WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

A MOMENTOUS CELEBRATION!

Department of Medicine celebrates a century of excellence!

On November 1, we celebrated 100 years of the Department of Medicine by showcasing remarkable achievements and milestones over the century. From groundbreaking research to educational innovations to transformative patient-care initiatives, we honoured the collective contributions that have shaped our department's legacy of excellence.

Stay tuned for highlights from the momentous day!

DoM RESEARCH

Research News

DoM Internal Review Process for CIHR Project Grant – CIHR Project Grant Spring 2025 Competition. Intent to Apply: Dec 8

Faculty Funding and Awards

1. CIHR: Planning and Dissemination Grants – ICS. 
   RAS full application: Nov 12; Sponsor: Nov 19

2. 2024 Kaye Competition Launch Announcement. 
   Letter of Intent (LOI): Nov 18

3. Dr. Margaret "Marmie" Perkins Hess Heart Research Pilot Grant.
   Sponsor: Dec 5. Value $50,000 for one year.

For more Research events, awards, and funding opportunities, see

1. DoM Research Events calendar (postings in green)

2. RAS Calendar

Trainee Funding and Awards

1. Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's (CGS-M) Competition
   Apply via the Research Portal: Dec 1. Value $27,000 (1 year).

2. CVRI - Cote Biomedical Research Studentship
   Deadline: Dec 5.  Value $20,000 (1 year).

3. 2025 Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowships and Grant Notley Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowships
   Internal DoM: Dec 8 to domreas@ualberta.ca. Values: Killam $50,000 per year (up to 2 years); Notley $46,000 per year (up to 2 years).

4. Alberta Innovates Postdoctoral Recruitment Fellowships
   GPS: Dec 10 to grad.awards@ualberta.ca. Value: $70,000 per year (up to 2 years).

Members' Research Publications

November is fall prevention, osteoporosis, and pulmonary hypertension awareness month. Here are some publications by DoM members.

Fall Prevention - Richard Camicioli, MDCM, FRCPC, Meg E. Morris, PhD, FACP, Frederico Pieruccini-Faria, PhD, Manuel Montero-Odasso, MD, PhD FRCPC, Surim Son, MSc, David Buzaglo, BPT, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, PhD, and Alice Nieuwboer, PhD. Prevention of Falls in Parkinson’s Disease: Guidelines and Gaps. MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE 2023. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.13860

Osteoporosis - Elsayed M, Ye C. Osteoporotic fractures: an unrecognized adverse event of immune checkpoint inhibitors? J Immunother Cancer. 2024 Jul 20;12(7):e009309. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009309. PMID: 39032942; PMCID: PMC11261699

Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness - Jason Weatherald, Thomas R. Fleming, Martin R. Wilkins, Thomas M. Cascino, Mitchell A. Psotka, Roham Zamanian, Werner Seeger, Nazzareno Galiè, Mardi Gomberg-Maitland. Clinical trial design, end-points, and emerging therapies in pulmonary arterial hypertension.  European Respiratory Journal 2024; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01205-2024.

See DoM Publications for a complete list of all our division members' research in peer-reviewed journals.

DoM IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to Dr. Sara Davison on becoming a Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) Fellow! 

Congratulations to Dr. Sebastian Straube (Professor and Division Director, Division of Preventive Medicine) on receiving the 2024 Meritorious Service Award!

Also congratulations to Drs. Charl Els, Alex Dyck, and Sebastian Straube who received the 2024 Poster Award from the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada Scientific Conference for "Towards a National Canadian Standard for Psychiatric IMEs" (Els C, Gelinas B, Kertay L, Gervais R, Stewart-Patterson C, Bender A, Syed R, Singh M, Kravtsenyuk M, Dyck A, and Straube S.)

Congratulations

• Dr. Dalton Sholter (Clinical Professor, Division of Rheumatology) on receiving the 2024 Canadian Association for Medical Education Certificate of Merit Award.
• Dr. Penny Smyth (Professor and Division Director, Division of Neurology) on receiving the 2024 Richard Fedorak Memorial Award in Professionalism.

Presentations at the FoMD Awards:

• Dr. Quentin Durand-Moreau (Assistant Professor, Division of Preventive Medicine)
  • Inputting the occupational medicine perspective in the productivity crisis (Alberta Radio-Canada)
• Dr. Monty Ghosh (Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine)
  • Why Alberta’s OD Figures Don’t Make a Case Against Harm Reduction (Filter)
  • Fatal overdoses often happen when users are alone. Hotlines, sensors can save lives (Washington Post)
  • Experts, Beltline community debate future of Calgary's supervised consumption site (CBC Calgary)
• Dr. Ross Mitchell (Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine)
  • AI scribe could help emergency docs save time and improve patient care (Folio)
• Dr. Lynora Saxinger (Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases)
  • Alberta to cover pricey RSV vaccine for some older people (CBC Calgary)
  • A Dangerous Bug Threatens Transplants. And Tells a Larger Story (The Tyee)
  • Flu, COVID vaccines available as of Oct. 15 (St. Albert Gazette)
  • 3 Expert Tips To Staying Healthy During Fall And Winter Seasons (Chatelaine)
  • The bug that gave soldiers "trench fever" is back (CBC Radio)
  • Alberta's fall COVID-19 surge has arrived and hospitals are feeling it (CBC Calgary)
• Dr. Ameeta Singh (Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases)
  • HIV cases rising in Alberta, sparking need for broad outreach, experts say (CBC Calgary) 

DoM EQUITY, DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION

Safe Spaces versus Brave Spaces

The term "safe spaces" has been used in higher education to describe environments that increase the safety and visibility of marginalized/oppressed individuals to allow for discussion of challenging topics without the fear of discrimination or judgment.

