Public lecture: Using light to make cancer 鈥渟ing鈥

A pioneer in the field of biomedical optoacoustics will give a public lecture at the 69传媒 about how doctors are using light to better detect breast cancer. The lecture by Dr. Alexander Oraevsky begins at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 7 in room 242 of UPEI's Don and Marion McDougall Hall.

Dr. Oraevsky is the chief technology officer at TomoWave Labs and is an adjunct professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Houston. His lecture-titled 'New imaging technology uses light to make cancer 鈥榮ing' to the doctor'-discusses emerging technology that replaces harmful radiation with light and sound.

The drawbacks of the current breast cancer detection technique, mammography, are many: it uses uncomfortable compression; it misses 20 per cent of cancerous tumours in elderly women; it cannot visualize tumours in the breasts of young women; it cannot tell the difference between a cancerous and non-cancerous tumour, exposing some patients to unnecessary surgery; finally, mammography exposes patients to harmful ionizing radiation.

Dr. Oraevsky will discuss new imaging technology that uses red light instead of ionizing radiation. The light is converted into sound within the tumour. This causes the tumour to produce a sound, which can be detected by a doctor using a special array of detectors to determine the tumour location and its medical condition. This technology takes advantage of the fact that aggressive cancers develop their own system of microscopic blood vessels to support rapid growth. The red light can be absorbed in cancerous tumours, producing signals that can be reliably detected by doctors.

'Based on early clinical results, optoacoustic imaging is positioned to be a significant enhancement of breast ultrasound and potentially a future alternative to (x-ray) mammography and MRI scans,' said Dr. Bill Whelan, an optoacoustics researcher in the departments of physics and biomedical sciences at UPEI.

Dr. Oraevsky is the recipient of multiple research awards advancing biomedical applications of the optoacoustic-imaging sensing and monitoring. He is the primary inventor of 17 patents, has published five book chapters, and more than 200 scientific papers dealing with novel laser technologies applicable in biology and medicine.

For more information about Dr. Oraevsky's visit to UPEI, or to organize a time to meet with him, please contact Dr. Bill Whelan, Department of Physics at 566-0419, wwhelan@upei.ca.

For information:
Dave Atkinson,
Research Communications Officer, UPEI
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

69传媒departments of physics and biology offer new minor

Beginning in September 2013, UPEI's departments of physics and biology will offer a new minor in biomedical physics.

Biomedical physics is an interdisciplinary field of study in the life sciences that involves the application of physics methodology to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease. In the areas of physiology and health, physics and physical methods are applied to understand the production, operation, and safe use of ionizing radiation, microwave, radiofrequency, radioactive, magnetic, optical, and acoustic sources and their interactions with living tissues.

The objective of this minor program is to better prepare students who are interested in a career in the healthcare spectrum from biomedical research to clinical services. Due to the rapidly growing and changing aspects of biomedical technologies, there are extraordinary demands on professionals in the healthcare sector.

'I believe students who can think critically at the intersection of biology and physics will have a competitive advantage when moving to the next stage of their healthcare career path,' said Dr. Bill Whelan, professor in UPEI's Department of Physics.

The biomedical physics minor exposes students to medical imaging and therapy technologies, integrated with the underlying anatomy and physiology of the body. The knowledge and skills obtained can be applied to graduate studies, medical school, or post-baccalaureate degrees in one of the many healthcare professions.

For more information on the new minor, visit or contact Dr. Sheldon Opps at (902) 566-0421, sopps@upei.ca or Dr. Marva Sweeney-Nixon at (902) 566-0633, msweeney@upei.ca.

69传媒holds second annual Welcome Day

69传媒welcomes all new students and their families to campus for the second annual Welcome Day on Saturday, August 31, 9:00 am-3:00 pm in Don and Marion McDougall Hall's Schurman Market Square. Welcome Day is a chance for new students to tour campus, pick up their 69传媒student ID card, shop at the Bookstore, pay for tuition and other services, meet staff, faculty, Student Union executives, and new friends, and kick-off O-Week-all before classes start up in September!

