Master of Public Health Candidate wins local 3 minute thesis

Congratulations to Erica Sawula, MPH candidate. On February 11, 2015, Erica participated in the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)  at Lakehead University. Erica’s thesis is entitled “A randomized trial of a comprehensive training process to enhance safe driving in older adults.” Her supervisor is Dr. Michel Bédard, Department of Health Sciences, and currently Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.

Erica’s successful presentation was called: "On the Road Again: Improving Safe Driving in Seniors".  She will now represent Lakehead University at the Ontario-wide competition on April 23, 2015 at Western University, where one student from each Ontario university will present their 3-minute thesis.

Michel stated “I am not surprised that Erica won the contest. She has been fully immersed in the project and obtained results that will contribute to better supporting seniors’ quality of life and independence.”

Erica learned about the competition through the Lakehead University Graduate Students' Association. Any Graduate student was welcome to present their thesis (background, objectives, results, and conclusion) in 3 minutes at a level that would be comprehensible to a non-specialist audience, using a single, static slide in PowerPoint.

3MT provides the opportunity for Graduate and PhD students to present their research concisely and effectively using academic, presentation and communication skills. Erica stated, “it was a really good learning experience because it is difficult to condense a 40-page thesis into 3 minutes!”