UPEI’s Executive MBA program offers a high-quality learning experience for working business professionals. The program is designed for those working in, or aspiring to work in, a management or leadership position. Classes are offered bi-weekly on Fridays and Saturdays with the option to complete the program in 20 months.

The program offers a specialization in Innovative Management. This fall, students can opt for a special one-time focus on Public Sector Management. This is a fantastic opportunity for public sector managers looking for a public sector focus while simultaneously getting a full MBA experience.

To learn more about this exciting program, UPEI’s School of Business invites you to attend the following information session. Learn more about the program and application process, have your questions answered, and meet with staff from the School of Business.

Wednesday, March 9, 5 pm
Provinces Room, Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, Charlottetown

For more information, or to reserve a seat, call 902-566-6474 or email mba@upei.ca to reserve a seat.  

Dr. Aimie Doyle (Class of 2000), a large animal surgical specialist at AVC, is featured on the National Geographic Wild docu-reality show, Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet, when it opens for its third season on March 19.

Because there is no surgical expertise for large animals in the North, Dr. Doyle provides her expertise to Dr. Michelle Oakley, star of the show and Dr. Doyle’s classmate at AVC. In the March 19 show, Drs Doyle and Oakley work together to determine the cause of serious lameness in a horse.

In May 2015, Dr. Doyle took students Bethany Holliday, Nancy Brochu, and Shauna MacLeod, AVC Class of 2016, to work with Dr. Oakley on a captive wildlife rotation where they gained experience with a variety of captive wild animals—from reindeer to porcupines. The students will appear in an upcoming episode of the show.

Dr. Doyle will return to the Yukon in May 2016 to work with Dr. Oakley on the fourth season of the show.

Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet premiered on April 14, 2014, on National Geographic’s subsidiary channel Nat Geo WILD. One of only a few veterinarians in the Yukon, Dr. Oakley is followed by a film crew as she travels hundreds of kilometres across harsh terrain to make house calls to help many species of animals, ranging from an angry musk ox and a caribou with a tumor to a defensive lynx and a grey owl with an amputated wing. In her case, “house” may range from a remote homestead to a frozen prairie in the dead of winter.

Dr. Oakley lives in the village of Haines Junction, Yukon, with her husband and three daughters. She runs a clinic out of her home and offers weekly clinics in satellite facilities in Whitehorse, Yukon, 154 km from her home and in Haines, Alaska, 238 km from where she lives. She is the on-call veterinarian for the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, a huge enclosure that contains many animals native to the Yukon as well as a large wildlife rehabilitation facility.

She has been involved in numerous research programs for First Nations organizations and for the Canadian government. In addition to her veterinary role, she is recognized as a regional biologist in the Yukon. She is an associate professor at the University of Calgary’s College of Veterinary Medicine and regularly works at the Calgary zoo in this capacity.

Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet can be viewed at http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/dr-oakley-yukon-vet/.
 

The Winter’s Tales Authors Reading Series presents a public reading by Newfoundland author Michelle Butler Hallett. The reading takes place 7:30 pm, Tuesday, March 15 at in the Dawson Lounge, room 520 of UPEI’s SDU Main Building. Originating from St. John’s, where she currently resides with her family, Michelle is known as a literary risk-taker.

Butler Hallett is a master of many writing forms. She has published a short story collection entitled The shadow side of grace and has since been a prominent contributor to various short story anthologies. She is also a poet, playwright, and novelist. Her published novels are Double-blind (shortlisted for the 2008 Sunburst Award), Sky Waves, and deluded your sailors.

She is the kind of writer who does not brush aside her own struggles or the human suffering surrounding her; rather, she uses strife and stress to fuel her writing and the journeys of her characters. As a writer, Butler Hallett is enticed by crossroads, believes in asking “What if?” to spark a great story, and has said that the “mystery of suffering” compels her to create rich and powerful fiction. Her stories have high stakes and conflict, making her work striking and memorable.

Butler Hallett’s last novel was issued five years ago, but readers’ anticipation for a new book will soon be met, as her latest novel, This Marlowe, will be released this March. This Marlowe is set in England in 1593, the year that Christopher Marlowe mysteriously died. Marlowe was the greatest English playwright of his era and a major influence on the next great playwright, Shakespeare. The novel will explore faith, duty, love, and politics, and the difficult choices which Marlowe and, indeed, all of us face. It can be described as historical fiction with a contemporary edge, and you can hear more about it from the author herself on March 15. 