"Safe spaces have given rise to important social movements that have advanced our democracy toward a truer definition of equality and justice for all" (Diana Ali, 2017). Safe spaces prioritize emotional safety, encouraging participants to share their experiences and identities freely.

In contrast, brave spaces challenge individuals to confront uncomfortable truths and engage in difficult conversations. Brave spaces invite vulnerability and risk, promoting personal growth through honest dialogue, even when it may lead to discomfort or conflict.

While safe spaces nurture a protective environment, brave spaces push boundaries, encouraging individuals to step outside their comfort zones, leading to deeper understanding and connection. Brave spaces are important in fostering a more inclusive, empathetic community. Let's work to make the Department of Medicine a brave space!

Dr. Lindsay Bridgland, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, DoM

Read other EDI definitions and topics on the DoM EDI site.

HAPPENINGS IN DoM

Presenters: Kerri Shier and Jocelynn Huolt, Peace Officers, U of A Protective Services, Strategic Community Response Team

This presentation is for those who visit or work in the Clinical Sciences Building at the University of Alberta.

Attending in person is highly recommended for a more interactive experience. This session will NOT be recorded due to possible sensitive information on personal safety.

Geriatric Medicine Update 2024 is approved for professional development credits!

This group learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for 7.00 Mainpro+ credits.

• Nov 8 - The Calgary Diabetes Advocacy Committee presents: “LOW”, a short narrative film about the challenges of diabetes and homelessness, Dr. David J.T. Campbell, U of C, Cumming School of Medicine
• Nov 15 - TBA, Dr. Darren Lau, Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine 
• Nov 22 - Wensel Sherbaniuk Lecture, Dr. Norah Terrault, Neil Kaplowitz Chair in Liver Diseases University of Southern California
• Nov 29 - TBA, Dr. Satish Raj, Chair, Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, University of Calgary​​​​​​​

Want to see more events?  Visit the DoM Events web page to see what else is upcoming.

Anything to share?

If you have news or information to share with the department, submit your announcement below, and we'll help spread the word!

FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

• FoMD Workforce Census: coming late Nov. The first FoMD workforce census was in 2018. The world has changed since 2018 and it is time to count yourself in (again) to help us fully inform our strategic plan, progress
  towards our social accountability mandate and to provide the medical school with required data to support accreditation.
   
• Tenure and Promotion Workshop: Nov 7
   
• FoMD Research Fair: Nov 8, 1 - 3 p.m., Katz Atrium. Meet key research staff and learn about your research resources!
   
• Mentorship with Professionalism & Wellness: Nov 13
   
• Daring to Create a Healthier Future for Canada: Nov 19. This Douglas R. Wilson Lecture features the Honourable Jane Philpott, former Minister of Health and Dean of Health Sciences at Queen’s University.
   
• Providing Effective Feedback to Learners: Nov 22
   
• Town Hall: FoMD Update: Nov 28

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA NEWS

• Best universities in Canada 2025. The University of Alberta is one of eight Canadian universities ranked in the global top 200 and also ranks among the top five in Canada, according to the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. 

• CASIP Town Hall: Nov 13. Hear the latest updates from the Continuous Administrative Service Improvement Program (CASIP)

• Awards for Faculty and Teaching Excellence: Nov 28. Applications and nominations are open now!

• Fearless Innovator Awards: Celebrating Boldness and Creativity: Jan 20, 2025. Open to U of A instructors, staff and students, this NEW award invites applications from individuals who have undertaken a bold initiative or project that didn't go as expected and share how they embraced failure as a stepping stone to growth, reflecting on the lessons learned. 

ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES NEWS

• Get your free flu shot on campus. Free influenza vaccinations are offered to U of A students, staff and faculty with a valid healthcare card and ONEcard. Book your appointment to avoid wait times.
   

• World-class cancer facility opens in Calgary. The Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre has an extensive scope and integration of cancer care services, making it one of the most advanced cancer centres in the world. 

HELPFUL SUPPORT & TIPS

• Support Staff Spending Account Allocation: due Nov 22. Support staff are invited to allocate $1,250 between their Health Spending Account (HSA) and Personal Spending Account (PSA).
   
• EFAP Online Courses. The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offers a wide range of e-courses. These courses are self-paced, self-directed and available in both English and French.
   
• Funding for Employee Professional Development. Financial support is available to employees in their development and professional growth: Human Resource Development Fund (support staff), Professional Expense Reimbursement (academic staff, MAPS) and Tuition Remission (all staff).
   
• Management Intensive: apply by Jan 9. Focusing on the people side of the management skill set, Management Intensive supports U of A's people leaders to build unstoppable teams.