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“Indigenous Education and Mapping Out Institutional Spaces”: Laurentian Announces Theme, Preliminary Program, and Keynote Speakers for 8th National Building Reconciliation Forum

“Indigenous Education and Mapping Out Institutional Spaces”: Laurentian Announces Theme, Preliminary Program, and Keynote Speakers for 8th National Building Reconciliation Forum

Registration now open, Sponsors welcomed

April 18, 2024 - Over the course of three days (June 25 - 27), the 2024 National Building Reconciliation Forum, hosted by Laurentian University, will be focused on the theme, “Indigenous Education and Mapping Out Institutional Spaces”. The Forum’s preliminary program, keynote speakers, and registration form is now available on the Forum website.

Four guiding sub-themes will be shared, including:

- The Power of Storytelling: Crafting Compelling Narratives;

- Language and Culture: Elders and Cultural Practitioners in the Workplace;

- Cultural Diversity: Celebrating Differences and Building Bridges;

- Shaping the Future: Trends and Insights in Implementing Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

This will be the eighth National Building Reconciliation Forum since 2015 when these annual events were initially planned, in part, as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The Forum is an opportunity to bring together university leadership and administrators with Indigenous peoples, governments, researchers, academics and students to advance reconciliation and Indigenous education in Canadian universities.

“We are honoured to host the National Building Reconciliation Forum,” said Dominic Beaudry, Associate Vice-President of Academic and Indigenous Programs. “As an academic institution that has prioritized Indigenous education and reconciliation, we hope to both model and strengthen the collective understanding of what postsecondary institutions can do to advance reconciliation at universities across Turtle Island.”

The 2024 Forum will facilitate knowledge sharing in a wide variety of formats. Planned events in the preliminary program include panel discussions, oral histories, workshops, lectures, and artistic presentations. Guest speakers, Elders, and Knowledge Holders will be engaging with participants throughout the event.

Esteemed guest speakers who will provide keynote presentations include authors, Tanya Talaga and Waubgeshig Rice and academics, Dr. Susan Manitowabi and Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek. Some social engagements planned include, The Nibwaachidwin Social, which will be held in the Round Room at the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre and visits to two local First Nations, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Wahnapitae First Nation on Day 1 of the Forum.

Universities from across Canada will be in attendance for the Forum. Events throughout the weekend are open to the public. Registration is required and is now open.

Former Student Now Sociology and Criminology Professor

Former Student Now Sociology and Criminology Professor

Dr. Jordan Babando on making his way back to Laurentian as a professor

April 17, 2024 - Dr. Jordan Babando isn’t new to teaching and he isn’t new to Laurentian. He received both his Bachelor’s of Sociology and his master’s degree from Laurentian. He then went on to complete his doctorate at Queen’s University before teaching at several Ontario universities and for a short time at UBC, until he eventually came back to Sudbury.

“Once I had my PhD, I wanted to focus on work, growing my career, and growing as a professional,” Dr. Babando says. That’s exactly what he did, teaching and working at seven different universities throughout the course of his PhD and over the following four years.

Dr. Babando finds the experience surreal and humbling, “I get to be back here in a community I love, working at a school that I love. My colleagues are the same people that once mentored me and believed in me and now our offices are just down the hall from each other.”

Dr. Parveen Nangia, Full Professor in the Faculty of Arts, is one of the professor-turned-colleagues that Dr. Babando mentioned. Dr. Nangia supervised Dr. Babando’s master’s and has similar feelings about Dr. Babando’s return to Laurentian. “I am pleased to see Jordan back at Laurentian in a different capacity, as my colleague,” says Dr. Nangia. “He has accumulated a wealth of knowledge through his experience teaching at various universities. He has already started making an imprint in the Criminology program. Dr. Babando’s disciplined work ethic, his care for the students, and his friendly and supportive nature make him a valuable asset to Laurentian University in general and the Faculty of Arts in particular.”

This academic year, Dr. Babando is teaching courses in the Bachelor’s of Criminology program, which is offered both online and on campus. At one time wanting to be in law enforcement himself, Dr. Babando now finds himself teaching criminology to future law enforcement officers, lawyers, and social service workers. He sees the program as a great option for those in rural areas who want to study at a distance and eventually have career prospects, like policing, that are needed everywhere, not just in bigger cities.