This year's Welcome Day will also include parent sessions for parents of residence and non-residence students and a barbeque for all from 12:00-2:00 pm. Representatives from Accounting, the Registrar's Office, Residence Services, Robertson Library, Student Affairs, Webster Academic Services, and more will be available to provide academic and administrative support throughout the day.

For information:
Rebecca Gass
Events and Protocol Officer
69传媒
(902) 566-0949, rjgass@upei.ca

69传媒synchro hosts 鈥楤ingo for Synchro鈥 fundraiser

The 69传媒synchro club hosted their second annual 'Bingo for Synchro' event on Wednesday, August 7 at the Holy Redeemer Church Hall. The event ran smoothly and was a great success as the club raised just over $2,000. In addition to bingo, the fundraiser also included prize draws, baked goods, local fries for purchase, and a cash bar.

' 鈥楤ingo for Synchro' is one of our club's biggest fundraisers, and allows us to cut down on some of the costs associated with our sport,' said club member Katie Carter. 'We are the only university synchronized swimming club in Atlantic Canada, so travel costs can be high. This year, we raised a little over $2,000 with this event which was a big help to our club. We would like to thank all the businesses that helped out by donating prizes; we wouldn't have been able to have this fundraiser without them. We are also looking forward to our upcoming season defending our title as synchro's top university in Canada.'

'Congratulations to the 69传媒synchro club for their initiative,' said 69传媒Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman. '鈥楤ingo for Synchro' is a wonderful event to raise funds and awareness for the club.'

For information:
Ron Annear
69传媒Athletics & Recreation
(902) 566-0991

The tale of two presidents

Two associate professors in the department of history lead national research associations

In a coincidence that reflects the expertise within UPEI's Department of History, two faculty members are currently presidents of their respective national research associations. Dr. Ed MacDonald is in his second year as president of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association (CCHA), and Dr. James Moran is beginning his first year as president of the Canadian Society for the History of Medicine (CSHM).

'It's remarkable,' joked Dr. MacDonald, 'when you consider the history department here has just eight full-time faculty members. We were talking about it the other day and realized, hey-this may be a first for UPEI!'
The CCHA was founded in 1933, making it one of the oldest historical associations in Canada. It stages an annual national conference-which Dr. MacDonald, as president, will chair. It also publishes a peer-reviewed academic journal, and issues a regular newsletter to its membership.
'I have always considered myself more of a historian of Prince Edward Island than a 鈥榬eligious historian,'' said Dr. MacDonald. 'However, my doctoral dissertation tackled the history of a Roman Catholic college, St. Dunstan's University, one of UPEI's predecessors, and religion has always been central to the Island's social and cultural history. It's a privilege to work with some great people and to enlarge my own understanding of what we mean today by 鈥楥atholic history.''
Learn more about the CCHA at .
Dr. Moran has been a member of the CSHM since the early 1990s and has presented research papers at the society's annual conferences. Before becoming the CSHM's president, he served as the regional representative for Ontario and Atlantic Canada, and as vice-president.
'My research as a historian fits well with the CSHM,' said Dr. Moran. 'My main interest is the history of psychiatry and mental health, but I also research the history of infectious diseases. As CSHM president my job is to promote the history of health and medicine and-like with Ed and the CCHA-to keep the organization's various activities running smoothly.'
The CSHM was founded in 1950 to promote the study, research, and communication of the history of health and medicine. It holds an annual conference at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, and publishes an academic journal called the Canadian Bulletin of Medical History. It also partners with a charitable organization in Ontario called Associated Medical Services to offer funding for guest speakers and a competitive studentship program for Canadian undergraduate students pursuing research in medical history.
Learn more about the CSHM at .
'It's a testament to the expertise within the Department of History that two current faculty members are leading their respective national research associations,' said Dr. Robert Gilmour, UPEI's vice-president research. 'I want to congratulate both James and Ed, and thank them for demonstrating to their peers the hard work, creativity, and scholarship that defines the research community at UPEI.'
For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications
(902)620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

