeff_Comber_FofD.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=r3IwFDiW" alt="Photo of Trevor Thang in a Faculty of Dentistry' lab"> </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="2019-11-05T09:34:33-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 5, 2019 - 09:34" class="datetime">Tue, 11/05/2019 - 09:34</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">Trevor Thang, who graduated this week from the Faculty of Dentistry's oral and maxillofacial radiology program, recently began a job as an assistant professor at Western University (photo by Jeff Comber)</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/erin-vollick" hreflang="en">Erin Vollick</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/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-dentistry" hreflang="en">Faculty of Dentistry</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Heā€™s graduating with the University of Torontoā€™s fall class of 2019, but&nbsp;<strong>Trevor Thang</strong>&nbsp;is very happy to be heading straight back to school ā€“ this time, as a tenure track professor.</p> <p>In September, Thang began a new position as an assistant professor at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, where heā€™s the sole specialist in oral and maxillofacial radiology (OMFR).</p> <p>OMFR&nbsp;is a highly specialized branch of dentistry. ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻā€™s Faculty of Dentistry has one of the highest profile programs in North America and offers the only graduate specialty training degree in Canada. Admitting up to two students per year, the three-year program involves clinical training as well as an advanced research component.&nbsp;</p> <p>It was a career path that suited Thang perfectly.</p> <p>ā€œI chose academia because of my inherent curiosity to learn new things,ā€ says Thang, who graduated with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ in 2016. ā€œBeing at a university will allow me to do that, while also allowing me to develop new knowledge through research.ā€</p> <p>Thang has already added to the field. His masterā€™s research looked at developing guidelines for how long digital dental X-ray sensors can and should be used (thereā€™s currently a lack of industry standards). Over time, the image quality of the&nbsp;sensors degrades, potentially leading to poor&nbsp;quality images. Thangā€™s research, soon to be published in a dental journal, will be used by regulatory bodies as they develop and publish guidelines on the emerging technology.</p> <p>ā€œI think the radiology program at ³Ō¹Ļ±¬ĮĻ is unmatched by any other program in North America,ā€ says Thang. ā€œIt creates a culture where you can learn as much as you want, grow as much as you want. [Associate Dean, Graduate Education]&nbsp;<strong>Ernest Lam</strong>&nbsp;provides us the time to be curious and explore new things without putting a focus on simply getting the work done.ā€&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Lam, who is also the graduate specialty program director at the Faculty of Dentistry, says a three-year graduate program at the faculty goes by quickly.&nbsp;ā€œAs a mentor, you hope your students have learned the necessary skills to become competent clinical specialists,ā€ he says.&nbsp;ā€œBut more than this, we hope they develop a sense of responsibility for advocating and leading the specialty into the future. I think that Trevor was able to do all these things and more during his time with us.ā€&nbsp;</p> <p>At Schulich, the only other dental school in Ontario, Thang will teach undergraduates the fundamentals of oral radiology. Heā€™ll be the onsite radiologist and radiation safety officer&nbsp;ā€“&nbsp;and heā€™s already putting his advanced degree to work as he develops policy decisions for Schulich.&nbsp;</p> <p>Heā€™ll continue on with private practice, as well. In his specialty, the more you see and diagnose, the better you become, he says.</p> <p>ā€œYouā€™re only as good as the amount you see.ā€&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, 05 Nov 2019 14:34:33 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 160314 at