In this issue:

• Message from the Chair
• What You Need to Know
• ACB: Mentorship and Sponsorship: We need both
• DoM Research
• DoM News
• Happenings in DoM
• Helpful Support and Tips: editorial tips and PSPP webinars
• FoMD News
• U of A News
• AHS and AMA News

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Attention ALL DoM Faculty Members: Register now for Session 1: Charting Your Path: Understanding Your Career Transition into Retirement, February 4, 12 - 2 p.m., of the department's Transitions in Medicine practical learning series.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Application deadline: Saturday, January 31, 2026

The Department of Medicine's Medical Education Research Grant and new Mini-grant are now accepting applications. In addition, we have a great medical education research assistant (MERA), who can help you with medical education research tasks.

Meet Nine of Our Graduates

Get to know some of the inspiring students who recently graduated. In these short profiles, our 2025 graduates reflect on their academic journeys, from the research questions that drove them to the discoveries that shaped their paths. They share what sparked their passions, the lessons they’ve learned along the way, and the goals that keep them moving forward. 

 Amplify your impact: Share Your Story! 

Showing the real-world impact of our work is crucial. If you are a Department member, we want to recognize your teams, spotlight your projects, and elevate your research profiles through our communication channels! 

Some of the stories we share may be picked up by Folio and other media, which can improve recognition, citations and grant dissemination metrics. Folio is the U of A’s flagship publication. They are interested in work with broad public interest, strong patient impact, and new avenues for research and care.

What to do

1. Think about the coolest thing you—or a colleague—have been working on lately. 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.

2. 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.

DoM ACCESS, COMMUNITY
AND BELONGING

Mentorship and Sponsorship: We need both

Mentorship: Guidance and Skill-Building
Mentorship has long been recognized as a key element to professional success. A mentor acts as an advisor by sharing wisdom and experience to assist junior colleagues in their growth. They can also provide constructive feedback on skills and areas for improvement, helping individuals build capabilities they can carry forward throughout their careers.

Mentorship is often formalized and built into an organizational structure. This approach can be helpful in establishing direct connections between mentor and mentee, as well as create regular opportunities to meet and learn.

Sponsorship: Advocacy and Opportunity
Sponsorship, on the other hand, is usually informal and occurs when a senior colleague advocates for and promotes a junior colleague. Sponsorship is focused on creating opportunities and connections that can allow people to take the next step in their careers. A sponsor may recommend someone for a promotion, put their name forward to take the lead on a new project, or endorse their skills and experiences when speaking with others. Although a mentor can also serve as a sponsor, sponsorship can be done by anyone who is willing to champion the growth and success of junior colleagues.

Why Both Matter
If mentorship is handing someone a key, sponsorship is helping them walk through the door. Both are valuable in helping colleagues build skills, recognize their own potential, and move to the next level.

Everyone has something to contribute. We encourage you to speak with your director about mentorship opportunities and to consider who can you sponsor today?

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

DoM RESEARCH

Research News

Call for Nominations

The department wishes to recognize the outstanding work of individuals and teams and is now accepting nominations for all DoM Awards:

• Basic Science Publication Award
• Clinical Investigation Publication Award
• Clinical Faculty Research Award
• Paul W. Armstrong Excellence in Research Award
• Translational Research Award

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

Trainee + Postdoctoral Scholars
Funding and Awards

• Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (SRS)  | Feb. 2 (student deadline). Open to undergraduate and MD students interested in summer research in health/medical research & innovation. Value: not less than $1,875 per month for 2-4 months. Supervisor deadline: Feb. 9.
   

• 2026 Tri-Agency Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) | Feb. 2. Total minimum value of USRA (award + top-up): $8,400 for 4 months/16 weeks.
   

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

• 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:

DoM NEWS

Congratulations to Dr. Darryl Rolfson (professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine) on receiving the 2025 U of A Innovation Award!

2025 Celebration of Service and Recognition Awards

Each winter, the university proudly celebrates the dedication and longevity of its faculty and staff. The Department of Medicine is delighted to recognize and thank our members for their many years of outstanding service and commitment.