Dr. Babando brings with him a unique teaching background in sociology and criminology, and a specialization in mental health and homelessness research. He encourages students from all disciplines to consider criminology courses for their electives, “Criminology courses are appropriate for all students. In my experience, diverse perspectives make for fascinating conversations which are very complimentary to the course content.”

As his Laurentian experience continues to evolve, Dr. Babando says that he is most excited to build a future as a researcher and professor. He is eager to help students achieve their goals, the same way his Laurentian professors did with him.

When a unique hobby sparks lifelong commitment to advocacy

When a unique hobby sparks lifelong commitment to advocacy

Marine Biologist and Science Communications Graduate Student, Jérôme Breton discovered a love for diving with sharks and wants to be an advocate for marine conservation

April 11, 2024 - At just 23 years old, Jérôme Breton has a degree in Marine Biology, experience working on research for the federal government, and is now at Laurentian University to round-out his skills as a science communicator. As a 12 year old, Jérôme started a unique hobby that would shape his academic journey and lifelong passion–on a family trip to British Columbia, he went diving with sharks. While most would view this experience simply as a unique excursion on family vacation, for Jérôme this experience became a calling. He was fortunate to get to spend the next few years diving around the world.

Naturally, Jérôme developed a love for the ocean through his hobby, and after graduating from high school in Gatineau, Québec, he went on to the Université du Québec à Rimouski where he earned a degree in Marine Biology. “While completing my undergrad, I was lucky to have an incredible work experience as a student giving and coordinating guided tours during the summers and as a biologist for invasive species, at the Department of Fisheries and Ocean Canada (DFO),” said Jérôme. “It was there that I got a feel for field work but also where I discovered the importance of science communication. The research was effortless because of the high quality of interactions between everyone involved in the work. I already knew that I wanted to advocate for aquatic ecosystems but after this I knew exactly how I could do that.”

Jérôme found out about Laurentian University’s Science Communications masters program, which would give him the chance to build the skills to not only advocate widely for aquatic ecosystems but also learn how to foster positive communication among research teams like what he had experienced in Rimouski. Laurentian University, with its proximity to home and the option to do his research in French and work with French professors, was the perfect fit for Jérôme.

Now half way through the program, Jérôme’s research centers around his experience working with DFO in Rimouski. “I’m diving deeper into the fishery industry in Rimouski because my experience there was so positive thanks to the way that everyone worked collaboratively. My research will use this example to create a framework of good working relationships within a given interdisciplinary research project that can then be applied to research centers and projects in other areas,” said Jérôme.

Motivated by his desire to create meaningful communication pathways between researchers and the public, Jérôme says that his “goal is to help people understand that we have so much knowledge about what is happening in our oceans, lakes, and rivers”. He wants to play a role in making research findings accessible to everyone, despite their background, in hopes he can help educate everyone about the importance of preserving aquatic ecosystems.

Professor William Newbigging awarded Teaching Award of Excellence

Professor William Newbigging awarded Teaching Award of Excellence

Laurentian students moved by professor’s passion for education.

April 3, 2024 - Laurentian University has numerous staff and faculty members that go above and beyond for students. William (Bill) Newbigging, this year’s winner of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance’s (OUSA) Teaching Award of Excellence, is no exception.

Dr. Newbigging has been a member of the Laurentian faculty since 1993. For the majority of his time at Laurentian he has been a distance education professor, teaching courses online. The virtual nature of his teaching doesn’t stop Dr. Newbigging from forming meaningful connections with each of his students. 

This year, 26 Laurentian students nominated Dr. Newbigging for the Teaching Award of Excellence. OUSA is a provincial advocacy group that represents over 150,000 post-secondary students throughout the province. Their Teaching Award of Excellence provides students with the opportunity to recognize educators within their post-secondary institutions who excel at unleashing the potential of Ontario's youth and spark the desire to learn in students. 

Students shared kind words about Dr. Newbigging, highlighting his teaching style as engaging, motivating, and exceptional. 

The Student’s General Association (SGA) has partnered with the OUSA to award Dr. Newbigging the Teaching Award of Excellence. “Dr. Newbigging’s students came out in droves to speak highly of their professor. They collectively agree that he is a “one-of-a-kind” educator. Students spoke of his caring, kind, patient, and thoughtful nature and highlighted his efforts to always be responsive, supportive, and understanding.” 

