In this issue:

• Message from the Chair
• What You Need to Know
  • Health Quality Fund
  • DoM Awards Nominations
• The Science of Explaining Medicine: Rethink Using “Rare” to Describe Risk
• ACB: Rethinking Professionalism: How Dress Codes Can Reinforce Discrimination
• DoM Research
  • Supervisors Seeking Graduate Students
  • Share Your Story
• DoM News
• Happenings in DoM
• Helpful Support and Tips
• FoMD News
• U of A News
• AHS and AMA News

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 12 - 2 p.m. | CSB 13-126

If you are no longer able to attend, please contact Andrea (cliff1@ualberta.ca) as we have a waiting list for this session.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Application deadline: Sunday, February 8 @ 11:59 p.m.

The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce the launch of the new Health Quality Fund (HQF), a competitive internal funding opportunity designed to support physician-led clinical quality improvement (QI) projects.

Call for Awards Nominations!

We want to recognize the outstanding work of individuals and teams and are now accepting nominations for all Department of Medicine Awards. 

Nominations are due by Monday, March 16, 2026 @ 5 p.m. MT. Nominations can be submitted online through the appropriate nomination form.  

• Research Awards 
  • Basic Science Publication Award
  • Clinical Investigation Publication Award
  • Clinical Faculty Research Award
  • Paul W. Armstrong Excellence in Research Award
  • Translational Research Award
• Medical Education Publication Award
• J. Charles "Chuck" Morrison Award
• Career Development Awards - three awards

THE SCIENCE OF
EXPLAINING MEDICINE

Rethink Using 'Rare' to Describe Risk

We need to stop using “rare” to describe risks.  Here’s why. 

Have you ever told a patient a side effect is “rare”, “unlikely” or “common”? To you, “rare” might mean <1%. To your patient? It could mean anything from 0.01% (1 in 10,000) to 10% or more. 

A recent JAMA article breaks down how we should communicate medical numbers. It highlights a massive gap between how clinicians think they’re communicating risk and how patients actually hear it. Using imprecise terms can accidentally mislead. Patients can have varied numeracy skills. We don’t want to accidentally nudge patients into decisions they might not otherwise make. The following is a classic example.

The "half-off" trap

If you tell a patient, a drug "cuts their risk of a stroke in half," they’re usually all-in. But if that means their risk drops from 2% to 1%, that 50% relative reduction feels a lot less heroic when framed as a 1% absolute benefit. By omitting the baseline, we create an "illusion of certainty" that can lead to over-treatment and misaligned expectations.

Ready to upgrade your risk communication toolkit?

In the full article, we’ll go over:

• Which graphics work best (example- icon arrays) 
• The magic of consistent denominators (hint: stick to “X in 1,000”)
• How to pivot from "90% survival" to "10% mortality" without losing trust

DoM ACCESS, COMMUNITY
AND BELONGING

Rethinking Professionalism:
How Dress Codes Can Reinforce Discrimination

Medical dress codes are often justified as neutral standards of “professionalism,” yet expectations for how physicians, residents, and medical students should dress are rooted in white, patriarchal, and heteronormative norms. These narrow standards elevate Eurocentric appearances as the professional ideal while disproportionately policing women, gender-diverse individuals, and racially- and culturally-marginalized trainees and clinicians. Restrictions on hairstyles, tattoos, and clothing that deviates from traditional gender roles reinforce rigid binaries and send a message about whose identities are deemed acceptable. 

Such expectations actively undermine equity by ignoring socioeconomic realities, religious and cultural attire, and the needs of neurodivergent individuals, for whom conventional medical dress—such as tight uniforms, layered clothing, or neckties—can be physically distressing or inaccessible. Dress codes that prioritize conformity over inclusion do not improve professionalism or patient care. Instead they create barriers to belonging and well-being.

Medical institutions must move beyond outdated ideals and adopt inclusive dress policies that centre on comfort, safety, and self-expression. Expanding definitions of professionalism strengthens the medical workforce and builds patient trust by allowing physicians and trainees to show up authentically. Rethinking how we define professional dress is an essential step toward a more equitable, representative, and humane medical system.

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

DoM RESEARCH

Research News

Looking to Grow Your Research Team?

We are compiling a list of faculty members currently seeking graduate students. By sharing information on our Supervisors page about your research interests, projects, and opportunities, you make it easier for prospective graduate students to find a strong fit and reach out to you directly.

 Amplify your impact: Share Your Story! 

Do you have a new publication, innovative project, fresh approach to clinical care or education, or new grant or collaboration? We want to share DoM member projects that offer new perspectives, challenge current thinking, or show meaningful community impact, as well as new research publications.