69传媒Panthers season passes now available

69传媒Athletics and Recreation has launched the 2013-14 Panthers Season Pass program. Season Passes are now available for Men's/Women's Soccer, Women's Rugby, Men's Hockey, Women's Hockey, and Men's/Women's Basketball. All teams have been busy preparing for the upcoming season, and have bolstered rosters with a strong combination of incoming and returning student-athletes. This year, 69传媒is proud to host the AUS (W) Rugby Championship October 26-27 and the AUS (W) Basketball Championship March 7-9.

New this year is a youth rate, non-69传媒student rate, and the availability of a family game ticket and season pass. This new offering is an affordable way for families to take in a Panthers game and to provide young people an opportunity to get to know and watch 69传媒student-athletes.
In 2012-13, the Panthers excelled both on and off the playing surfaces with 14 AUS All-Stars, 4 AUS All-Rookie Team Members, 3 CIS All Canadians. For the 2011-12 season, 57 were named CIS Academic All-Canadians. Team highlights included playoff visits by Men's/Women's Soccer, Men's Basketball, and Men's/Women's Hockey. With a strong recruitment effort, the 2013-14 season promises to reach even greater heights as teams pursue AUS and CIS championships.

Revenues from season pass sales go directly to the teams to support costs and to fund Athletic Financial Awards for student-athletes.

Season pass renewals have begun and now are open to the greater public for purchase by either visiting Panther Central at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, calling 566-0368, or e-mailing panthercentral@upei.ca. For more information, visit .


About 69传媒Athletics and Recreation
鈥 Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
鈥 Proud member of the AUS and CIS
鈥 Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, 69传媒Alumni Canada Games Place
鈥 Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

The 69传媒Panthers are "everywhere"

The 69传媒Panthers are busy this weekend-at community events across PEI, at the 2013 Canada Summer Games, and one, Suzanne Nicholson, even swimming across the Northumberland Strait, raising money for the 69传媒Swimming team.

Pride the Panther was spotted at the Gold Cup Parade in Charlottetown on Friday accompanying the Ocean/Hot 105.5 parade float. Members of the 69传媒Men's Hockey team will also join Pride in eastern PEI on Saturday when they make an appearance at the 2013 Kraft Celebration Tour in Morell as TSN gets set to broadcast Sportscentre live from the banks of the Morell River. During the broadcast, it is expected that former 69传媒Men's Basketball coach George Morrison, from the Morrell area, will be profiled.

In Sherbrooke, Quebec, the 2013 Canada Summer Games will wrap up on Saturday. Nineteen 69传媒Panthers either competed with or coached Team PEI at the two-week, multi-sport event. The team will be arriving home at the Charlottetown airport midday Sunday.

Suzanne Nicholson, a fifth-year 69传媒student-athlete will embark on her 'Suzanne conquers the Strait' fundraiser on Sunday, August 18, selected as the best day for tides, wind, and weather. This year marks Nicholson's last on the team and she hopes her fundraiser will motivate her teammates and the 69传媒community-she hopes to raise $10,000 for the 69传媒swim team. She expects to leave New Brunswick at 7:45 am and arrive in Borden around noon. Donations can be made by calling Panther Central at 902-566-0368 or by visiting Suzanne's Facebook page called Suzanne conquers the Strait.

Go Panthers go!

European forward commits to 69传媒Panthers

Forbes MacPherson, head coach of the 69传媒men's hockey Panthers, is pleased to announce the addition of European forward Robin Soudek to this year's lineup.

'Soudek is a gifted playmaker, he can score goals, and he has a very solid two-way game that will complement our style of play,' said MacPherson. 'Soudek has been high on our radar for a couple of years because we know he will add depth to our club in all facets of the game. We are very pleased that he has committed to the 69传媒.'

