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Dean’s Blog Winter 2024 

Nice to see some snow as we enter February and get to enjoy winter in the Maritimes.  2023 was filled with exciting new developments and I am proud of the accomplishments achieved by the talented and dedicated Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine community—indicating the clear progress we are making in our efforts to better serve our communities and address current and future challenges. 2024 should be another exciting and productive year. 

It is exciting to share that on January 5, 2024 we welcomed the first class of 24 students to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program (MPAS). Announced in 2023, the MPAS is the first of its kind in the Maritime Provinces, and this two-year program provides students with the skills, knowledge, and training required to increase access to care and make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of Nova Scotians.  

A warm welcome goes to Dr. Julie Copeland, who began her tenure as our new Senior Associate Dean, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB) on January 15, 2024. Dr. Copeland has joined us from Western University, where she was the Postgraduate Director and an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. I very much look forward to collaborating with Dr. Copeland to ensure we are providing our New Brunswick learners with the very best medical education, and ample opportunities to support the distributed communities in their home province. Under her leadership, I am confident the campus is well positioned for future success.  

February 1 will mark one year since we proudly launched our new strategic plan, Realizing our Ambition: Defining a New Era at Dalhousie Medicine. The plan signals the Faculty of Medicine’s long-term aspirations while providing a clear, actionable strategy to guide us through the next five years. It builds on our achievements, while guiding us in new, and exciting directions. We are excited to see your hard work come to life as we continue with the plan’s implementation.  

Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine Annual Report 2022-2023 

I am delighted to share The Faculty of Medicine’s latest annual report, highlighting the achievements of the many talented individuals who make up the faculty. This document showcases the tangible progress the faculty has achieved in its mission to address the healthcare needs of diverse communities in our region.

Thank you to all faculty, staff, students, residents, fellows, alumni, patients, donors, and community partners for your unwavering dedication and hard work that has been the driving force behind the faculty’s successes over the past year.

Click here to read the 2022-2023 annual report. 

Faculty of Medicine Undergraduate Medical Degree Program Accreditation 2024-2025 

After successful accreditation in 2017, Dalhousie Medical School is preparing for the next full accreditation of its undergraduate medical program during the 2024-2025 academic year and looks forward to welcoming a panel of national peers and medical education experts from the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) in the first quarter of 2025 as part of this process.

Since January 2023, Dalhousie Medical School has been working diligently to prepare accreditation documentation to be submitted in advance of the 2025 site visits to the medical school’s Halifax and Saint John campuses. Site visits are scheduled for February 17-20, 2025, and March 24-25, 2025.

To help prepare for these site visits, a mock accreditation will be held in Spring 2024. This important exercise will play an important role in helping to guide the planning and success of the full visit. In 2025, when CACMS representatives arrive on campus, they will engage with faculty, students, administrators, and clinical affiliates to gather and verify information.

Click here to learn more about the accreditation process. 

CBMC Admissions Pathways approved by Dalhousie Senate 

Things continue to move forward for the development of the Cape Breton Medical Campus which will begin training 30 students predominantly in Cape Breton, beginning in August 2025.  This program will have a focus on family medicine and rural health and thanks to the leadership of interim Associate Dean, Dr. Kevin Orrell, our milestones for the campus are on track. I am pleased to share that the Dalhousie Senate recently approved the rural applicant pathway for the Cape Breton Medical Campus, paving the way for qualified Nova Scotia students with lived experience in rural Nova Scotia communities to receive their medical education at the Cape Breton Medical Campus. 

Congratulations to our admissions team, led by Assistant Dean, Dr. Andrea Rideout and our partners at Cape Breton University for their dedication and attention to detail to move us forward.  

If you would like to stay engaged and up-to-date as we progress, please click this link to join the mailing list for our monthly newsletter.   

Dr. Ron Stewart named to Order of Canada 

Congratulations to Dr. Ron Stewart, retired faculty member in the Departments of Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine, who was named a Companion of the Order of Canada on December 28, 2023. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including three Companions, 15 Officers, one Honorary Officer and 59 Members.   

Since its establishment in 1967, the Order of Canada has witnessed annual enhancements to its membership, as new individuals are appointed whose impactful contributions resonate in communities both within the country and beyond. Through their outstanding dedication, these appointees serve as sources of inspiration and encouragement, urging us to unite in efforts to enhance Canada as a nation. 

Read more here.  

Faculty members rank among world’s most influential 

I am proud to share members of the Faculty of Medicine have been included by world-leading data analytics company Clarivate in its annual list of Highly Cited Researchers for 2023, while others are listed in the top 15 per cent of Canada’s most productive clinical psychology professors according to a new study published in Canadian Psychology 

Congratulations to Drs. Noni MacDonald (retired) and Rudolf Uher for making Clarivate’s list which includes influential researchers at universities, research institutes and commercial organizations around the world. 

