Western University

Thumb arthritis makes daily tasks painful for 1 in 4 older Canadians – and not all can access pain-relieving thumb splints.

Joy MacDermid, a physical therapy professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences - Western University and member of Western Bone and Joint Institute, is leading a project funded by Arthritis Society Canada to expand access through 3D-printed splints.

As co-director of the clinical research lab at Roth | McFarlane Hand & Upper Limb Centre and a scientist at Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's Health Care London, Joy leads researchers studying how to measure, predict and reduce upper extremity disability.

Learn more about how we're on optimizing health for all: https://news.westernu.ca/2026/06/western-research-3d-printed-splints-thumb-arthritis/

After years of working as a dental assistant, Katherine Shone realized she wanted to be on the other side of the chair. Now, through 's Indigenous Student STEM Access Program (ISSAP), she's pursuing her dream of becoming a dentist. Her ultimate goal is to one day open a dental office on Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, where traditional knowledge and cultural safety inform the practice.

ISSAP helps Indigenous students build confidence, complete prerequisites and transition into science and engineering programs through wraparound academic and cultural supports.

ISSAP program develops Indigenous students in STEM - Western News A program for Indigenous students in STEM at Western University is providing a dedicated pathway to transition into science and engineering programs.

Western moved up nine spots in the latest QS Top Universities Rankings, placing sixth in Canada and 142nd among 1,500 universities.

The university improved across multiple categories, including academic and employer reputation, international research and sustainability.

Read more about how we're on preparing future leaders and global citizens. ⬇️

Western advances in global rankings, placing in top 10 per cent - Western News Western places in top 10 per cent among 1,500 universities worldwide and is sixth in Canada according to the 2027 QS World University Rankings.

“If you don’t know what’s going on around you, hearing loss can be incredibly isolating.” Born with permanent hearing loss, grad and aspiring audiologist Paige Stickney hopes to help others.

Susan Scollie, director of the National Centre for Audiology at Western, is tackling the problem of children rapidly outgrowing their hearing aids through the ALLEars project, which uses AI and 3D-printing to develop affordable, digital solutions for predicting ear growth.

Western’s Audiodome, a geodesic structure filled with 91 speakers, allows researchers to place listeners in simulated environments and study how they track familiar voices against competing noise. This helps explain how people hear in noisy settings and mitigates sensory challenges in older adults.

The cover story of the new Western Alumni Magazine focuses on
research that’s reshaping the future of hearing. Read how Western is all in on optimizing health: https://brnw.ch/21x3uKK

Kids are always watching. They learn how to handle stress, emotions and relationships from the adults around them.

Ahead of Father's Day, Faculty of Health Sciences - Western University prof David Green shares the science of fatherhood — and the simple daily habits that matter, from device-free dinners to bedtime stories.

Expert explainer: Science-backed ways fathers build strong bonds with children - Western News A Western University expert explains science-backed ways fathers can build strong bonds with their children and support healthy development.

Congratulations to the - you did it! We hope you're of all your achievements. 🎓💜

As new grads, you have access to alumni perks and benefits: https://alumni.westernu.ca/perks-benefits/purple-perks/

Photos submitted by Aidan Cowell-Miller, Manpreet Saini, Sophie Smith, Felicia Oluwadamilola Olaofin, Andrei Goga