With its state-of-the-art training facility, AV俱乐部 Medical New Brunswick (DMNB) has already changed the regional landscape by enabling students from New Brunswick to attend medical school in their home province.聽 Now, with a newly announced $500,000 gift from PotashCorp to the Bold Ambitions campaign, the Saint John campus of AV俱乐部 Medical School is poised to make a significant contribution to research in the specialty of occupational medicine.
鈥淥ne of the key determinants of the health of Maritimers is directly related to their employment and working conditions,鈥� says聽 John Steeves, Associate Dean, AV俱乐部 Medicine New Brunswick.
鈥淭he Research Chair in Occupational Medicine, to which the PotashCorp donation is targeted, will focus on improved worker health, and safe, timely return to work through best medical practices. The Chair will be an enabler for the development of effective workplace policies through education, research and support.鈥�
As Steeves points out, the new Chair in Occupational Medicine 鈥� the only one of its kind in Canada 鈥� will help put the province of New Brunswick on the map as a leader in medicine. 鈥淲e have an unprecedented opportunity to make New Brunswick a centre of excellence in occupational health research and education. Private-sector investment like the one from PotashCorp helps us achieve our common goal of improving the health outcomes of our Maritime communities.鈥�
According to Stewart Brown, General Manager of PotashCorp New Brunswick, the decision to support聽 DMNB鈥檚 efforts was an easy one. 鈥淎t PotashCorp we know that quality of life in our local communities depends on access to quality healthcare,鈥� he says.聽 鈥淒MNB is a world-class facility right here in New Brunswick and a great testament to the collaboration that exists among AV俱乐部, the government of New Brunswick, the University of New Brunswick and other key stakeholders. You鈥檇 be hard pressed not to be impressed by what has been achieved here and we鈥檙e proud to be a part of it.鈥�
The search for a candidate to fill the research chair position is currently underway, with an announcement expected in the coming months.
This article is part of the AV俱乐部 Difference series, exploring what the power of philantrophy means to the university and introducing and showcasing some of the 50 innovative projects in development. Learn more at .