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2023 Community Impact Report

Where collaborative leadership meets community well-being

Dalhousie's 2023 Community Impact Report highlights examples of what we can achieve with the vital partnerships we have with educators, health-care providers, governments, and communities.

President's Message

A message from Dalhousie University's President, Kim Brooks.
Read the president's message
Dalhousie's 13th President, Kim Brooks, sits smiling in a blue chair.

Supporting healthier communities

PEACH Research Unit: informing barrier-free communities to live, learn, work and play

At Dalhousie’s School of Planning, researchers of the Planning for Equity, Accessibility, and Community Health Research Unit (PEACH) team up with community members, disability advocacy organizations, and local governments to envision healthier and more accessible cities and towns in which to live, learn, work, and play. Dr. Mikiko Terashima, lead researcher at PEACH, founded the research unit with the support of like-minded School of Planning graduates with the idea that planning and urban design can do more to support the creation of barrier-free communities. 

Learn more about how Dalhousie is supporting healthier communities
Members of PEACH pose as a group in a boardroom

Fostering health throughout the lifetime

Dr. Kenneth Rockwood and the Frailty Scale

Dr. Kenneth Rockwood is changing how the world thinks about ageing. Dr. Rockwood developed the "Clinical Frailty Scale” at Dalhousie University, in close collaboration with mathematician Arnold Mitnitski, with whom he had developed the frailty index. For both measures the team translated various signs of frailty into a numerical ranking, with lower scores being less severe. This system is now used in hospital networks around the globe.

Learn more about Dr. Rockwood's work and fostering health throughout the lifetime
Dr. Kenneth Rockwood smiles while seated at his desk

Well-being for all

Equitable opportunities in Medicine: New Indigenous and Black Learners Admissions Pathways

There is a significant lack of representation of Indigenous and Black learners within medical schools, and in turn, the Canadian medical workforce. Dalhousie Medical School announced an Indigenous Admissions Pathway to help eliminate the barriers faced by Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqiyik, Peskotomuhkati, and other Indigenous students in their journey to Dalhousie medical school. The Black Learners Admissions Pathway, announced in 2023, aims to fulfill the same goal for African Nova Scotian, Black Maritimer, and other Black applicants. Dr. Leah Jones, Dal's academic director of Black health, says, “Representation matters, and it is lacking within the physician workforce in the Maritimes. I can’t wait to see that change and improve health outcomes for Black communities.”

Learn more about Admissions Pathways and advancing well-being for all
Students in the Black Learners Admissions Pathway pose as a group

Healthier planet, healthier people

Tackling the pervasive problem of microplastic pollution

Dr. Kristal Ambrose founded her non-profit environmental organization, the Bahamas Plastic Movement, to find solutions to alleviate plastic pollution and inspire Bahamian youth to create real change. “Education has been a huge part of the organization's mandate, with tuition-free camps allowing youth to act as citizen scientists conducting research and becoming engaged and empowered on this vitally important issue.”

Dr. Tony Walker from Dalhousie’s Faculty of Science School for Resource and Environmental Studies was one of the world’s most cited researchers in 2023. “I think it’s important now for members of the public to recognize that microplastic pollution is everywhere. Knowledge is really important because we can then help change decision-makers and give them the power to actually make really important decisions to curb plastic production.”

Learn more about the Dal community tackling plastic pollution
Dr. Kristal Ambrose collects plastic pollution on a beach