Submit your story to the DoM Impact Story Submission form and encourage your colleagues to do the same.

We’d love to explore these stories with you. Your submissions may also be submitted to Folio.

Call for Abstracts: due March 20

The 2026 Gastroenterology Research Day highlights cutting-edge gastrointestinal and liver research spanning clinical, translational, and basic sciences. We invite abstracts from U of A trainees and investigators engaged in adult or pediatric GI-related research.

Prepare Your Abstract - submissions begin Sunday, March 1.

Narrative CVs

The Tri-agencies (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) have announced a shift to a narrative-style curriculum vitae (CV) for funding applications. As such, the Office of the Vice-President (Research) has officially launched the Narrative CVs: Guidance for Researchers webpage.

Faculty Funding and Awards

CIHR Internal Review for Spring 2026 Competition

Registration deadline | Feb. 4. RAS full application: Feb. 20; sponsor: Mar. 4.

CIHR Advancing 2S/LGBTQI+ Health through Research Competition

Registration deadline |  Feb.11. The CIHR Institute of Gender and Health and partners are thrilled to announce this funding opportunity: $175,000 per year for up to 4 years, for a total of $700,000 per grant. Sponsor: Mar. 19

Margolese National Heart Disorders Prize | Feb. 27. Value: $50,000. Nominations for the 2026 competition must be external to UBC.

Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize | Feb. 27. Value: $50,000. Nominations for the 2026 competition must be external to UBC.

Trainee + Postdoctoral Scholars
Funding and Awards

• TD Bank Financial Group Grant for Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Fund Awards | Feb. 6. Value: two (2) $10,000 awards.
   

• Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate Prize | Feb. 8. Value: $5,000.  Opportunity for PhD students to apply.
   

• URI Undergraduate Researcher Stipend | Feb. 9. Value: $7,500 stipend only.
   

• Heart and Stroke Personnel Awards for Black and Indigenous Scholars | Feb. 12. Value: Master's up to $54,000 (over two years); PhD up to $120,000 (over 3 years).
   

• The 2026 FoMD Undergraduate Summer Students' Research Projects Database is now open to post your summer research positions for two, three or four months from May to August. More info: Nicole Kosturic.

For more Funding and Award Opportunities, see:

Members' Research Publications

• Yu Jun Wong, Ellina Lytvyak, Aldo J Montano-Loza (Corresponding Author), et al. Prognostic value of liver stiffness measurement vs. biochemical response in primary biliary cholangitis. Journal of Hepatology. Published online October 3, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2025.09.024

DoM NEWS

Congratulations to Dr. Aminu Bello (professor, Division of Nephrology) on receiving the American Society of Nephrology 2025 Distinguished Researcher Award!

We are delighted to congratulate Dr. Mahesh Kate, Dr. Darren Lau, Dr. Jason Plemel and Dr. Michael Stickland on successfully receiving the CHIR Fall Project Grant.

Dr. Ameeta Singh (clinical professor, Division of Infectious Diseases) and team reduce syphilis rates with rapid point-of-care testing and same-day treatment (Folio).

• Dr. Quentin Durand-Moreau (associate professor, Division of Preventive Medicine)
  • University of Alberta expert weighs in on ‘back to office’ debate (Global TV)
     
• Dr. Monty Ghosh (assistant professor, Division of General Internal Medicine)
  • Supervised Consumption Sites Aren’t Linked To Increased Crime: McGill Study (Beritaja (Indonesia))
  • Red Deer firefighters see more opioid-related calls after overdose consumption site closes (CBC Lite)
  • Endometriosis care delays force Alberta woman to seek help abroad: ‘Just want my life back’ (Global News)
     
• Dr. Stephanie Smith (professor, Division of Infectious Diseases)
  • Alberta may be on track for deadliest flu season on record, health experts warn (CBC)

HAPPENINGS IN DoM

Registration is now open

This free half-day course offers health-care professionals a valuable opportunity to explore the latest advances in hematology. The ASH Update features expert-led presentations from physicians who attend the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, highlighting key developments and emerging topics in the field. 

For those in person, lunch will be at 11 a.m. Presentations begin at 12 noon.

Registration is now open

Discover a world of innovation and expertise at the 2026 Annual Update in Adult Medicine, your gateway to the latest breakthroughs in general internal medicine. 

Classroom D - 2F1.04 WMC, University Hospital

Join us in person for coffee and good conversation, or click on links below to register on Zoom.