Congratulations also to  Drs. Sherry Stewart, Christine Chambers, Jill Chorney, and Simon Sherry, all recognized as among the country’s most productive clinical psychology professors in terms of research output.  

Read more about Clarivate’s list here, and about those recognized by Canadian Psychology here.  

Medical Sciences student named 94th Dalhousie Rhodes Scholar  

A huge congratulations to Medical Sciences student, Diana Adamo, who was named Dalhousie’s newest Rhodes Scholar. Diana overcame a challenging childhood marked by poverty and domestic abuse to pursue a path of academic excellence. Her academic achievements, commitment to leadership, and ability to overcome adversity earned her the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, making her the 94th recipient from Dalhousie since 1902. The scholarship provides full funding for postgraduate studies at Oxford University, where Diana plans to delve into the intersection of neurodevelopmental disorders and socioeconomic determinants of health. Her research experiences, including studying tick behavior and neuroinflammation, have solidified her passion for academic research. Beyond the classroom, Diana has been involved in community initiatives, establishing a financial literacy club in high school and contributing to the Medical Campus Response Team at Dalhousie. With a vision to create systemic changes and impact her community, Diana envisions pursuing an MD or PhD after completing her master’s program at Oxford. 

Congratulations to Diana on this tremendous achievement! 

Read more here. 

CIHR Awards Dalhousie Researcher for Work in Metabolic Interventions to Prevent Neonatal Sepsis 

Dr. Nelly Amenyogbe, a research fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie was named a recipient of the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s (CIHR) Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award for her work linking feeding practices with vaccines in order to prevent neonatal sepsis.

The REDI award supports post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associated from underrepresented groups in launching their research faculty careers in Canada. The program focuses on addressing the impact of racism and gender inequality on early career researchers.

Read more about Dr. Amenyogbe and her research here. 

Medical Neuroscience student wins Atlantic Falling Walls competition 

Congratulations to Mr. Jamil Muradov who won the Falling Walls Lab Atlantic pitch competition with his presentation, “Breaking the walls of concussion complications.” His traumatic brain injury research in the Friedman lab focuses on understanding fundamental electrophysiological changes in the brain that occur within minutes of a concussion.  

Jamil competed at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, Germany, on November 7, 2023, where fellow Dalhousie competitor, Mr. Joseph Bedard, took home the top prize at the international event.   

Congratulations, Jamil, and to the other Dalhousie competitors! 

Faculty and staff honoured with Dalhousie Legacy Awards 

On November 7, 2023, Dalhousie recognized faculty and staff with the annual Legacy Awards. This university-wide awards ceremony was first held in 2018 as part of the university’s 200th anniversary celebration. The awards aim to help Dalhousie create a culture of respect and recognition for all employees at the university. This year, faculty and staff in the Faculty of Medicine were honoured with several awards. Congratulations to the recipients: 

Learn more about the awards here.

Dr. Ken Rockwood receives health research award 

The Health Research Foundation (HRF) of Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) presented Dr. Kenneth Rockwood with the 2023 Medal of Honour in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field. The HRF Medal of Honour, established in 1945, annually recognizes individuals achieving international acclaim for their work or contributions to Canadian research and development policies. A clinician scientist at Dalhousie University since 1991, Dr. Rockwood has dedicated his career to the treatment of older patients and the study of the aging process. Congratulations to Dr. Rockwood on this prestigious award. 

Faculty receive 2023 Discovery Awards 

I’m pleased to announce several Dalhousie Medicine faculty were awarded during the 21st annual Discovery Awards celebration on November 22, 2023, at the Halifax Convention Centre. The awards recognize outstanding innovators whose game changing achievements in science and technology put Nova Scotia at the forefront of global innovation. Finalists will be honoured on November 22, 2023, at an event at the Halifax Convention Centre.  

Congratulations to the winners: 

Learn more about the winners here.  

Medical student honoured with Medical Post Award 

Congratulations to fourth-year medical student Ms. Aditi Sivakumar, who received the Medical Post Media Engagement Learner Award. She has been recognized for revolutionizing dementia care and reducing healthcare costs. The Medical Post Awards support national independent physician voices, contributions to community, and practice innovation. 

Learn more about her important work here. 

DMNB faculty member, Dr. Margot Burnell, named CMA President Elect 

Dr. Margot Burnell, a medical oncologist and current chief of staff for Zone 2 of the Horizon Health Network, has been nominated as the next president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). The CMA president, elected annually by members from a different province or territory, serves as the primary spokesperson for CMA, representing it in the media and liaising with provincial and territorial medical associations, government, and other stakeholders. 

