In this issue:

• Message from the Chair
• What You Need to Know
  • Department Annual Awards
  • Update Your Profile Page
  • Annual Review with the Chair
  • New Conflict of Interest Process
  • Transitions in Medicine Session 3, June 3
  • Sabbatical
  • Welcome to the DoM
• Happenings in DoM
• DoM News
• ACB: What's in a Name?
• DoM Research
  • Me2 Majumdar Research and QI Day Awardees
  • DoM Translational Research Implementation Fund
• Helpful Support and Tips
• FoMD News
• U of A News
• AHS and AMA News

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Celebrating Excellence

The Annual Celebration Dinner is a chance to step back and recognize not just what we’ve accomplished individually, but what we’ve achieved together.

Update Your Profile, Amplify Your Impact

Your U of A profile showcases your expertise, research, teaching, leadership, and accomplishments to colleagues, learners, collaborators, media, and the broader community. Keeping it up to date ensures your latest achievements are reflected and helps highlight the outstanding work taking place across our Department. We encourage you to take a few minutes to review and update your profile.

To Edit Your Profile:

1. On the U of A Directory, enter your name.
2. When your page pops up, click on Login (top right). Enter your CCID and password. Then you can begin editing. 

Memo: Completing the Faculty Annual Report (FAR)

As part of the updated Collective Agreement under Article A2.05, academic faculty members assigned to the ANNUAL and EVEN cohorts are required to complete an Activities Report through the FAR portal for the current reporting cycle 2025-26. 

Want to know more about how to complete the Faculty Annual Report (FAR)? Sign up for a FoMD virtual information session:

• Wednesday, July 22, 12 - 1 p.m.
• Monday, August 10,  4 - 5 p.m.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest - New Process

Attention academic faculty, basic scientists and TRAS: the university has transitioned from a PDF process to an online Annual Employee Acknowledgement process. The new due date is the end of July 2026.

Recording now available

Going on leave, sabbatical or retiring? This session focuses on what researchers need to think about to ensure continuity for their staff, learners, grants, data, and clinical trials.

This is your opportunity to step away from the everyday, pursue bold ideas, and return with fresh perspectives that inspire innovation, discovery, and growth.

Please join us in welcoming the following new staff:

• Dr. Gaurav Gulsin, assistant professor, Division of Cardiology, gulsin@ualberta.ca.

HAPPENINGS IN DoM

New Public Health Education Series Launching This September

The Department of Medicine is pleased to launch Let's Talk Health: Conversations with Physicians from the Department of Medicine, a new virtual community education series presented in partnership with Edmonton Public Library.

Designed for a general audience, this free, monthly series will provide practical, evidence-based information on common health topics and questions. Sessions will feature DoM physicians sharing what they want the public to know about their area of expertise, helping participants better understand their health, and navigate the information they encounter online and in the media.

If you would like to be a speaker in this series, please send an email to Andrea Cliff (cliff1@ualberta.ca) with your name and a brief description of your topic.

INAUGURAL WEBINAR:

The Truth About GLP-1 Medications:
Separating Facts, Myths, and Headlines
Wednesday, September 9 | 6–7 p.m. via Zoom
with Dr. Saifal Anwar, associate clinical professor

Our inaugural webinar will explore the realities behind GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, including common misconceptions, potential benefits and risks, and what current medical evidence tells us about these increasingly talked-about therapies.

We encourage you to share this opportunity with your family, friends, patients, colleagues, and community networks.

That’s shorter than reading the whole newsletter.🤣

Have you noticed the changes we've made? Your voice matters.
Thank you to those who have already completed our survey! 

MGR is now on summer break

In case you missed it:

• Dr. Teresa Chan, A.M. Edwards Lectureship - THE ACADEMIC FORCE: A Galactic Journey from New Faculty to Leadership at TMU's Inaugural Med School
• Dr. Lynora Saxinger, Clinical Infodemiology: The Harms of Medical Disinformation and What WE Can Do About It
• Dr. Arnav Agarwar, Research Grand Rounds: Trustworthy Evidence Synthesis and Practice Guidance for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity
• Dr. Don Vinh, Henry Pabst Lectureship: Idiopathic Infections as Insights into Human Immunity

See more previous recordings on the MGR Library web page.

Kick-start the Semester

Spend some time reconnecting with colleagues, sharing summer highlights, and welcoming new members to the team.

Venue: Corbett Quad, corner of 112 Street and 82 Avenue
Food Trucks: Satay Madura, Starvin Marvin's and Veggie Delights
For Whom: Free for DoM faculty, residents, staff and learners, however you must complete the registration to reserve your attendance. 

Registration is now open

Join us for an opportunity to delve into the latest breakthroughs and advancements in Adult and Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine.