• Feb. 6 - Psychoneuroimmunology of the Holobiont: Integrated Science for Integrated Medicine. Dr. Paul Forsythe, Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, DoM
• Feb. 13 - Topic: BE-FIT Program. Dr. Rachel Khadaroo, Professor, Department of Surgery and Pam Mathura, Clinical Lecturer, DoM
• Feb. 20 - Topic: Music and Medicine. Dr. Valerie Sim, Professor, Division of Neurology, DoM
• Feb. 27 - Medical Jeopardy. Hosts: Dr. Tim Chan and Dr. Matthew Church, DoM
• Mar. 6 - TBA. Dr. Anna Rogers, Clinical Lecturer, Division of Endocrinology  and Metabolism and Dr. Sofia Ahmed, Professor, Division of Nephrology, DoM

In case you missed it:

• Dr. Nabeela Nathoo, Division of Neurology, DoM, U of A, Histiocytosis: The Great Masquerader?
• Dr. Zaeem Siddiqi, Division of Neurology, DoM and Dr. Richard Fahlman, Department of Biochemistry, U of A, Myasthenia Gravis from Bench to Bedside: Redefining Diagnosis and Treatment
• Dr. Narmin Kassam, Chair and Professor, DoM, U of A, Strategic Planning Updates

See more previous recordings on the MGR Library web page.

HELPFUL SUPPORT and TIPS

• U of A Editorial Style Guide Tip:
  Avoid stakeholder/stakeholders. This word has negative, colonial connotations to many Indigenous Peoples, related to the allotment of land to settlers. Alternative wording includes: interested groups, advisers, collaborators, consultants, co-owners, contributors, community members, coalition members, advocacy groups, working partners, clients or funders.
   

• Pat Hibbitts Professional Development Bursary | Feb. 6. Have you been at the U of A for less than 3 years and never attended CAUBO's annual conference? CAUBO is a non-profit professional organization representing administrative and financial officers at over 100 Canadian universities and colleges. Each year, one complimentary conference pass is offered to employees in areas of: Academic Administration, Facilities Management, Finance, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Procurement, Risk Management, Taxes, Treasury & Investment.
   

• Share to Win a UAlberta Hoodie | Feb. 9. Do you have experience being a mentor or a mentee? If so, what was one pearl of wisdom you took away from that experience? What did you learn from a mentor that others could benefit from?  

FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

• Global Health Fair | Feb. 5. This annual fair focuses on global health education and research relating to biomedical science, individuals and communities. It is open to all students, postdocs, clinicians, research staff and faculty involved in global health research.
   
• FoMD Faculty Development Workshops

  • Buyer Beware: Predatory Publishing | Feb. 20 @ 12 p.m., online

  • Measuring Research Impact | Feb. 25 @ 12 p.m., online
     

• Department Chair Candidate Presentations for
  • Department of Surgery
    • Dr. Desmond Nunez | Feb. 3
    • Dr. Tejas Sankar | Feb. 10
  • Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging
    • Dr. Derek Emery | Feb. 5
  • Mike Petryk School of Dentistry:
    • Dr. Gildo Santos | Feb. 2
    • Dr. Owen Addison | Feb. 19

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA NEWS

• U of A maintains Top 100 standing in five strong subjects. Latest Times Higher Education subject rankings reflect excellence in subjects from computer science and engineering to health, education and life sciences. The Medical and Health subject area also placed 77th worldwide and maintained its national rank of fifth. This area includes medicine and dentistry, nursing and other health-care disciplines.
   

• Technology Transfer Services (TTS) is now Part of VP International + Enterprise. Inventors are encouraged to contact TTS as soon as an invention is identified, prior to completing a formal Report of Invention. TTS will provide inventors feedback on commercial possibilities at the earliest stages, without commitment, to determine the path they will take for their intellectual property.

AHS and AMA NEWS

2026 Annual Information Verification and Attestation (AIVA) | Feb. 14. 
AIVA should take less than 5 minutes to complete. This is required as part of the Medical Staff Bylaws & Rules. For help, contact:

• Health Shared Services IT Support, 1-877-311-4300, for network password or problems accessing your AVIA
• AIVA@ahs.ca or 1-888-705-1581, for questions related to AIVA.
• FAQ document, for information about completing your AIVA

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

• PPIP-Stop: Drop-in Q&A | Feb. 12

• Virtual Care Excellence: Understanding the Standards of Practice | Feb. 23

• Working Through Conflict: Mastering the Process | Mar. 2

Physicians with ADHD: Leading, Lifting, Sustaining | Feb. 18. Speaker Dr. Elisabeth Hall, MD, CCFP, FRCPC, (Psychiatry) is a Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry at UBC and a pioneering leader in supporting and treating neurodiverse physicians. Hosted by the AHS Provincial Medical Leadership Educational Series.