September 8, 2005 Source: Laurentian University of Sudbury:
http://www.laurentian.ca/?file=newsrelease/2005/sept/sept8_radiationtherapy_e.php Celebrating new developments in Northern Ontario's joint Radiation Therapy Program Earlier today, Laurentian University President, Dr. Judith Woodsworth, and Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences President, Dr. Paul Gamble, officially endorsed refinements to the Joint Program in Radiation Therapy offered by the two institutions. The coming year is an important one for the program, as the accreditation process by the Canadian Medical Association takes place when the first cohort of students enters clinical placement. All partners are looking forward to this major milestone now that that the curriculum is well established, with an excellent group of students taking courses delivered by faculty from all three partner institutions. With the anticipated growth in future demands for cancer treatment, the Radiation Therapy Program at Laurentian is a key resource for health care training in the region. This program is one of two in the province and the only one to integrate radiation therapy training within a heavily scheduled four year B.Sc. program open to high school entrants. Most students are from Northern Ontario , and having this training opportunity here is very important to this area of health care in our region. Forty-eight students are now enrolled in the first three years of this four year program which trains radiation therapists as key team members in the radiation treatment of cancer in regional centres across Canada and throughout the world. Students enroll at Laurentian for the 4 year B.Sc. program, which consists of Laurentian courses in physics and other sciences, applied clinical courses offered through distance education by the Michener Institute (based in Toronto) and clinical placements at the Regional Cancer Program of the Sudbury Regional Hospital and other participating centres throughout Northern and Central Ontario. The first clinical placements will take place in early 2006 as students enter their fourth year. “This program exemplifies Laurentian's commitment to health education and training in the North,” said Dr. Judith Woodsworth, LU President. “Partnering with an institution like the Michener Institute has enabled the University to train students from Northern Ontario and elsewhere for an exciting career in this important area.” “Collaboratively, we have been able to provide health care education opportunities for students to pursue studies closer to home, and help smaller health care communities train and retain a solid foundation of health care specialists in rural areas,” explained Dr. Paul Gamble, Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences President. “The program demonstrates the commitment of both institutions in providing students with the best learning experience possible.” A student resource room for teleconferencing and on-line access to treatment simulation facilities at the Michener Institute has been set up in the host Department of Physics at Laurentian. Facilities at the Regional Cancer Program are also used for specialized classes for senior students. Although some financial support for students is available through Laurentian's scholarship and bursary programs, fundraising for financial support specifically for radiation therapy students is being launched this fall. For more information please call Dianne Cameron, Coordinator of the Joint Program in Radiation Therapy at Laurentian University, at (705) 675-1151, ext. 2309 or dcameron@laurentian.ca.
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