November

According to researcher Deanna Gibson, an associate professor of biology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, UBC Okanagan, taking fish oil supplements while nursing may not be beneficial and may even negatively impact babies’ immunity. A study published in the ISME Journal is the first to investigate the impacts of fish oil supplementation on the composition of breast milk and infant gut bacteria.

A free e-learning course from UBC researchers provides education for staff at women’s shelters to recognize signs and symptoms of brain injury in survivors of intimate partner violence. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women will experience intimate partner violence; most will also suffer a brain injury. COVID-19, and the fact many women were forced to self-isolate with their abuser, has only heightened the need for the training.

A report from BC Family Doctors, Reimagining Family Medicine: Learning from the COVID-19 Experience, tells the story of the impact the pandemic has had on family doctors’ professional and personal lives—how COVID-19 shone a light on the cracks of a fragile primary care system. As well, it demonstrates how family physicians and the health system can be nimble when faced with a crisis.