May 2021

In 2018, an innovative cancer research study led by Drs. Melanie Keats and Scott Grandy (School of Health and Human Performance) in partnership with the Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program was launched. ACCESS (Activating Cancer Communities through Exercise Strategy for Survivors) brought exercise more closely into cancer treatment and care and was designed to lessen the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on participants.

In partnership with the Canadian Space Agency, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Frailty Network and seven other research teams across Canada, a unique Canada bed rest study will examine the impact of complete bed rest on the human body. Twenty-four healthy individuals between 55 and 65 years of age will participate in the study, which will involve lying in bed with their heads slightly tilted down for 14 days. Half of the subjects will receive a physical exercise intervention that includes strength and aerobic exercises to see if this impacts different health outcomes.

The inaugural issue of the Healthy Populations Journal (HPJ) is published! HPJ is a multi-faculty, student led, open access, peer-reviewed journal housed at the Healthy Populations Institute (HPI) at Dalhousie University.

Since COVID hit Nova Scotia, Pauline Surkan (BScN ’17) has been on the front lines protecting our communities. We first interviewed Pauline in May 2020 while Nova Scotia was in the grip of the first wave of the pandemic and the RN had volunteered to work extra shifts to help staff a busy drive-thru assessment centre.

Most of us who have taken a sip of water and had it ‘go down the wrong tube,’ know immediately what it feels like: horrible. It’s usually a few seconds of panic followed by coughing until you can finally breathe again.

Please join us in thanking the Healthcare Heroes across the province!

A School of Health and Human Performance (HAHP) eight-week study showed that during times of uncertainty and increased stress, the BOKS (Build our Kids' Success) program can be used as a tool to improve a child’s overall wellbeing. Despite challenges brought on by the lockdowns, parents of participating students noticed improvements in their child’s mood, energy level and sleep.

Shirlie (Clay) Dent (BSN’58) had a career in Nursing that spanned four decades before her retirement, something she accomplished while raising two children during her husband’s 34-year military career when he was frequently absent. When asked about these accomplishments Shirlie is humble, but those closest to her are not shy about singing her praises.