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summer 2009 |
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Online Only
d O C T O R S I N
T H E N E W S
Dr. James
Rourke reappointed Dean of Medicine
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Submitted Photo |
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Dr. James Rourke |
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The review committee on
the reappointment of Dr. James Rourke as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
has unanimously recommended that he be renewed for a second five-year
term effective April 5, 2009.
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Submitted Article |
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The review committee on the
reappointment of Dr. James Rourke as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
has unanimously recommended that he be renewed for a second
five-year term effective April 5, 2009. Dr. Rourke’s reappointment
was approved by the Board of Regents at its meeting on March 31,
2009. In a memorandum to faculty and staff in the Faculty of
Medicine, Dr. Christopher Loomis, Vice-president (Academic) Pro
Tempore, noted with pleasure Dr. Rourke’s commitment to the Faculty
of Medicine and said he looks forward to working with him throughout
his term.
Dr. Rourke has served as Dean of Medicine
and professor of Family Medicine at Memorial since his appointment April
5, 2004. He previously served as the assistant dean of Rural Regional
Medicine at the University of Western Ontario (UWO), where he was a
professor in the Department of Family Medicine.
Since moving to Newfoundland and Labrador,
Dr. Rourke has traveled extensively throughout the province and in New
Brunswick to visit teaching sites. This has included several visits to
Labrador and medical clinics in Nain and St. Anthony.
Dr. Rourke has received many honors and
awards, including the College of Family Physicians of Canada, W. Victor
Johnston (2007) “to honour renowned Canadian or international family
physicians who have made an outstanding leadership contribution to the
discipline of family medicine in Canada or abroad;” the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Council Award College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Ontario Council Award (2004) “to honour outstanding
Ontario physicians who have demonstrated excellence and come closest to
meeting society's vision of an ‘ideal physician;’” the D.I Rice Merit
Award from the College of Family Physicians of Canada; the UWO Award of
Excellence in Teaching by Part-time Faculty; the UWO Martin J. Bass
Recognition Award for Exceptional Contribution to Family Medicine; and,
the Community Teacher of the Year from the Ontario College of Family
Physicians. He has had more than 90 medical journal articles (most peer
reviewed) published.
Dr. Rourke grew up on a farm and attended
a one-room rural public school. He graduated with his MD from University
of Western Ontario in 1976, where he completed his Family Medicine
training in 1978 and his master’s of Clinical Science (Family Medicine)
in 1993. He is certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada
in Family Medicine (1978) and emergency medicine (1985) and was awarded
Fellowship in 1990.
Dr. Rourke was an active rural family
physician (including obstetrics and emergency work) in Goderich, Ontario
for 25 years with his wife and partner Dr. Leslie Rourke. Their practice
was one of the primary UWO Rural Family Medicine teaching sites. He was
the founding director of the Southwestern Ontario Rural Regional Medical
Education, Research, and Development Unit. Founded in 1997 this became a
strong, integrated undergraduate and postgraduate rural and regional
medical education network.
Dr. Rourke has a long-standing interest in
rural medicine and medical education and is a recognized leader at
provincial, national and international levels. As project director,
Medical Education Design Team (2000-2001), for the Northern Ontario
(Rural) Medical School Project proposal, Dr. Rourke was very involved in
the initial development work that led to approval to build the Northern
Ontario Medical School. He was chair of the WONCA (World Organization of
Family Doctors) Working Party in Rural Practice that has organized seven
world rural health conferences and was involved in developing a joint
WONCA/WHO project “Health for All Rural People.”
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