Dr. Burnell is an associate professor of medicine here in the Faculty of Medicine, with over three decades of experience in serving patients in New Brunswick. She has held leadership roles, including eight years as the head of the Department of Oncology. 

Learn more here. 

Faculty of Medicine announces new learner mistreatment policy 

The Faculty of Medicine is committed to providing a learning environment that is safe, professional, and respectful. All members of our community share this right and responsibility. Part of our commitment to creating and maintaining this type of learning environment includes having clear reporting mechanisms and processes in place to address the mistreatment of Learners by faculty, staff, peers, and others involved in medical education.   

Although policies, reporting mechanisms and processes are in place at the University to address such matters, the needs of the medical Learner and the medical education environment itself, at the intersection of the University and Health Authorities, are unique in some aspects.    

As such, a new policy on medical learner mistreatment has been approved by Faculty Council. The purpose of this policy is to inform Learners and other members of the medical education community of mechanisms to report Learner mistreatment (experienced or observed) and of the procedures following a report of Learner mistreatment.   

You can read the policy here. 

For more information please contact the Office of Professional Affairs.  

Dr. Abraham Rudnick named Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Journal of Physician Leadership 

Dr. Abraham (Rami) Rudnick has been named the new Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Physician Leadership. 

Dr. Rudnick, who is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry, has extensive clinical academic physician leadership experience. He has served on the editorial board and as a peer reviewer of many academic and health professional journals, and was the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Mental Health. Congratulations on your appointment, Dr. Rudnick! 

Gut unveils papers on Dalhousie-developed global web course on climate change and digestive health 

On November 17, Gut, a distinguished BMJ publication boasting an impact factor of 32 and renowned as the foremost global journal in digestive health, unveiled 10 groundbreaking papers online. These papers, summarizing insights from nine talks featured in a global web course on climate change and digestive health, showcase the collective wisdom of world leaders in this field. The speakers-turned-authors transcend the realms of digestive health, contributing to a holistic understanding of the subject. I am proud to share that Dr. Desmond Leddin, professor in the Division of Digestive Care and Endoscopy in the Department of Medicine here at Dalhousie, founded and co-chaired the course, and three of the papers are from Dalhousie.  

Congratulations to Dr. Leddin and all those involved in this great work.  

Read the papers here. 

Dr. Christine Chambers renewed as Scientific Director of CIHR Institute 

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Chambers, who has been renewed for a second term as the Scientific Director of CIHR’s Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH). 

Since 2020, Dr. Chambers and the IHDCYH team have reached significant milestones, including launching the Inspiring Healthy Futures Initiative, establishing a Youth Advisory Council, developing a Strategic Plan for 2022-2026, creating a COVID-19 relief funding opportunity, and initiating the Mental Health in the Early Years (MHITEY) Initiative.  

Learn more about IHDCYH’s work here. 

Faculty named to CBC Nova Scotia community advisory board 

The CBC Nova Scotia community advisory board consists of 25 African Nova Scotian members, contributing vital perspectives to portray the full narrative of the Black experience in the province.  

Among those named to the board are two Dalhousie Medicine faculty: Dr. Chadwick Williams, assistant professor of medicine and gastroenterologist and inflammatory bowel disease specialist; and Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, associate professor, is the James R. Johnston Endowed Research Chair in Black Canadian Studies.  

Every two months, members collaborate with CBC journalists, offering advice on reporting projects, editorial strategies, and general feedback. While not involved in decision-making or editorial oversight, the board serves as a valuable resource, providing insights for consideration by CBC Nova Scotia’s editorial team. 

Each board member will participate in a two-year term. 

Read more here. 

CIHR awards nine Faculty of Medicine researchers Project grants 

Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine researchers are set to pursue life-changing health innovations with $8.3 million in new Project Grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Provided to health-focused scholars across the country, CIHR Project Grant funding supports studies with the greatest potential to advance fundamental and applied research, and the health outcomes of Canadians. 

Congratulation to: 

  • Dr. Balwantray Chauha, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences 
  • Dr. Graham Dellaire, Department of Pathology 
  • Dr. Xianping Dong, Department of Physiology & Biophysics 
  • Dr. Ejemai Eboreime, Department of Psychiatry 
  • Dr. Ruth Lavergne, Department of Family Medicine 
  • Dr. Andrew Makrigiannis, Department of Microbiology & Immunology 
  • Dr. Paola Marcato, Department of Pathology 
  • Dr. Abraham Nunes, Department of Psychiatry  
  • Dr. JianLi Wang, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology 

Student-led study shows Artificial intelligence could help people in NS detect skin cancers earlier 

A new peer-reviewed study from Dalhousie University showed that AI could be used to help catch more skin cancers before they become serious.  