Soudek, a native of 膶esk茅 Bud臎jovice, Czech Republic played four years in the Western Hockey League, scoring 27 goals and 57 points for the Victoria Royals in 2011-12. He started last season in the Czech pro league playing alongside locked-out NHL stars Andrew Ference, Vinny Prospal, and Martin Hanzal, but was limited to 11 games due to injury. Soudek also played for the Czech Republic in two World Junior Hockey Championships.

'One of my former coaches referred to me as a European-skilled player with a North American heart which is a great description of the player I desire to be,' said Soudek, a 5'11', 194-lb right winger. 'I like to think I bring a lot of experience and leadership to the Panthers. I feel my game is very well-suited for the Atlantic University Conference, and I hope to contribute in many ways to the Panthers.'

Soudek said his partial season in the professional ranks has given him a better understanding of the importance of being a more complete and team-focused player.

'To be successful, you have to play within the team structure, follow the game plan, and you have to be prepared to do the little things. Even if you are the most skilled player on the team, you have to be a hard worker in all ends of the rink, and that is what my focus will be as a member of the Panthers,' said Soudek.

The 22-year-old has never been to Prince Edward Island but has done some research on the province, the team, and the fans.

'I chose PEI because they play in the best university hockey conference in Canada and the team is moving in the right direction. The university is small, friendly, and the PEI fans are in love with the team. I can't wait to get there and take the next step in my hockey career,' he said.

The Panthers finished as the #9 ranked team in the CIS last year.

'Being a student-athlete at 69传媒is a unique and rewarding experience. I want to welcome Robin Soudek to the Panther family and I look forward to the many positive contributions he will make to our University on and off the ice,' said 69传媒Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman.

Season passes for 2013-2014 are now on sale. Tickets are $160 for all 14 games and they guarantee a seat for playoff games. This year, student and youth rates have been added. For more information visit gopanthersgo.ca.

For information:
Ron Annear
Athletics & Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

Suzanne conquered the Strait

69传媒congratulates fifth-year student Suzanne Nicholson who conquered the Northumberland Strait on Sunday, August 18. The 69传媒swim team member created the fundraiser in hopes of raising $10,000 for the team-and she exceeded that goal!

After raising close to $11,000, Suzanne set out at 7:45 am for the 13+ km swim which took her about 5.5 hours to complete.

'Well, I must say, I'm glad it's over with,' said Nicholson. 'Before my swim, I was really excited and just ready to get in and swim. Throughout, the swim was a different story, though. The water was a lot rougher than I expected and the current was a lot stronger. It was frustrating at times, but once I hit the beach, I was so happy it was over with.'

Nicholson joins a rather exclusive list of elite swimmers who have dared to take on the Strait.

Congratulations, Suzanne... 69传媒is so proud!!

Panthers training camps for Fall sports get underway

69传媒Panthers training camps for fall sports get underway this weekend. The 69传媒Turf Field and 69传媒Alumni Canada Games Place will come alive with student-athletes competing for roster spots.

Orientations and first training sessions are at the following times:

Friday, August 23
6:00 pm Soccer Orientation at Main 117

Saturday, August 24
9:00 am-12:00 pm Soccer Training at Turf Field

Sunday, August 25
12:00 pm Women's Rugby Orientation at HSB 104

Monday, August 26
9:00-11:00 am Women's Rugby Training at Alumni Canada Games Place

Tuesday, August 27
9:00 am Field Hockey Orientation at Memorial 308
12:30-2:30 pm Field Hockey Training at Turf Field

The first exhibition action at home will be during the Mulligan Cup next weekend when the 69传媒men's and women's soccer teams take to the pitch.

Season passes are now on sale and can be purchased at Panther Central at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, by calling (902) 566-0368, or filling out the online form at gopanthersgo.ca.

About 69传媒Athletics and Recreation

  • Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
  • Proud member of the AUS and CIS
  • Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, 69传媒Alumni Canada Games Place, and 69传媒Turf Field
  • Other facilities include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts