Title of a News Article: Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Holds Successful Homecoming Breakfast
September 29, 2023 — Alumni from various decades and colleges of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences gathered at the Brodie Centre atrium for the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Dean’s Homecoming Breakfast on September 23. The event was a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect with each other and their alma mater.
Dr. Peter Nickerson, the dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, expressed his delight at the impressive turnout of nearly 200 University of Manitoba alumni. He emphasized the significance of alumni from different parts of North America representing the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Max Rady College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
The event featured classmates celebrating milestone reunions, including the 55th, 50th, 40th, 25th, and 10th reunions from various health professions. Attendees had the opportunity to listen to speeches from notable alumni, such as Winnica Beltrano from the dentistry program, Carolyn Hill-Carroll from the nursing program, Lesley Buhr from the pharmacy program, and Dr. Barb Shay from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
During the event, Dr. Nickerson highlighted several developments at the Rady Faculty, including the expansion of student numbers in the MD, respiratory therapy, and nursing programs. He also mentioned the recent graduation of the first class of doctors of pharmacy (PharmD) and plans for a new multipurpose building on the Bannatyne campus, which will house seven new dental clinics.
After the breakfast, guests were given tours of the Bannatyne campus, where they learned about Indigenous medicines at Ongomiizwin’s Medicine Garden, Mashkiki Gitigaan, and visited the George Yee Laboratory for Anatomical Sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine.
The Rady homecoming celebrations continued throughout the week, with the College of Pharmacy hosting an Alumni Reception on September 22 at Apotex Centre. The College of Nursing also celebrated its 80-year anniversary with a homecoming brunch at Marshall McLuhan Hall on September 24. The event included tours of the college’s facilities, including state-of-the-art simulation and virtual reality labs.
Additionally, the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry held its annual Alumni of Distinction Awards Evening at the Fort Garry Hotel on September 22. Dr. Aaron Kim, a 1987 dentistry alumnus, received the Alumni of Distinction Award, while Kellie Watson, a 1995 School of Dental Hygiene alumna, received the same award from the School of Dental Hygiene Alumni Association.
Overall, the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ homecoming events were a great success, bringing together alumni from different generations and colleges to celebrate their achievements and reconnect with their alma mater.