"It was a great educational program - Thank you!"
- 2025 participant

Registration is now open

This one-day course will provide physicians and healthcare professionals with the latest in Diabetes and an approach to common Endocrine problems. 

DoM NEWS

• Congratulations to Dr. Saifal Anwar (associate clinical professor, Division of General Internal Medicine) on receiving the GSICU Exceptional Colleague Award from the Department of Critical Care Medicine, U of A.

• Cheers to Dr. Cecile Phan (clinical associate professor, Division of Neurology) on receiving PGME 2026 Fellowship and AFC Teaching Award by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

• Kudos to Leanne Schell on receiving PGME 2026 Fellowship and AFC Program Administrator Award by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

• Congratulations to Dr. Peter Senior (professor, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and General Internal Medicine) on receiving the Charles H. Best Award from Diabetes Canada.

• Hats off to our newest graduates—congrats on your amazing achievement!

Research by Dr. Michael Stickland (professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine) and team shows cardiopulmonary impairment and pulmonary vascular dysfunction in 23-year-old chronic e-cigarette users. (Folio)

• Dr. Paul Armstrong (professor emeritus, Division of Cardiology)
  • Celebrating U of A's Highly Cited Researchers, and how accessibility drives academic influence (The Quad)
     
• Dr. Kirles Bishay (assistant clinical professor, Division of Gastroenterology)
  • New weight loss procedure at Royal Alexandra Hospital being hailed a ‘game-changer’ (Global News)
     
• Dr. Monty Ghosh (assistant professor, Division of General Internal Medicine)

  • As Calgary's only supervised consumption site shuts down today, what's next for the people who use it? (CBC Radio)
     

• Dr. Ross Mitchell (professor, Division of General Internal Medicine)
  • The AI procurement question hiding in your doctor’s office (Digital Journal)
     
• Dr. Neesh Pannu (professor, Division of Nephrology)
  • Canada’s AI strategy to fund national health data project to improve care, investment, minister says (The Globe and Mail)
     
• Dr. Lynora Saxinger (professor, Division of Infectious Diseases)
  • Alberta urged to follow federal guidance as it develops fall COVID-19 vaccine plan (CBC)
     
• ​​​​​​​Dr. Dilini Vethanayagam (professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine)
  • ​​​​​​​June is HHT awareness month (CBC Radio)

DoM ACCESS, COMMUNITY
AND BELONGING

What's in a Name?

Perfection is not the goal—making the effort is.

Taking a moment to verify the spelling, asking someone how they pronounce their name, or correcting a recurring mistake may seem insignificant. Yet these small actions communicate that we recognize one another as individuals with unique identities, cultures and histories, rather than simply as roles or names on a list.

Health-care professionals are trained to value accuracy. We carefully check medication names, laboratory values, diagnoses and procedures because details matter. Names deserve the same attention. They are essential not only for communication and identification within our health-care system but also for fostering a culture of collegiality and belonging.

Making the effort to pronounce and spell an individual's name correctly costs nothing, yet it may be one of the simplest and most meaningful acts of respect we can offer one another.

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

DoM RESEARCH

Research News

• The Researcher’s Guide to Using Generative AI in Research Grant Development. Read about the Generative AI Tools and Gemini Gem chatbots (Narrative CV Assistant, Narrative CV Reviewer & EDI Assistant) that can assist with your grant development.
   

• Attention AUP Holders: Transitioning to the New AUP 2.0. AUP 2.0 is now live in ARISE. Because this update requires a manual data transfer, dedicated coordinator support and resources are available to help your team transition smoothly. Contact Raven Kirschenman.
   

• Research Ethics Board fee structure adjustments for industry-sponsored research. The U of A is adjusting REB fees for industry-sponsored research effective July 1, 2026. New budgets must reflect these changes, and active studies require amendments. Contact Kim Kordov.

Faculty Funding and Awards

DoM Translational Research Implementation Fund
Deadline: Monday, August 3

Up to one $30,000 award and up to two $20,000 awards are available.

• 2027 Gairdner Momentum Awards - Call for Nominations | Jul. 15. This award recognizes mid-career investigators who have produced exceptional scientific research contributions in the past six years while in Canada, and whose research has continued potential impact on human health.
   

• NSERC: Discovery Grants | NOI: Aug. 4. The Discovery Grants support development and sustainability of diverse, high-quality research in natural sciences and engineering (NSE) at Canadian universities, fosters research excellence and strengthens the research training environment.
   

• CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) | Aug. 15. This federal program provides funding for research equipment and infrastructure that supports innovative research. Apply through FoMD.
   

• NFRF-Exploration 2026 | NOI: Aug. 18. This competition supports high-risk, interdisciplinary projects with transformative potential. Award value: $200,000/2 years.
   

