Queen's University's
E=MC2 provides gifted and highly motivated secondary
school students with the opportunity to study a subject of their choosing
at an advanced level for one week. The program provides participants with
a challenging alternative learning experience at one of Canada's leading
post-secondary institutions.
E=MC2 Summer also has a residence package. Participants will live and study on the Queen's University campus, providing them with a true flavour of a university experience.
Since 1987, the Enrichment Studies Unit has expanded from a small outreach program for local high school students to offering enrichment opportunities to thousands of above average and gifted grade 6 to 12 students from across Ontario and beyond. The ESU has operated in a variety of structures, and now operates as an initiative of the Faculty of Arts and Science, the largest faculty of Queen's University. Having served over 100,000 students since our inception, the Enrichment Studies Unit has also provided leadership opportunities to over 1500 Queen's students, supported numerous local businesses, and given teaching opportunities to hundreds of Queen's professors, graduate students and professionals from the local community.
Five years ago we began offering bursaries to students with financial need, opening up new dreamed-of opportunities for these gifted students as they discover the possibility of attending university. Over the years we have modified and tested various programs. Our core programs include our Enrichment Mini-Course (EMC) for secondary school students, and our Seven-Eight Enrichment Days (SEEDS) program for grade 7 and 8 students. In 2011 we added a new Grade 6 Enrichment Day program – a one-day enriched course for local area grade six students, as well as an innovative summer residential program called SEEQ (Summer Enrichment Experience at Queen's).
The majority of our students have come from right across Ontario, but increasingly we are welcoming students from the Bahamas, Bermuda and other Caribbean nations. We have had students attend from as far away as California, as well as the provinces of Alberta and Quebec. For 2013, we are anticipating about 3500 students to attend over seven weeks of programming.
Introduction to Pathology Diagnostic Cases Infectious Diseases Neuropathology Chromosomal Abnormalities The Autopsy Hematology Pathologist's Assistant Genetic Counselling Plastinated Organs Blood Typing Life Style Diseases Immunology Prion Diseases Cancer Pathology Dissection Autopsy Cases Pharmacology Anatomy Museum Toxicology DIagnostic Case Presentations Trivia Challenge! Careers in Pathology Evaluations
*Please Note: Grade 11 Biology (University or College track) is absolutely required. Prior knowledge of DNA, cellular function, and metabolic processes is necessary for basic understanding of the scientific content of the course. Graphic photographs from autopsies and dissections as well as human diagnostic specimens and organs will be presented as part of the course curriculum. Students who cannot handle these subjects should not apply. Items to bring: notebook, pens/pencils, comfortable clothing- closed toe shoes are required, long pants are strongly recommended.
Grades 10-12 The prerequisite for this course is the completion of or concurrent study of Grade 11 Biology (see note*). Coordinator: C. Pruss The Pathology and Molecular Medicine course is taught by both graduate students of the department as well as professors and other medical professionals within the department. The depth of knowledge is a unique opportunity for students to learn about the wide range of research and career opportunities in Pathology and Medicine.
Cynthia Pruss, the course coordinator, received her B.Sc. from the Pennsylvania State University in 2000 in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Since then she has worked in labs developing new drugs against Hepatitis C Virus, bacteria, and cancer, as well as arthritis treatments. Her research experience has given her a wide knowledge base in basic science, including physiology, virology, microbiology, and other areas of disease. She started her Ph.D. in Pathology in 2004, studying the role of von Willenbrand Factor, a protein important in blood clotting, and its role in stroke.
Cheryl Foster, course instructor, completed an undergraduate degree in Life Sciences at Queen's University and is currently enrolled in a master's level program in the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine. Her research involves development of a prognostic tool to aid in the clinical management of patients with follicular lymphoma. Cheryl has extensive experience working with children and young adults and is always excited to make learning fun.
Morgan Jarvis, course instructor, completed an undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology from Queen's. He is in the second year of his Master's degree, and is studying the function of DNA damage and replication checkpoint proteins.
Doug Richardson, course instructor, has his undergrad in Life Sciences and a Master's in Pathology and Molecular Medicine from Queen's. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in Pathology studying the role of lipid rafts in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.
The goal of this class is to develop skills of observation, interpretation, and integration needed to analyze human disease, and at the end of the session students should have an awareness such that they can determine the most likely diagnosis and explain the pathogenesis of the disease when provided with the clinical history, anatomical lesions, and laboratory data of a patient. The class will culminate with a series of "CSI-FACT OR FICTION" competitions, wherein the students will determine if what happens on CSI is indeed scientifically possible. The prerequisite for this course is the completion of or concurrent study of Grade 11 Biology.
Instructor: Fiona Rawle
Class Picture 2003Jason and Carla co-instructed the Pathology course the week of May 14th, 2001. They hosted sixty highachieving Ontario high school students from both private and public school systems. These grade 11 through OAC students were enthralled with a variety of departmental tours, large and small group sessions, and a series of guest speakers. Nevertheless, without question, the highlight remained the opportunity to handle surgical specimens while sporting surgical gowns and gloves.
Dr. Sack, with a keen interest in medical education, wrote a curriculum document which outlined the ties between the course and the Ontario Ministry of Education's science curriculum, thereby ensuring a truly enriching experience for the students. As such, many students, independently and of their own initiative, prepared follow-up reports and projects which they presented to their fellow classmates at their respective high schools.
Dr. Cuthbert, with unwavering commitment, designed a web page to capture the memories of the week.
End-of-week student feedback forms overwhelmingly confirmed that the course not only promoted an appreciation for the realm of pathology but also fostered enthusiasm for science.
"It's been a privilege and absolute pleasure to
share our enthusiasm for pathology...again, `thank
you'."
--Jason & Carla
Three new courses in the area of Health Sciences were offered this year, bringing the number of courses available in this field to eight. Of relevance, the Cancer Research course was taught by Mario Muredda and Deborah Greer while the new Molecular Biology: Genetics course had Suzan Abu-Abed and Glen Maclean as its instructors. Pathology: An Inside Look, was the most sought after course this year and was again co-instructed by Carla Cuthbert and Drs. Tim Childs and Jason Sack. Each week, forty-five students were rotated through either large group or small group sessions, covering aspects of cell injury and the fundamentals of inflammation and repair. The students had significant hands-on exposure to relevant pathology specimens and learned the steps involved in the processing of surgical samples, taking patient histories and performing autopsies. Genetic disorders were also explored and this was followed by engaging discussions on ethical issues surrounding various advances in Biotechnology.
Guest speakers included Dr. Ford and her rivetting talk on Forensic Pathology while Dr. LeBrun and Dr. Rossiter both provided insights on being both a Pathologist and Researcher. Students were also able to visit the Anatomy Museum, the Autopsy Suite and had a brief tour of the Richardson Research Laboratories.
Based on suggestions from last year's students, two new segments were offered. Lloyd Kennedy was asked to do a demonstration on brain-cutting and this was the first exposure the students had to handling specimens. A segment called Team Medicine was also introduced this year and featured Dr. Jen Carpenter (Emergency Medicine), Dr. Mike Rooney (General Surgery) and Dr. Annette Polanski (Radiology). The aim here was to demonstrate how each of the different specialists in the hospital interact and participate in the diagnosis of a patient who comes in through the Emergency Department.
It was a thrill to again be a part of this teaching experience as we explored new avenues to relay the importance of what we do as Pathologists, Geneticists and as Basic Researchers. The challenge is always to use teaching modalities that would captivate the audience and engage them in the learning experience. Altogether, the courses were enjoyed by all, students and instructors alike, and all the instructors wish to again thank everyone who helped to make these two weeks a success.