Celebrating Health Services' "fantastic facility"

A standing-room-only crowd gathered last Thursday for the grand opening of the expanded Health Services facility.

Speakers included Feridun Hamdullahpur, Federation of Students President Danielle Burt, Graduate Student Association President Maryam Shahtaheri, and Dr. Barb Schumacher, director of Health Services. Associate Provost, Students Chris Read acted as master of ceremonies.

Among the many distinguished guests on hand for the grand opening were former Waterloo president Jim Downey (pictured at right), who served from 1993 to 1999, and Ron and Betsy Eydt (pictured below). Ron Eydt, after who Ron Eydt Village is named, was a longtime Waterloo biology professor who spent 30 years as the University's Warden of Residences before retiring in 1996.

Features of the new building include 20 examination rooms, 2 physician collaboration stations, a 3,400 square foot mental health wing with 9 counselling offices and two psychometric testing rooms, and a green roof. Work continues on a new family health clinic that will feature 7 examination rooms and 3 dedicated infant care rooms.

“I’ve been looking forward to this occasion since the shovels went in the ground,” said Dr. Schumacher. “That day we started on a journey, and the vision shared by students and Health Services staff, given shape by our architects, began to rise from the parking lot.”

The original 10,250 gross square feet Health Services building opened in 1968 to serve a student population of 9,000. The building now serves a population of more than 34,000.

Undergraduate and graduate students voted to contribute a $10-a-term fee in referendums held in 2009. Additional commitments came from alumni, parents, friends, and employees through the Keystone Campaign. Many of those donors were on hand at the grand opening.

The $10M expansion adds 21,197 gross square feet addition to the facility, bringing the total footprint to over 31,647 gross square feet – a tripling of the available space.

A plaque has been installed in the building’s lobby recognizing the contribution of undergraduate and graduate students. Throughout the building, rooms and waiting areas have been named for donors who contributed to the new facility.

“Today we celebrate the generosity that has brought us to this incredible achievement,” Dr. Schumacher told the crowd. “Thank you for being inspired by our students.”

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Agreements strengthen connections with Korea

The University of Waterloo signed memoranda of understanding with two research-intensive institutions from South Korea on Monday. 

The signings allow Waterloo to explore collaborations with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Korea Institute of Science and Technology on work integrated learning and possible research collaborations in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, chemical engineering and quantum computing and nanotechnology.

President Feridun Hamdullahpur is pictured above with Dr. Sung-Mo Kang, president of KIAST and Dr. Byung Gwon Lee, president of KIST.

“KAIST and the University of Waterloo have so much in common. Our Universities both pursue excellence in teaching and research, we attract some of the highest quality students and faculty alike, and we both seek out innovation that has the potential to change the world,” said Hamdullahpur. “I am delighted to expand our partnership with KAIST.” 

KAIST is the gateway to advanced science and technology and innovation in Korea and acted as the engine room for the economic development of Korea over the past four decades. 

“KAIST has always been touted as Korea’s top-notch research university of science wunderkinds and world-famous faculty members,” said Nello Angerilli, associate vice-president, international. “The Republic of Korea has exemplified economic growth driven by innovation-led science and technology, so this partnership also affords Waterloo Region the opportunity for Korean investment in the technology ecosystem.”

The MOU with KAIST will provide additional opportunities for Waterloo co-op students to work in South Korea and KAIST exchange students to experience work-integrated learning while at Waterloo.

Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing also signed a new agreement with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) to expand research partnerships in the field of quantum information science. 

“This agreement brings two internationally recognized institutions together to advance quantum science,” said Professor Raymond Laflamme, executive director, Institute for Quantum Computing at Waterloo. “Our researchers will work to accelerate the development of quantum technologies for the benefit of both countries.” IQC’s newest faculty member, Professor Kyung Choi, most recently senior scientist at KIST, will be among the main contributors to the research efforts in this agreement.

KIST is a national research institute located in Seoul. Founded in 1966, it was the first multi-disciplinary scientific research institute in Korea.

The Korean government supports the new agreements between Waterloo, KAIST and KIST. Namjoon Cho, director of the Americas & Asia Cooperation Division of the Korean Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning attended the MOU signings.

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Global co-op organization honours grad

by Kaitlyn Holbein.

Christina Marchand, a 2014 Health Studies alumna, has been inducted into the World Association for Co-operative Education's WACE International CWIE Student Honour Society. Based on Marchand’s exceptional co-op work terms, it comes as no surprise to Co-operative Education & Career Action (CECA) staff that Marchand was honoured with this recognition.

In 2011, Marchand received the AHS Co-op Student of the Year Award for her work with St. Michael’s Hospital, where she saved the organization over $15,000 and increased membership by over 30% through her promotional efforts for the Women in Cancer initiative. On top of that feat, Christina also presented two research papers at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and co-ordinated the launch of a virtual network of medical oncologists.

In her last work term in 2013, Marchand supported women’s health overseas in Uganda with Save the Mothers. During her time there, she delivered over 200 babies and raised awareness about issues affecting maternal health.

Since returning from Uganda, Marchand continued to raise awareness about the fatal, yet preventable, dangers related to maternal health in Uganda by giving a moving TED talk at Waterloo. Marchand also founded her own company, Full Soul Inc., which raises funds for much-needed hospital supplies in Uganda through the sale of luxury items.

Marchand makes an excellent inductee into the WACE Honour Society because her work terms exemplify the discovery, growth, and impact that work-integrated educational experiences can stimulate.

Congratulations Christina from all of us at CECA!

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Wednesday's notes

The Feds Open House will be held today from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre. The university community is invited to explore the Federation of Students, and the Feds full-time staff offices.

"Undergraduates will also have the chance to enter to win a number of fantastic prizes including a MacBook Air," writes Jacqueline Martinz. "At the Feds Open House, there will be short tours of the different areas, and students will be able to ask full-time staff about opportunities to get involved on campus and learn about part-time employment their student union."

Throughout the event, there will be a BBQ in the SLC Courtyard for all attendees. Don’t miss it, and don’t forget to participate in the Feds Open House Twitter contest by following @UWFeds.

Third-year Knowledge Integration students will be sharing their recent experiences in Amsterdam on Friday, September 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Room 1408 of Environment 3. The Amsterdam Reflections event describes the second-year field trip to Amsterdam where the students studied the theme of design in museums. Students will be sharing their reflections with the Knowledge Integration community.

University of Waterloo historian Ken McLaughlin was one of three people presented with the Waterloo Award, Waterloo Region's most prestigious citation, earlier this week. McLaughlin was described as a "omnipresent, passionate contributor to our community" in a City of Waterloo statement and was cited for his long academic career and the role he played in significantly shaping local history.

McLaughlin is a retired history professor at St. Jerome's University, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus, and has authored a number of works about communities in Waterloo Region, including two books about the history of the University of Waterloo.

Also receiving Waterloo Awards were Walter McLean, who served as a Member of Parliament in Waterloo from 1979 to 1993, and Frank Mensink, . The Waterloo Award is the City of Waterloo's highest civic honour, recognizing individuals whose outstanding contributions have enhanced the local quality of life.

The annual Partners4Employment Career Fair is taking place today at RIM Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The career fair is sponsored by the Partnerships 4 Employment (P4E), a partnership amongst the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, Conestoga College, and the University of Guelph. The event is exclusive (but free!) to students and alumni from these schools.

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