Events > Web Seminars > 2018 Spring: Integrating Nutrition and Wellness Instruction: Practical Applications for Health Science Educators

The importance of nutrition in physician performance and well-being

Presented by Angela Cheung, MD, PhD and Maryam Hamidi, MSc, PhD on March 8, 2018 at 12:00 pm

A novel approach to improve physician well-being is to address their nutrition and hydration status. This lectures covers evidenced-based nutritional strategies for improving brain health and function, sleep and alertness in physicians. Topics include ways to (a) improve dietary habits that affect sleep ,(b) utilize nutritional methods to improve alertness while sleep deprived, and c) to maintain and improve short and long-term brain health.

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Presenter Bios

Dr. Angela Cheung is Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Senior Scientist, Director of Women’s Health Program and Director of Osteoporosis Program at the University Health Network. She is an academic general internist who obtained her M.D. degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1988, and her Ph.D. degree from Harvard University in 1997. She has been in clinical practice for more than 25 years, and has taught many young physicians, trainees, graduate students and postdoctoral fellow. She leads an interdisciplinary research group that focuses on musculoskeletal and postmenopausal health, with a holistic preventative approach.

Dr. Cheung has received many honors and awards throughout her medical career for her excellence in clinical work, education and research, including Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, CIHR midcareer and senior scientist awards, Canadian Society of Internal Medicine Dr. David Sackett Senior Investigator Award, Osteoporosis Canada Lindy Fraser Memorial Award, Ontario Premier’s Research Excellence Award, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Health Services Research Scientist Award, University of Toronto Eudenie Stuart Award for best mentorship, and UHN Department of Medicine Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching.

She has published more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, Annals of Internal Medicine, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and Osteoporosis International. She has held peer-reviewed grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, and Ontario Physicians’ Services Incorporated Foundation.

Maryam Hamidi, PhD is a scientist engaged in conducting innovative research projects including development, implementation and evaluation of interventions to improve physicians’ well-being and professional fulfillment at Stanford Medicine WellMD Center and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Hamidi completed her graduate studies in nutritional sciences at University of Toronto in Canada. She is the author and co-author of many highly cited scientific papers on nutrition and well-being and maintains membership in Canadian Nutrition Society and the American Society for Nutrition. Dr. Hamidi has particular nutrition expertise in enhancing the cognitive performance and alertness of professionals with high cognitive demands, in particular physicians. Prior to joining Stanford Medicine she served as a scientific associate at the University Health Network of Toronto, and as an advisor to Air Canada Rouge pilots and cabin crew on optimal nutrition.