Program breaking down barriers through inclusive fitness Mikala Jones leads Seth Sugarman through weight training during an Adaptive Physical Exercise session in the Toldo Lancer Centre. Asked what his favourite part of coming to the gym is, Seth Sugarman replied: “everything.” Sugarman is a participant in the Adaptive Physical Exercise (APEX) program, a partnership between the University of Windsor and Community Living Essex County that connects student volunteers with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “The key piece to our program is that it’s an inclusive exercise program. So, it’s critical that they work out in our gym, alongside our community members and university students, and they’re in those spaces — shoulder to shoulder,” said APEX Research Group founding co-director Chad Sutherland. Sutherland, who also serves as director of operations at the Centre for Human Performance and Health within the Department of Kinesiology, works alongside professor Sean Horton in crafting the exercise programming.…
Business professor explores the impact of mental health on employee silence In an article published last week, management professor Kyle Brykman explores the relationship between employee mental health and silence. To better understand why some employees keep silent and explore how organizations can best intervene, Odette School of Business management professor Kyle Brykman and Dalhousie University management professor Anika Cloutier explored how fluctuations in mental health relate to fluctuations in employee silence. “Even the most vocal employees experience phases of silence,” they write in an article published last week in the Conversation, “intentionally withholding ideas, information, or concerns that could otherwise benefit them and their organization.” To better understand the impact of mental health and ways to decrease employee silence, they conducted a survey of 136 employees about their work experiences across four weeks. The results provided a road map for workplaces to help encourage silent employees to speak up. To learn about the results…
Researchers secure $2.5 million to advance groundbreaking sexual violence prevention program Student actors Olivia Sasso and Ewen Van Wagner review with Charlene Senn a script for an educational film on sexual assault resistance. Two University of Windsor professors will further their innovative work in sexual assault resistance education thanks to a $2.5 million investment from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Charlene Senn, a professor of psychology and women’s and gender studies, and Sara Crann, an adjunct professor of psychology, will use the funding to expand the Girls - Flip the Script with EAAA program, a sexual assault resistance initiative designed for high school-aged girls across Canada. The funding is part of a larger $14.5 million federal initiative to prevent youth dating violence. The Girls - Flip the Script with EAAA program empowers girls with the knowledge and skills to trust their own judgement and effectively resist acquaintance sexual assault. The program will now be delivered by different types of community-based organizations beginning in Ontario and…
WE-SPARK Health Institute to Host "Cheers to Hope" Event to Support Health Innovation in Windsor/Essex WE-SPARK Health Institute is preparing for its annual “Cheers to Hope” event on November 7, 2024, at the Ambassador Golf Club. Open to the public, this event invites the Windsor/Essex community to interact with local health researchers and students, providing a unique opportunity for attendees to learn about ongoing research efforts. Whether you're familiar with the research or just curious, this is the perfect event to get involved in local health innovation. The goal of the event is to raise $400,000 for research grants that support cutting-edge health projects across the region. Running from 5:00 to 7:30 PM, “Cheers to Hope” will showcase the collaborative work between local and international institutions aimed at addressing key health challenges. Since WE-SPARK’s inception in 2020, the institute has awarded 105 grants, totaling over $1.8 million. These grants fuel a wide range of health research projects and contribute to local innovation, creating jobs and positioning…
Online think tank to ignite health research collaborations An online session Oct. 25 will bring together healthcare researchers, professionals, and community organizations. The next WE-SPARK Think Tank will take place Friday, Oct. 25, offering an opportunity for researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and community organizations to come together and find solutions. This virtual session on Zoom will run from 1 to 3 p.m. and will feature two exciting projects. Attendees are encouraged to bring fresh ideas, engage in problem-solving discussions, and build meaningful collaborations to drive these initiatives forward. 1. Improving Social Determinants of Health by Developing Relationships with Nature in the City Presented by: Anneke Smit, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor Catherine Febria, the Healthy Headwaters Lab Clint Jacobs, Indigenous scholar, Indigenous Knowledge Table This session, led by the University of Windsor’s National Urban Park Hub, will explore how green spaces within the proposed National Urban Park can improve the mental,…
'Housing is healthcare'; this physician thinks she has the key to solving homelessness in Windsor-Essex Researcher Jennifer Bondy is seeking to overcome barriers to health care for those experiencing homelessness. Windsor-Essex has seen a continued rise in homelessness in recent years – not an isolated trend, but one that requires a regional solution. There are currently about 850 households in Windsor-Essex experiencing homelessness. To address the needs of this population, Doctor Jennifer Bondy, an adjunct professor in family medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, is has brought together a variety of community partners to conduct a needs assessment study. "These are all professionals working in the field, each with their own focus, and I wanted to bring them together. When WE-Spark announced the think tanks, I saw an opportunity to create a research team," Bondy said. "The idea was to gather people from different sectors to collaborate, think ahead, and plan programs. Then we would have an embedded research team for continuous quality improvement, ensuring…
Researchers applying machine learning to detect cause of blindness Professor Esam Abdel-Raheem and doctoral student Sudipta Modak co-authored a paper on detecting a eading cause of vision impairment. Electrical and computer engineering professor Esam Abdel-Raheem is contributing to a work that is paving the way for early detection of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. Making an earlier diagnosis will help physicians treat the condition and stave off serious deterioration, says Dr. Abdel-Raheem. “If this diabetic retinopathy is detected early, over 90 per cent of vision loss can be prevented,” he says. “The current methods of screening rely on manual examinations, which are time-consuming, subjective, and prone to error. Adopting the presented deep learning techniques will result in saving vision and cutting down on overall health-care demands.” A paper published in IEEE Access, “Deep Learning in Automatic Diabetic Retinopathy Detection and Grading Systems: A Comprehensive Survey and Comparison of Methods,”…
October networking event to bring together health researchers Whether you’re already part of the health research community or just curious to learn more, the monthly networking events hosted by the WE-Spark Health Institute are a perfect opportunity to make connections in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere. The October gathering, from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Bourbon Tap and Grill, promises fun, casual conversations, formal networking opportunities, and great prizes. All attendees will have a chance to win two tickets to WE-Spark’s Cheers to Hope event, valued at $300. Bourbon Tap and Grill is located at 1199 Ottawa Street. Registration is encouraged but not required — bring a friend or colleague. Click here to register.
Funding supports exploration of societal challenges Clockwise from top left: Steven Palmer, Adrian Guta, Hajar Fatemi, Michelle MacArthur, Naved Bakali, Yanhong Li, and Alexander Daros are recipients of SSHRC Insight and Insight Development grants recently announced by the federal government. UWindsor researchers have been awarded close to $500,000 for seven projects that will advance understanding of workplaces, addiction services, psychology, the consumer aspects surrounding female fertility, education, and film and theatre. Social work professor Adrian Guta, history professor Steven Palmer, and School of Dramatic Art professor Michelle MacArthur have been awarded Insight Grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Education professor Naved Bakali, business professors Yanhong Li and Hajar Fatemi, and psychology professor Alexander Daros have been awarded SSHRC Insight Development grants. These grants range in value from nearly $52,000 to $92,000. Insight Development grants differ from Insight Grants…