Dr. Newbigging humbly credits Laurentian students, faculty, and staff for his ability to make an impact. “Good teaching is only possible when you have highly motivated students. It’s hard to get students motivated in one term so they must already be motivated. That says something about Laurentian. It says something about the students. It says something about hard-working faculty and staff. It’s not something one person does, it is a collective effort,” said Dr. Newbigging.

The professor’s teaching philosophy puts an emphasis on hard work, saying, “Students always say they appreciate the work I put in while teaching and I always say to them that this course deserves hard work. The subject matter deserves hard work. So I do work hard and I expect that the students work hard as well. It is a responsibility I take very seriously.” 

The SGA collects the nominations from students and forwards them to OUSA annually. “Educators like Dr. Newbigging help our students not only to succeed but also to enjoy their academic journey,” said the SGA. “We wish to thank Dr. Newbigging for his continued efforts to make the learning experience positive for our students and congratulate him on his very well-deserved win.”

Other Laurentian faculty members have received the OUSA Teaching Award of Excellence in previous years:

  • Dr. Blake Dotta, Laurentian University (2022)
  • Dr. Pamela Toulouse, Laurentian University (2021/2020)
  • Dr. Sara Burke | Laurentian University (2019)
  • Dr. William Crumplin | Laurentian University (2018)
  • Kathleen Zinn | Laurentian University (2017)

Previous winner, Dr. William Crumplin was a notable mentor and inspiration for Dr. Newbigging when he started out as a professor. “Dr. William Crumplin led by example and showed me that it was very important to engage students all the time,” said Dr. Newbigging, reflecting on the mentorship he received from Dr. Crumplin in his early days of teaching. “He demonstrated the positive impact of direct and ongoing communication with students. He paid attention to his students' needs and praised them when appropriate. All those things I thought made the experience and connection better for the students in the program.”

Dr. Newbigging will be presented his award at the OUSA Partners in Higher Education Dinner on April 10th, 2024.

“There is no such thing as bad weather”

“There is no such thing as bad weather”

Whatever the weather, the dedication and bond of Laurentian University’s Cross Country Team knows no bounds.

March 28, 2024 - If you’ve ever wondered just who might have the courage to be running on a snow covered sidewalk down Paris Street during Sudbury’s winter weather, it might just be Angela Mozzon or Cameron Date.

The two have been members of the Cross Country team since their first year as Laurentian students in 2019. Five years in, you can find them on the track for competition or outside training in almost all conditions. Angela and Cameron’s love for running is evident in their discipline, time management, and dedication to the sport. 

Angela, 5th year Concurrent Education student and Health Promotion graduate, is from Sudbury and trained with Track North while attending St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. Choosing Laurentian for her studies after high school was an effortless decision for Angela since both her older siblings were alumni but also because of the fast-track, five-year teaching program.

Cameron Date, 5th year Sports Administration (SPAD) graduate, is currently taking accounting courses as prerequisites to becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). Originally from Haileybury, Ontario, Cameron attended Timiskaming District Secondary School before enrolling in the SPAD program. “I chose Laurentian for the SPAD program. It is such a unique program where you study commerce and sports at the same time. I am on a first name basis with my professors and we have fun in class. I just don’t think you get that at a bigger school,” said Cameron.

The Laurentian Cross Country team trains throughout the year, though cross country competitions start in the fall outdoors and move indoors to track starting around January. Throughout the academic year, the team is traveling almost every weekend to universities around Ontario to compete.

The team spends three hours training, three evenings a week, and if they aren’t competing on weekends, they are training on a Saturday or Sunday. Although it can be challenging to juggle coursework, athletics, and their personal life, both runners agree that the sport is worth it. They emphasize the importance of discipline and passion in the life of a student athlete. “We are constantly running throughout the year to stay fit. Students who are passionate about running are really good at time management because they get used to prioritizing time to run,” said Cameron.