• Alberta Innovates – LevMax-Health | Aug. 28. Funding to help enable a health research and innovation ecosystem in Alberta. Up to a maximum of $750,000 for a maximum term of 36 months.
   

• Alzheimer's Association and Brain Canada Foundation (AA/BCF) |
  RAS: Sep. 4. The grant program explores critical questions to advance our understanding of VCID and its contributions to AD/ ADRD pathogenesis. 
   

• Strategic Research Initiatives Fund (SRIF) | Sep. 11. Supports enhanced research performance aligned with the U of A's strategic research and innovation plan, Forward with Purpose. Value: $50,000 and $100,000.

Trainee + Postdoctoral Scholars
Funding and Awards

• HEART Platform Clinical Research Fellowship | Jul. 15. The Heart Failure Efficacy and Research Trial (HEART) Platform is a multicentre, randomized clinical trial designed to improve outcomes for patients with heart failure. Offered by the Canadian VIGOUR Centre, this 12-month fellowship provides funding support (up to $50,000) to full-time, thesis-based graduate trainees (Master's or PhD) and medical residents at the U of A.
   

• 2026/27 Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarships | Jul. 23. This scholarship supports academically superior graduate students undertaking full-time research education at an Alberta university, leading to a research-based Master's or Doctoral degree.
   

• Research Project Management Training | Sep. 29. The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) offers this webinar on practical tools for planning and tracking research projects. Registration costs $15 and includes workshop materials and a certificate of completion. 

Members' Research Publications

• Piao J, Zhang Y, Zhao YY, Hanington P, Hambrook J, Liu Y, Ussher JR, Tabatabaei Dakhili SA, Sutendra G, Michelakis ED. Discovery of a snail hibernation-inducer offering hibernation-like cardioprotection through metabolic rewiring and autophagy in mice. Nat Commun. 2026 Jun 10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-74208-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42271149.
   
• Williams TG, Collins SÉ, Brotto AR, D'Souza AW, Ehnes CM, Hicks B, Weatherald J, Leung JM, Stickland MK. Do Young Individuals With Chronic E-Cigarette Exposure Display Cardiopulmonary Abnormalities During Exercise and Blunted Recruitment of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity? Chest. 2026 Jun;169(6):1616-1627. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2025.12.024. Epub 2026 Jan 2. PMID: 41485699.

For more Funding and Award Opportunities, see:

HELPFUL SUPPORT and TIPS

• Voluntary Personal Leave Plan (PLP) | Jul. 30. Want more time to recharge? The Voluntary PLP gives you the opportunity to add extra vacation or leave time.
   
• Switch your U of A Wifi Connection today: eduroam. The UWS connection will expire Aug. 15. Log in with your email CCID@ualberta and password.

FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

• Fall Workshops with Dr. Vijay Daniels
  • Clinical Teaching Workshop 1 - How to Maximize Clinical Teaching | Sep. 9
  • Time Management Workshop | Sep. 18
  • Clinical Teaching Workshop 2 - Advanced Teaching topics such as feedback and "difficult" learners | Oct. 7
     
• Office of Lifelong Learning (L3)

  • Beyond the Basics: Performing endometrial biopsy and IUD insertion in your office- Hands-on Workshop I Sep. 15. Kipnes Academy, U of A 

  • Dare to Lead™ Program I Tuesdays, from Oct. 6 to Nov. 17 | 4:30- 7 p.m. on Zoom; early bird registration open.

  • Crucial Conversations® Course I Oct. 19 & Nov. 2 | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Zoom; early bird registration open.

  • Learn how to help your patients living with obesity I Oct. 21, 28 and Nov. 4 & 18 I 6-7:30 p.m. on Zoom

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA NEWS

• 2026 Year in Review. Behind every act of generosity is a moment of impact. The 2026 Year in Review (formerly Donor Impact Report) celebrates the $192M donated this year. It shares the stories of students, researchers and communities whose lives have been changed through donor support.
   
• Student Loans 101 workshops | starting Jul. 18. Student loans can be complicated, but the Student Service Centre will walk you through the Alberta student loan application process. Please note, you must be an Alberta resident to attend this workshop. Staff sessions: Aug. 11 & 13.
   
• Online Graduate Certificate in AI and Health | apply by Aug. 15. This new certificate is designed for working professionals and learners interested in exploring the responsible use, ethical governance and real-world application of AI in health.

AHS and AMA NEWS

Free AMA webinar that support PPIP requirements. The Alberta Medical Association Accelerating Change Transformation Team (AMA-ACTT) offers free, interactive webinars to help physicians meet the Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP) requirements by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta.

• Working Through Conflict: Mastering the Process | Aug. 24