The reading is sponsored by the UPEI Faculty of Arts and The Canada Council for the Arts. Refreshments will be provided. A reception and book-signing by the author will follow. 

The Department of Physics at the University of Prince Edward Island will be relocating to the new facility being constructed to house the UPEI School of Sustainable Design Engineering, President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz announced Friday at a meeting of the University Senate.

“I am so delighted to see my colleagues in the School of Sustainable Design Engineering and Department of Physics coming together and forging more interdisciplinary links to ensure our students have broader knowledge and hands-on experience,” said Dr. Abd-El-Aziz. “The future of universities will be built on a foundation of strong programs, collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and experiential learning. I am very proud that UPEI is actively building this foundation in support of enabling our students to reach their full potential in both the classroom and the community.”

The relocation of the Department of Physics will take place this summer. Both engineering and physics faculty will have their offices, labs, and classes in the new building.

Acting Chair of Physics James Polson added, “The physics and engineering departments have a history of working together. By now being in the same building and sharing resources such as labs and project studios, our students will further benefit.” Dr. Polson explained, “The prospect of growing collaboration is exciting, as UPEI’s research agenda will also be strengthened. For example, one of my physics colleagues has been essential in the development of the four multi-disciplinary centres of excellence in the School of Sustainable Design Engineering.”

Associate Dean of Engineering Nicholas Krouglicof said, “Since arriving at UPEI, I have had the pleasure of working with outstanding colleagues that have a great vision for the new UPEI School of Sustainable Design Engineering. This includes faculty from other departments such as physics, who have partnered with engineering for many years.” Dr. Krouglicof added, “We welcome our physics colleagues to the new facility as we know it will create many more opportunities for collaborative research and strengthen existing partnerships.”

“Faculty of Science departments at UPEI are recognized for their strong desire to work together across disciplines,” remarked Dr. Debbie MacLellan, Dean of Science. “We have recently witnessed this collaborative effort when Mathematics and Statistics and Computer Science merged to form the new School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences. With this latest announcement that Physics will be located in the new engineering facility, I expect more innovative programming and research synergies as an outcome.”

The new building and home of the UPEI School of Sustainable Design Engineering and Department of Physics will open in August 2016.

The UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week for the week of February 22-28 are Katie Donahoe, Women’s Basketball, and Bradley States, Men’s Basketball. On a weekly basis, UPEI Athletics and Recreation recognizes these talented student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. UPEI Athletes of the Week are then nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Who:  Katie Donahoe, Women’s Basketball, and Bradley States, Men’s Basketball

What: UPEI Panther Subway Athletes of the Week

When: Week of February 22-28, 2016

Where: University of Prince Edward Island

Why: Donahoe, a fifth-year guard and Kinesiology student from Riverview, N.B., scored 14 points including 3 three pointers in the Panthers 70-59 loss to the University of New Brunswick on the weekend. Donahoe also had 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and played great defence.

States, a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student, from Bathurst, N.B., was an impact player for the Panthers during their 102-87 loss to UNB this past weekend.  States contributed 28 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal, and was 16/20 from the foul line.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation
• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place and UPEI Turf
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

Students at UPEI will attempt to gather 1,000 signatures this Friday, recording people’s commitment to the R-Word Pledge. The pledge asks that we use respectful, people-first language that eliminates the word “retard/retarded” from our everyday language.

The R-Word Pledge day is organized by the Applied Human Sciences student society, the Nursing society, and the Best Buddies UPEI chapter. Best Buddies partners students with and without intellectual abilities for one year. Buddies talk, hang out, and build friendship! There are Best Buddies chapters at schools in more than 50 schools around North America.

Look for students with pledge sheets across campus this Friday, March 4, and take the R-Word Pledge!

University of Prince Edward Island Women’s Hockey Coach Bruce Donaldson is pleased to announce that Chatham, Ontario native Sydnee Baker has committed to the Panthers for the 2016–17 season.

Baker played wing this past season with the London Jr. Devilettes of Ontario Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) where she recorded 10 goals and 20 assists in 30 games. Baker was in the top 20 in PWHL scoring and earned 44 penalty minutes.

Baker says, “I’ve looked forward to being a student-athlete at UPEI from the moment I stepped foot onto the beautiful campus, toured the facilities, and met Coach Donaldson along with some future teammates.  I knew it was the place for me, I can’t wait to join the team in September.”

“Sydnee is a strong power forward who sees the ice very well,” adds Donaldson. “She plays a physical team game and will help improve our offensive success.”  

Baker will be entering the Faculty of Arts at UPEI.