Led by lead author, Ms. Madeleine Crawford, a third-year medical student, the research team recruited people over the age of 18 who were concerned about lesions, like moles, on their skin. For participants meeting certain criteria, images of the lesions were taken and uploaded to an AI system called FotoFinder, which is made by Germany-based FotoFinder Systems Inc.  The study found “the ability for the FotoFinder [AI] to be able to detect skin cancers like melanoma was comparable and adequate to that of experienced dermatologists. 

Read more here. 

Vox MeDal
The fall 2023 issue of our alumni magazine, VOX MeDAL was distributed to the alumni community late October. In this issue you will read about exciting activities happening at the medical school like a postgraduate program that has reached gender parity, and the new medical campus planned in Cape Breton. Congratulations to our advancement team on a fantastic issue.  

Read the fall 2023 issue of Vox MeDAL here. 

In Memoriam: Dr. Edward Victor Rafuse 

The Faculty of Medicine is saddened to hear of the passing of former faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dr. Edward Victor Rafuse, on November 26, 2023, at the age of 88.

Dr. Rafuse, a dedicated ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, began his career as a physician at the Buchanan Memorial Hospital in Neil’s Harbour, Nova Scotia in the early 1960s. He later relocated to Toronto to study ophthalmology, before returning to Halifax in 1968 where he practiced as a comprehensive eye surgeon for over 30 years. He retained a faculty appointment in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences until 2011.

An enthusiastic handyman, woodsman, sailor, scuba diver, and recreational pilot, Dr. Rafuse filled his days outside of work with a variety of activities, and travel.

Read his obituary here.  

In Memoriam: Dr. Alistair Munro  

It is with great sorrow that the Faculty of Medicine shares the passing of former faculty member and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Alistair Munro, at the age of 90, on December 1, 2023.

Dr. Munro was born in Glasgow, Scotland and received his medical degree from Glasgow University in 1956. Soon after completing his postgraduate training in psychiatry, he was appointed professor and Head of Psychiatry at the University of Liverpool. He travelled to Canada in 1975 and worked at the Toronto General Hospital before settling in Halifax in 1982. He spent his career teaching and working as a professor and eventually became Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University. Dr. Munro practiced at the Abbie J. Lane, Camp Hill, and Nova Scotia Hospitals.

Dr. Munro formally retired in 1998 and spent his retirement with family and friends. 

Read his obituary here. 

In Memoriam: Dr. Robert Mark Sadler 

The Faculty of Medicine is saddened to hear of the passing of retired faculty member in the Division of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Robert Mark Sadler, on December 26, 2023, at the age of 70.  

Dr. Sadler, who obtained his medical degree from Dalhousie University in 1977, completed a residency in neurology and a fellowship in epilepsy at the University of Western Ontario. He began practicing in St. John’s, Newfoundland before returning to Halifax in 1988, where he remained for the rest of his career.   

Dr. Sadler was an expert in the management of epilepsy and tireless advocate for patients in Atlantic Canada. He dedicated his career to teaching and was Program Director in the Division of Neurology from 1995-2001. He also played a crucial role in establishing the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at the Halifax Infirmary. Throughout his tenure, he assumed leadership roles, serving as President for the Canadian League Against Epilepsy, Chief Examiner for the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists EEG Examination, and Vice-President for Epilepsy Canada. He trained generations of neurology residents, medical students, and EEG technologists. Described by his trainees as an engaging teacher and steadfast mentor, he became a cherished friend to many over time. His impact reached beyond the classroom, inspiring several residents to pursue a career in epileptology, and these individuals now contribute to the field across Canada, the United States, and overseas.  

A devoted and professional physician, Dr. Sadler will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.  

Read his full obituary here. 

In Memoriam: Dr. James R. Barker 

Dr. James (Jim) R. Barker passed away at his home, in Halifax, on December 2, 2023. Cross appointed with the Department of Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education, Dr. Barker was a graduate student at Purdue and the University of Colorado Boulder, joining Dalhousie University in 2010 after spending several years working in New Zealand. He also served as the inaugural Chair of the Leadership and Organizations Department in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University.

During his time at Dalhousie, Dr. Barker was recognized with several teaching awards, including the A. Gordon Archibald Award, while co-developing an accredited Leadership program with the Faculty of Medicine, set to start in January 2024.

Click here to read Dr. Barker’s obituary.