Angela and Cameron say that the cross country team has formed an incredibly strong bond on and off the track. “Our school’s team has something special. We spend time together even outside of practicing. Our coaches are so invested in us and our team is so tight. I have talked to runners from other schools and that isn’t the experience everywhere. Those bonds make us a stronger team and help us improve as individuals,” said Cameron. Angela agrees, saying, “I love the running but being on the team is more than running - it’s being a part of a family.”

In her first year, Angela faced adversity and did not perform to her expectations when competing at Ontario University Athletics (OUA). “I was finishing almost last and since then I’ve shaved almost five minutes off my time,” she says, reflecting on her improvement. “If it wasn’t for our coaches who focus on development and this being a small school, I wouldn’t have been able to get to this point.”

Evidence of their love for the team and the sport, the Laurentian Cross Country team runs in rain, shine, or snowstorms. “Running all together outside in the winter is a choice,” says Cameron. “Most of us prefer to run outside so even snow won’t stop us. It’s fun to run in the snow with a group of friends instead of running on a treadmill in the gym.” The team recently ran through the city streets during a major snowstorm on a busy Saturday in Sudbury’s south end. Angela admits, “It wasn’t the fastest run that day but we had fun with it.” The two say that it is common for friends and family to not understand their hunger for running no matter the time of day or the conditions outside.

Having reached the end of his studies, Cameron will start working at a local accounting firm full time this spring but he says he will never stop running. Angela plans to stay at Laurentian for another year to make up for one year of competitive running that she lost to the pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and is considering taking a masters program.

New Five-Year Strategic Plan launched at Laurentian University

New Five-Year Strategic Plan launched at Laurentian University

Plan emphasizes unique aspects that make up Laurentian’s diverse identity

March 27, 2024 - A new chapter begins for Laurentian University with the introduction of the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. Named “Laurentian’s Plan for Connection, Innovation, and Impact”, the plan identifies a vision, a mission, values, and four key priorities as the focus of the academic institution over the next five years. 

“The vision, mission, and values are much more than words on a page. They are the bedrock of any organization’s strategy – they are to be used to guide priorities, shape shared ambitions, and to define how the University will strive to create a lasting impact.” said Dr. Sheila Embleton, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “This plan is the result of an in-depth and inclusive process that mobilized many people with unique perspectives who make up the Laurentian community.”

The development of the strategic plan began in July 2023 and featured extensive participation from the Laurentian community. Workshops, consultations, town halls, and surveys were  conducted to gather and organize invaluable feedback from students, staff, and faculty. To help with the in-depth process, StrategyCorp was hired as the strategic plan consultant. Together with the University’s planning committee, the input and perspectives of more than 2,500 people within the Laurentian community were collected and analyzed. 

This path forward emphasizes the importance of, and our dedication to, deepening partnerships and fostering collaborations with the Laurentian community in four priority areas: enhancing the student experience; energizing the academic and research mission; building up the communities served; and valuing and supporting the people who make up Laurentian University.

The implementation of this plan is now underway as success indicators are in development. In the coming months, the academic and research plans will have an important role in defining  how key elements of the strategic plan will be implemented.

 

Plan Highlights

Vision: Bring the power of Northern Ontario values, resilience, innovation, and Indigenous ways of knowing to the world.

Mission: Prepare the leaders of tomorrow through an inclusive, intellectually curious and  connected bilingual and tricultural learning community.

Values: Community, Integrity, Student Success, Stewardship, Collaboration

 

Strategic Directions: 

  • Enhancing our Student Experience
  • Energizing our Academic and Research Mission
  • Building Up the Communities We Serve
  • Valuing and Supporting our People

 

Learn more about the plan.

Celebrating the achievements of four outstanding women of Laurentian University

Celebrating the achievements of four outstanding women of Laurentian University

Valérie Gauthier-Fortin, Gisèle Roberts, Dr. Lynne Gouliquer, Dr. Bettina Brockerhoff-Macdonald

March 22, 2023 - On Wednesday, March 27th, Laurentian University's Presidential Advisory Committee on the Status of Gender Equity will honour the achievements of four women during its bi-annual awards ceremony.

The Outstanding Women Award is given to role models deserving of recognition for their work in promoting and uplifting women in their field, at Laurentian, in the community, and beyond. This year's recipients are Valérie Gauthier-Fortin, Gisèle Roberts, Dr. Lynne Gouliquer, and Dr. Bettina Brockerhoff-Macdonald.