• Dr. Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert (professor, Division of Rheumatology)
  • Years after pandemic, long COVID patients struggle with daily life (Global TV)
     
• Dr. Quentin Durand-Moreau (associate professor, Division of Preventive Medicine)
  • Price jumps Edmontonians should brace for in 2026 [return to the workplace office] (CTV TV)
     
• Dr. Monty Ghosh (assistant professor, Division of General Internal Medicine)
  • Canada needs a game plan for next phase of opioid crisis (iPolitics)
  • Experts warn of rising Xylazine-linked overdoses in Ottawa and nationwide (Capital Current)
  • Alberta government to close Calgary’s sole supervised consumption site in 2026 (CBC)
  • Hospitals warned about rare infection emerging in Calgary (CBC)
     
• Dr. Lynora Saxinger (professor, Division of Infectious Diseases)
  • How does Alberta's COVID-19 vaccination rate compare to other provinces? We asked (CBC)
  • Flu hospitalizations expected to 'increase sharply,' officials warn, as cases surge and vaccinations lag (CBC)
     
• Dr. Ameeta Singh (clinical professor, Division of Infectious Diseases)
  • New HIV prevention guidelines say doctors should not be ‘gatekeeping’ PrEP (CityNews)
     
• Dr. Stephanie Smith (professor, Division of Infectious Diseases)
  • What’s the latest on this year’s flu season? (CBC The Dose)
     
• Dr. Gopinath Sutendra (associate professor, Division of Cardiology)
  • U of A researcher’s team discovers potential ways to protect the heart during cancer treatments (The Gateway)

HAPPENINGS IN DoM

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.

• Jan. 9 - Strategic Planning Updates, Dr. Narmin Kassam, chair, Department of Medicine, U of A
• Jan. 16 - TBA. Dr. Zaeem Siddiqi, Professor, Division of Neurology, DoM and Dr. Richard Fahlman, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, U of A
• Jan. 23 - Histiocytosis: The Great Masquerader? Dr. Nabeela Nathoo, Assistant Professor, Division of Neurology, DoM
• Jan. 30 - Research Grand Rounds. Dr. Amir Tabatabaei Dahkili, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Feb. 6 - New Professor Series. Dr. Paul Forsythe, Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, DoM

In case you missed it:

• Department of Medicine Residents, Resident Skits
• Dr. Richard Camicioli, Professor, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, U of A Neurodegeneration in Aging: Exorcising or Exercising
• Dr. Stephanie Smith, Professor and Divisional Director, Division of Infectious Diseases; Section Chief, Infectious Diseases; Director, Infection Prevention and Control, U of A Update on Respiratory Viral Infections in Adults: Predictions, Vaccinations and Treatment 

See more previous recordings on the MGR Library web page.

HELPFUL SUPPORT and TIPS

• U of A Editorial Style Guide Tips:
  • UAlberta: do NOT use as an abbreviation for the University of Alberta
  • Use U of A, not UofA
  • The University of Alberta is a proper noun but lowercase “the university.”
     
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) Webinars. PSPP offers free information sessions including:
  • Onboarding: A Guide for New Employees
  • Preparing for Your Retirement
  • Steps to Retirement
  • Life in Retirement

FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

• Global Health Fair abstract due | Jan. 12. 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.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA NEWS

• Campus Event Planners Network, Welcome Back | Jan. 13, 10 - 11:30 a.m. After a brief update in the Alfred Sorensen Community Hall, Conference Services will lead a tour of University Commons. Register by Jan. 8.

AHS and AMA NEWS

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.

These sessions are ideal for primary care providers looking to complete their mandated PPIP activities with practical, step-by-step guidance. Upcoming virtual sessions include:

• Quality Improvement Basics: Keeping it (Small +) Simple | Jan. 12

• PPIP-Stop: Drop in Q&A | Jan. 22, Feb. 12

• Steps for Growing a Healthy Team Culture | Feb. 2

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

Mindful Healthcare Environments: Cultivating Inclusive Spaces for IMGs in Alberta | Jan. 21. Speaker Dr. Florence Obianyor is a mental health practitioner who is passionate about improving the culture of medicine through the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion, and physician wellness. Hosted by the AHS Provincial Medical Leadership Educational Series.