Pulse, a monthly publication of the Department of Medicine, University of Alberta

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Department of Medicine is celebrating 100 years!

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.

See highlights from the Day of Discovery and the Black-tie Gala and download the extended version of the 100-Year Legacy Report

Celebrating 35 Years of Dedication and Leadership

Join us as we honour Doris Kurtz for her incredible 35+ years of service to the Department of Medicine's Medical Education. Doris has been a cornerstone of the medical education program, mentoring generations of residents and contributing to the growth and success of countless individuals.

Please join us in welcoming the following new DoM member:

Matt Holzer, Medical Education Program Coordinator (MEPC) for Gastroenterology and Gastroenterology Fellowship
Dr. Matthew Michaleski, Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine
Ramea Rahim, Medical Education Program Coordinator (MEPC) for Cardiology Junior Residents and Cardiology Fellowship
Laureen Wong, Department Program Support (DPS), Human Resources

DoM RESEARCH

Research News

DoM Internal Review Process for CIHR Project Grant – CIHR Project Grant Spring 2025 Competition. Intent to Apply: Dec. 8
WINTER CLOSURE 2024. Applications due between Dec. 24 and Jan. 7 (incl.) must be received at RAS no later than Dec. 17.
The 2025 FoMD Undergraduate Summer Students’ Research Projects Database is NOW OPEN. Post your summer research positions of two, three or four months between May to August. Questions? Email Nicole Kosturic.

Faculty Funding and Awards

CIHR Project Grant: Spring 2025. Registration Deadline: Feb. 5, 2025
RAS Full Application Deadline: Feb. 21; Sponsor: Mar. 5
Call for Adjudicators for the 2025 Alberta Innovates Summer Research Students.

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

DoM Research Events calendar (postings in green)
RAS Calendar

Trainee Funding and Awards

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).
Alberta Innovates Postdoctoral Recruitment Fellowships
GPS: Dec 10 to grad.awards@ualberta.ca. Value: $70,000 per year (up to 2 years).
2025 Alberta Innovates Summer Research Students (SRS): Jan. 27. Value: $1,875/month (max. $7,500 for a 4-month project).
TD Bank Financial Group Grant for Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Fund Awards: Feb.7. Value: four (4) $10,000 awards.
Heart and Stroke Personnel Awards for Black and Indigenous Scholars: Mar. 20. Value: Masters up to $54,000 (over two years); PhD up to $120,000 (over 3 years).

DoM NEWS

Dr. Narmin Kassam received the 2024 American College of Physicians Distinguished Member Excellence Award.

Congratulations to Dr. Narmin Kassam (Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine) on receiving the 2024 American College of Physicians Distinguished Member Excellence Award.

The ACP Distinguished Member Excellence Award is given as a mark of honour and recognition for achievement of a physician who has been a faithful member of the Chapter and who has made major contributions to internal medicine.

Congratulations to our November graduates!

Congratulations to all our graduate students who successfully completed their program!

DoM EQUITY, DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION

Unconscious Bias

QUICK! What does a cow drink? The first response most people think of is "milk". But cows drink water, not milk. Unconscious bias leads us to associate cows with milk. We think and act based on pre-existing assumptions, associations and meanings that are already stored in our mind, based on our past life experiences and other influences, including media, educational upbringing, and religious, cultural and social values. These pre-existing programs in our brains allow us to make quick assessments and split-second decisions, but they also unknowingly affect our behaviours.

We all have unconscious bias. Although these biases are often contrary to our conscious values and ideals, unconscious bias can be a greater predictor of behaviour than our conscious values (Dovidio and Gaertner, 2004). Unconscious bias can show up on many levels — in personal relationships, organizations and systems. We must all make an effort to identify our unconscious biases that cloud our interactions and engagement with others.

Creating awareness of bias is similar to hitting the "pause"' button. Hitting the "pause" button allows for the opportunity to recognize our biases and to challenge perspectives involving people and organizations with different worldviews, languages and ways of being.

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

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

HAPPENINGS IN DoM

Join us for a one-day educational event tailored to primary care physicians seeking to enhance their understanding of obstetric medicine.

Early bird rate available until December 15

The Department Program Support (DPS) Team is collecting donations for the Campus Food Bank this month in the Clinical Sciences Building.

The most needed items are:

bulk cereal, rice, oats, pasta
canned tuna, beans, other protein
canned tomato sauce
readymade meals e.g. canned chili, noodles, ramen
sanitary pads, tampons
diapers, baby formula
unopened shampoo, body wash

Cash donations are also accepted in a number of different ways.

Please drop off in CSB 1-198 (contact geriea@ualberta.ca for access) or leave in CSB 5-120.

The donation box will be returned to the food bank on December 20.

Thank you very much!

Join us for coffee in person at 2-191 Clinical Sciences Building

Dec. 6 - (Statistical) Power in numbers: leveraging the CanRIO database to better understand rheumatic toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer, Dr. Carrie Ye, Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, U of A
Dec. 13 - Resident Skits, DoM Medical Education Residents
Dec. 20, 27 and Jan. 3 - No MGR
Jan. 10 - Department of Medicine Strategic Plan Update, D r. Narmin Kassam, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, U of A

See previous MGRs or sign-up

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!

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FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

FoMD Workforce Census: is now live. Please count yourself in. The survey is voluntary, and the results will be anonymous.
Global Health Rounds: Kidney Disease in Farmers in LMIC: Dec. 17 with Dr. Benjamin Vervaet
CONNECTIONS Exhibit: open until June 22, 2025 at the Royal Alberta Museum. The Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute and the Faculty of Arts present a collection of artwork and scientific images that portray aspects of neuroscience, brain diseases and mental health disorders, and their intersections with art and life.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA NEWS

Glen Sather relocation and reduced rates for employees. Due to flooding, the Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic has been temporarily relocated from the second to the sixth floor of the Kaye Edmonton Clinic location on North Campus. All services are still available and a reminder that employees get 15% off massage therapy at the Glen Sather.
Share the Cheer 2024: Dec. 20 to Jan. 1. Members of the U of A community are invited to host international students who are away from home, share traditions, and create lasting memories during winter break.
Culture of Care Safety Summit: Jan. 29. This full-day conference will open with President Flanagan and offer opportunities to learn more about how you can be part of creating a strong safety culture here at the U of A.
Reduce your Google Workspace storage: by Jan. 31. All Google Workspace users must reduce their storage across Gmail, Drive and Photos by Jan. 31 due to the discontinuation of unlimited storage by Google.

ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES NEWS

AHS accepting toys as payment for parking tickets. AHS is once again spreading holiday cheer with its Toys for Tickets campaign. This initiative gives people who’ve recently received an AHS parking ticket the opportunity to donate a new, unwrapped toy instead of paying their fine. Last year, they collected more than 870 toys province-wide

HELPFUL SUPPORT & TIPS

Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF): now open. Support staff can apply for funding towards a course, workshop, seminar, or training program that takes place between January 1 and March 31, 2025.
Luminaria at the Botanic Garden: December weekends. In a return to its natural roots, the Garden is unplugging and celebrating the elemental — candlelight, starlight and firelight — during the darkest nights of the year. Take in the sounds of a capella singers, light a candle in memory of a loved one and mark the essence of the season in a ritual of peace and beauty.
Options Navigation Network (ONN) The ONN is a group of university units with special training to assist those who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence. Any ONN unit is available to assist disclosers with understanding their options and connecting them to the people who can support them in accessing the services they need.

Department of Medicine