Valérie Gauthier-Fortin is being honored for her leadership in promoting French-language research and innovation.

Gisèle Roberts is being honored for her leadership in encouraging female students to enter STEM fields and in advancing EDI on campus.

Dr. Lynne Gouliquer is being honored for her active research on the inclusion of women, 2SLGBTQI+, and Métis peoples.

The former Chair of the committee will also be honored at the event for her long-standing dedication and contribution to the committee over the span of a decade. Dr. Bettina Brockerhoff-Macdonald, who chaired the committee from 2003 to 2023, will receive a lifetime achievement award.

All are welcome to attend the ceremony. A virtual option is available for those wishing to join remotely:

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 3:00pm in the Brenda Wallace Reading Room, J.N. Desmarais Library and Archives

https://laurentian.zoom.us/j/95174292159?pwd=aHJJZ0pyTFpVUk15aExRZDJmb21oUT09
Meeting ID: 951 7429 2159
Passcode: 549457

Laurentian University Welcomes New University Librarian

Laurentian University Welcomes New University Librarian

Laurentian alumna chosen to lead library and archives

March 20, 2024 - Laurentian University looks forward to welcoming Danielle Dennie as its new University Librarian commencing July 1, 2024. Dennie holds a Master of Library and Information Studies degree from McGill University, a Master of Science in Applied Microbiology from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, and she brings 20 years of experience working in academic libraries. Currently she serves as Head, Vanier Library at Concordia University in Montréal. 

“Danielle’s experience and her user-centric approach to delivering exceptional support and services to students, faculty, staff and the community will contribute immensely to the realization of our Strategic Plan and expanding the role of the Library and Archives”, said Brenda Brouwer, Interim Provost and Vice-President Academic. “She will lead a strong, experienced, and dedicated team of library staff and faculty - the library is in great hands.” 

Dennie is Franco-Ontarian, with Sudbury roots, and she is a Laurentian alumna (B.Sc Biochemistry). She is passionate about the role of the university library in cultivating community and advancing teaching, learning and research; and how it must evolve to meet the ever- changing needs of its current and future patrons.

“Libraries must be inclusive, welcoming spaces with collections and services that stimulate creativity, innovation and different ways of knowing and thinking. I am thrilled to be returning to Laurentian as University Librarian and very excited by the possibilities as we collectively and collaboratively realize the vision for the Library and Archives,” said Danielle Dennie, incoming University Librarian. 

Dennie will begin her five-year term at the J.N. Desmarais Library and Archives on July 1, 2024.

11 Teams Compete in 6th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge

11 Teams Compete in 6th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge

Teams from universities in Canada, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom competed in the most unique and realistic mining investment case competition

February 5, 2024 - The Critical Minerals Edition of the Goodman Gold Challenge (GGC), a realistic mining investment case competition, ran from January 31st to February 2nd, and included a European team for the first time ever.
 
Teams of university undergraduate students acted as finance firms in this unique annual competition, organized by the Goodman School of Mines at Laurentian University and presented by Kinross Gold as the title sponsor. The teams were tasked with evaluating and justifying which of three companies would be the best to invest in. The investment choices included real mining companies, Canada Nickel Company, Magna Mining, and Talon Metals. CEOs from each company had 30 minutes to convince teams that they should invest with them. Teams then had an opportunity to sit down with each CEO to ask hard hitting questions, consider important data, and discuss analytics to help form their decision.
 
Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines, Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, commended the students on demonstrating forward thinking, “Mining is undergoing a big transition, and having students understand the critical minerals value chain and how to build successful mines will be a great asset for the industry as a whole.”
 
Students interacted with industry experts throughout the event. Theresa Nyabeze, Technical Leader, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Vale Base Metals, gave a keynote address and the competition judging panel consisted of highly experienced executives from Canaccord Genuity, Dundee Corporation, Kinross Gold, Orix Geoscience, RBC Capital Markets, and Technica Mining.
 
The Camborne School of Mines from England and Colorado School of Mines from the USA were international attendees but it was the University of British Columbia that took home the title. The winning team chose to invest in Canada Nickel Co., and went home with the cash equivalent of four ounces of gold. 