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation
• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

The University of Prince Edward Island's Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Dr. Gulrose Jiwani has been appointed dean of the UPEI School of Nursing.

"I am deeply honoured to be chosen to lead UPEI’s School of Nursing,” says Jiwani. “I passionately believe in the essential role that nurses play in the delivery of health care, community development, policy and education. I look forward to helping to educate future nurse leaders, and to promote excellence in nursing scholarship at UPEI.”

“I look forward to working with Dr. Jiwani as we continue to build on the excellent reputation of our School of Nursing,” said UPEI Vice-President Academic Dr. Christian Lacroix. “We take great pride in graduating nurses who are destined to be leaders in primary health care, here in Prince Edward Island and beyond.”

Jiwani holds a PhD in Nursing Science from the University of Washington in Seattle, a Master of Nursing degree specializing in psychiatry and mental health from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) from the University of Windsor. She is a Magnuson Scholar from the prestigious Warren G. Magnuson Institute for Biomedical Research and Health Professions Training, University of Washington, USA.

She has held executive leadership positions in government and health sciences settings, and practiced as a clinical nurse specialist in mental health, addictions, forensic and oncology settings. She has extensive experience in health and social policy development, strategic planning, system redesign and managing complex projects. She brings teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate level studies, and lectures internationally in the areas of policy decision making, leadership development, research and poverty reduction. She is currently President and CEO of HPSC Health Policy & Strategies Consultants Inc., and Affiliate Assistant Professor with the University of Washington’s School of Nursing.

Jiwani will begin her six-year term as dean on June 1, 2016. Congratulations, Dr. Jiwani!

 

The Centre Health and Biotech Management Research (CHBMR) at UPEI has been awarded more than $600,000 from The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through its eHealth Innovation Partnership Program (eHIPP). The CHBMR is piloting and monitoring an award-winning, cognitive behavioural therapy developed by Dr. Kathleen Carroll and researchers at the Yale School of Medicine. CBT4CBT allows 24-hour-a-day online access to cognitive behavioural therapy for addictions to complement traditional treatment, including counselling.

“We are excited to be awarded this funding from CIHR, as it allows us to bring another tool to battle addiction to Canada,” said Dr. Juergen Krause, director of the CHBMR. “Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is known for its great success for helping individuals suffering from alcohol and substance abuse.  CBT4CBT is the first program to offer cognitive behavioural therapy online and can be offered alongside traditional treatment options such as counselling. The funds obtained will provide us the unique opportunity to be the entry portal for this new addictions treatment approach to Canada and to develop it in collaboration with our partners in PEI and New Brunswick.”

Cognitive behavioural therapy allows patients to recognize triggers, improve coping mechanisms, and alter the behaviour that leads to substance abuse. CBT4CBT’s efficacy, durability, and cost-savings have been proven in clinical trials, and it has been praised by patients and therapy personnel alike. Through web-based delivery, CBT4CBT can reach people even in rural areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“The CIHR-funded project is a joint effort by Drs. Krause and Carroll and enables the implementation of an innovative and proven approach to the treatment of substance abuse that promises to benefit individuals in rural communities,” said Dr. Robert Gilmour, UPEI’s Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies. “As such, UPEI is proud to be a part of the project and we look forward to further development of this approach as it gains traction on PEI and in rural communities across Canada.”

The development of this treatment program for Canada was initiated in Prince Edward Island. The Centre for Health and Biotech Management seeks to further establish CBT4CBT in Canada by first validating it in relevant rural communities before expanding it to more Canadian provinces and territories.

“Canada has no shortage of innovative health care thinkers, top-notch health researchers or vibrant entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Alain Beaudet, president of CIHR. “Through eHIPP, these great minds are coming together to deliver creative eHealth solutions for some of our country’s most pressing health care needs. I am particularly proud of the ways in which these projects put patients first, often by empowering them to be partners in their own care.”

CIHR announced yesterday more than $13 million in eHIPP funding for 22 research projects across the country, including this project at UPEI. This program was designed to test eHealth solutions in real-world contexts, and the breadth of funded projects highlights Canadian creativity and tech savviness. From the development of an app to enhance Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for youth being treated for anxiety and depression to programs that allow doctors and nurses to monitor the health of seniors in the comfort of their homes, these projects will help to empower patients to be partners in their health care, enable better health care, and accelerate innovation in Canada’s health system and growing health information technology (IT) industry.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada’s health research investment agency. CIHR’s mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system for Canadians. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 13,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.