Learner Support

Respect the need for others to seek and access support when needed. Be self-aware and notice your own individual biases regarding the idea of seeking help, and recognize when you need support. A little help can go a long way in improving your own performance and success, whether it be in the classroom or in the workplace.

Everyone needs support from time to time. Let’s normalize reaching out for help and advocate for one another when necessary. Eliminating stigma or shame associated with accessing additional support is an important first step. You are not alone.

Learner Support Services

NOSM University’s Learner Support Services Office operates in consultation with the academic program, but is a confidential service for individual students, at arm’s length from academics. Learner Support Services offers services and support which assist learners academically, personally and financially. It also has a primary role in career development, learner wellness and support for student initiatives.

Return to Current Learnersnosm.ca

Resources

Addressing Learner Mistreatment
Additional wellness resources to explore:

Resident Wellness Program
Learner Support Services
PARO 24 Hour Helpline: 1-866-435-7362
Physician Health Program 24-Hour Help Line: 1-800-663-6729
Good2Talk: Ontario’s Postsecondary Student Helpline
NOSM U Well App

Learner Affairs Officers

We support learners by being accessible and responsive. Learner Affairs Officers will work with faculty and administration to facilitate a positive learning environment based on mutual respect. If students have been contacted by the Committee for Supporting Student Professionalism (CSSP), Learner Affairs Officers can provide support and consultations to students.

Laura Csontos

Senior Learner Affairs Officer
NOSM University in Sudbury

Laura Csontos is a registered social worker and educator who has worked in a variety of community organizations and schools before finding her way to NOSM University in 2005. Laura graduated from Laurentian University in 1990 with a B.S.W. and from Nipissing University in 2001 with a B.Ed. Having grown up in Falconbridge, Laura now resides in Garson, Ontario, is married and has two adult children.

Laura strongly believes in NOSM U's vision and social accountability mandate and the respect that we all should share with one and other. She advocates for student health and wellbeing in order to have a successful academic journey and become effective future physicians.

Contact:
HSERC 100A
Phone: 705-662-7248
Email: lcsontos@nosm.ca
Book an Appointment with Laura

Nick Alderton

Senior Learner Affairs Officer
NOSM University in Thunder Bay

Nick Alderton has been working as a Senior Learner Affairs Officer at NOSM University since 2019. Nick provides confidential support and advocacy for medical students and residents who experience personal and professional challenges on their journeys to becoming practicing physicians.

Nick completed his Masters in Applied Sport Psychology at the University of Ottawa in 2013. He is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA). Nick has consulted with athletes and teams at the youth, amateur, and professional levels of sport. He contributes this knowledge and experience to his work with medical students and residents, by helping them learn skills and strategies to perform under the high expectations and demands of medical training.

Nick also has a background in coaching and leadership development. He completed his Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching at Royal Roads University in 2021. He believes in the value of a coach-approach when supporting student and resident leaders. He is an advocate for enhanced opportunities for leadership training and development in medical training.

Outside of work, Nick is passionate about travel, golf, squash, food and music.

Contact:
MSW 2001C
Phone: 807-766-7315
Email: nalderton@nosm.ca
Book an Appointment with Nick

Kathleen Wells

Senior Learner Affairs Officer
NOSM University in Sudbury

Kathleen Wells holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from Nipissing University and a Master’s Degree from Trent University. She is a registered teacher in Ontario, and she has twelve years of experience working in the education field. Kathleen’s specialties are in adult education and accessibility. She has experience teaching courses at the university level, and she has worked in the accessibility field at a post-secondary institution for over 6 years. In this capacity, Kathleen supported identified learners in order to help them build the skills necessary for academic success. Kathleen is passionate about improving access to education for all learners and she is a steadfast advocate for universal design as a means of promoting inclusion.

As someone who grew up in rural northern Ontario, Kathleen strongly believes in NOSM U’s mandate to improve access to healthcare in the north. She is passionate about supporting NOSM University’s medical learners, both academically and personally, in order to help them achieve their goals.

Contact:
HSERC 100B
Phone: 705-662-7027
Email: kawells@nosm.ca
Book an Appointment with Kathleen

Maryse Gareau

Senior Learner Affairs Officer
NOSM University in Sudbury

Maryse Gareau is a passionate, caring and genuine human. She seeks to use these attributes to support learners in maintaining spiritual, physical, emotional and mental wellness throughout their educational journey. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Histoire (2009), a Masters in Education Specialized in School Counseling (2016) and is currently completing a Certificate in Eco-Health Promotion as well as a Certificate in Anishinaabemowin Land-Based Immersion. This continued curiosity and interest in learning leads her to continue to develop innovative ways to support learners. Previous to this role, she worked in the post-secondary sector as an Academic Advisor, Accessibility Advisor and Course Instructor for a combined period of over 12 years, supporting and teaching undergraduate students from all walks of life. She is a proud Franco-Ontarian who was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario.

She finds balance by spending time with her family, eating good food, enjoying fine arts and exploring the outdoors every chance she gets (including nature and walking meetings with learners!)

Contact:
HSERC 100C
Phone: 705-662-7277
Email: magareau@nosm.ca
Book an Appointment with Maryse

NOSM University Peer Support Network

The Peer Support Network is a student-run initiative that connects NOSM university UME students who require support with a NOSM university UME student Peer Supporter. We have Peer Supporters from a variety of different years and backgrounds with varying lived experiences. Medical school has its own inherent challenges and sometimes we just need to talk to someone who has been through it.

We offer NOSM university UME students the ability to select their desired Peer Supporter through a Qualtrics survey. Once you access the survey through the Qualtrics link, you can select the type of support you are seeking and select the Peer Supporter that best matches your current needs. From there, you can contact the Peer Supporter directly via their preferred method of contact.

Follow our social media pages for various helpful resources and posts!

Twitter: @nosmpeersupport

Instagram: nosm_peer_support

For any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at peersupport@nosm.ca!

Homewood Health

Homeweb.ca

The Homewood Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) is replacing the LifeWorks EAP by Morneau Shepell Ltd for all learners as of September 1^st 2022. Through Homewood Health, NOSM University learners have access to a robust array of counselling, coaching, and support services. Counselling is available in both official languages, with access to live translation in 150 languages and dialects. All services are fully confidential, and can be accessed anywhere, anytime by visiting Homeweb.ca or by telephone.

Please sign up for Homewood Health on their website, Homeweb.ca and select NOSM University. Please register as a member of the plan. To access the Homewood Health Pathfinder, you will need to input a code sent to your email. If you missed or lost this email, please contact the Wellness Coordinator.

Once registered, you can access services online at Homeweb or call Homewood Health anytime. For more information on how to register, visit Homewood Health FAQ.

Contact information:
1-800-663-1142 (English) | 1-866-398-9505 (Numéro sans frais – en français)
1-888-384-1152 (TTY) | 604-689-1717 International (Call Collect)