“A big congratulations goes to the University of British Columbia, winners of the 6th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge. As someone who has worked in the investment business for a long time, watching these students present their work is always so impressive and gives me great hope for the future of the industry,” said Jonathan Goodman, Chairman of the Goodman Gold Challenge and Chairman and CEO of Dundee Corporation. 
 
Second place, Colorado School of Mines, and third place, University of Manitoba, received silver coins. All participating teams received Sudbury-made miner’s lunchboxes for their participation. Students from the eleven teams learned invaluable lessons in mining investment decision-making and built lasting relationships with peers and industry leaders.

What happens when antibiotics stop working?

What happens when antibiotics stop working?

Mutation of viral bacteria is reducing effectiveness of treatments

January 31, 2024 - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a problem since the discovery of penicillin, and will continue to be a problem as long as there are infections that require treatment. It is a global issue that results in 4.95 million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization. What is AMR and how can it be managed? 

Antimicrobial resistance is the physiological adaptation of microorganisms to agents that would be toxic to them. A bacteria that makes people sick (known as a pathogen) learns to resist the medicinal effects of a medicine, or antibiotic. That new variation of the bacteria then spreads and results in the medicine no longer having an effect against an infection.

“AMR is a global issue,” says Dr. Mazen Saleh, Associate Professor, School of Natural Sciences at Laurentian University. “Normally when a person gets an infection, they get prescribed a specific antimicrobial, commonly known as antibiotic, although the two terms are not synonymous. If that microbe builds resistance by mutating, the option would be to prescribe a different antimicrobial to treat the infection. The problem lies therein. The antimicrobials become useless as the bacteria continues to mutate against one, two, sometimes three antimicrobials. We can get to a point where a pathogen is resistant to all of the antimicrobials available to us.” 

This is something that scientists are already seeing happen with tuberculosis. There are multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) forms, which is when “the pathogen is resistant to multiple structurally unrelated antimicrobials, including first and second line antimicrobials. The major concern in this case is when the pathogen becomes resistant to all the antimicrobials we have at our disposal and these infections can no longer be treated with traditional medications,” says Dr. Saleh. 

While chemical antimicrobials like sulfa drugs and penicillin have been used to treat infection since the time of the second World War, naturally occurring non-chemical antimicrobials, called phages or bacterial viruses, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are newer treatments. Phages and peptides behave the same way as chemical-based antimicrobials, in that they attack the bacteria but rather than being created in a lab, they are abundant in nature and they target the pathogen more specifically. 

“Phages and peptides can be useful when multidrug-resistance or extensive drug-resistance occurs,” says Dr. Saleh. “With the increasing resistance to antibiotics globally, peptides and phages are receiving renewed interest by scientists. Still, phages and peptides have their downsides and are not the perfect replacement for what is currently the most ideal treatment for bacterial infections, antibiotics.”

“The most pressing potential outcome if we don’t take action against antimicrobial resistance is the spread of lethal pathogens. The risk of spread of antimicrobial resistance can not be overstated,” says Dr. Saleh. “At that point, we would not have any other options. In general, bacteria becomes resistant to every new drug that we develop, but we can slow down the spread of resistance.” 

Slowing down the spread of antimicrobial resistance happens in a few ways. 

According to Dr. Saleh, patients and physicians alike have a responsibility when it comes to taking antimicrobials. “Physicians are cautious when prescribing antibiotics to ensure that a bacterial infection is the cause of the ailment. Likewise, patients should not expect antibiotics to resolve any infection, particularly self-resolving mild viral infections that cause the common cold. Additionally, Dr. Saleh cautions, “Patients should always complete the course of an antibiotic that has been prescribed to them. Don’t stop taking it when symptoms stop or after a few days. Complete the course.” 

Dr. Saleh also says that the way that leftover antibiotics are disposed of is of critical importance. “Dispose of leftover medication by bringing it into a pharmacy. If these antibiotics end up in the environment, like water ways and landfills, they can encourage resistance. Similarly, if antibiotics are left in the cabinet, it increases the potential of people taking the medication later to self-medicate or self-treat an illness which also contributes to antimicrobial resistance within the population.” 

With the cold and flu season in full-effect, Dr. Saleh emphasizes that considering these cautions around the use of antibiotics will support global efforts in slowing antimicrobial resistance. 
 

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