June 2024

Dean’s Blog June 2024

It’s one of the most exciting times of year here at Dalhousie University as we celebrate the Class of 2024.

In the Faculty of Medicine, convocation activities began on May 10, in Saint John, with the Launch Ceremony celebrating the achievements of our Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB) graduating students. This was followed by the Dalhousie Medical School Class of 2024 walking across the stage at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium for convocation on May 28, 2024. The Class of 2024 began their studies during a very unsettled period, and I offer my sincere congratulations to each of them and all that they have achieved. We can’t wait to see what they do next! Read about the medical school journey for some of our graduates here.

I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Sara Folkins, who was awarded the Dalhousie Class of 2024 C.B Stewart Gold Medal in Medicine award for the highest academic standing in the graduating class. Dr. Folkins is recognized for her exceptional academic achievements, and her demonstration of the highest level of excellence throughout her medical education. Congratulations, Dr. Folkins.

Also recognized at the Faculty of Medicine convocation ceremony was Dalhousie Professor Emeritus, Dr. Michael Gray, who was named one of six Dalhousie Honorary Degree recipients, the university’s highest honour. Dr. Michael Gray’s groundbreaking work, particularly his validation of the endosymbiont hypothesis, established him as a pioneer in biochemistry and evolutionary biology. His decades-long career at Dalhousie University was marked by leadership, collaboration, and prolific research, earning him prestigious honors, including induction into Sigma Xi, The Scientific Honor Society, in 2024. Read more about Dr. Gray here.

And while we recognize the success of our students, we must express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the faculty and staff who have guided them through their medical school journey to convocation. The day would not have been possible without them.

There is much happening in the Faculty of Medicine, and though many highlights are communicated here in the blog, I encourage each of you to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter, which provides an additional opportunity to learn about upcoming events, news, and administrative changes.

As we move into the summer months, I do hope everyone has the opportunity for some well-deserved vacation with family and friends and is able to enjoy all that our beautiful Atlantic provinces have to offer.

Strategic Plan Town Hall: June 20

It has been over a year since we proudly launched our new strategic plan, Realizing our Ambition: Defining a New Era at Dalhousie Medicine. Since then, our collective efforts and commitment have moved us forward, and this is why I am pleased to invite you to join me virtually on June 20, 2024, at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. for a Strategic Plan Town Hall to discuss the progress we have made, identify any gaps that may exist, and get your feedback regarding implementation of priority initiatives.

Please add this link to your calendar to join the town hall.

Realizing Our Ambition focuses on four strategic streams: Excellence in Education, High-Impact Research, Serving and Engaging Society, and Valuing People. During the town hall, our stream leads will present the great strides they have made over the past year and will be available for questions and comments. We also will have facilitated breakout sessions to get your feedback.

As we reflect on what has been accomplished with Realizing Our Ambition, it is essential to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of each of you who has worked to support our goals. I look forward to seeing you at the town hall, and to keeping you updated on our progress.

Thomas and Alice Morgans Fear Memorial Conference on Gender Equity and Shared Care

On May 27, 2024, we were fortunate to gather at the Halifax Convention Centre for the 12th Annual Thomas and Alice Morgans Fear Family Memorial Conference. A collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine, the IWK, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, this important event brought together diverse interprofessional scholars and practitioners, decision-makers, and the public, to discuss gender equity and shared care, helping participants bridge the gap between understanding and practice. It was such a great opportunity for learning and collaboration. Congratulations to all those involved on such a successful event.

Province provides two years of funding for Cape Breton Medical Campus

In late April, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced operational funding for the first two years of the new Cape Breton Medical Campus, slated to open in 2025. The government is allocating $11.6 million over this period, with intentions to establish sustainable funding arrangements beyond the first year of operation.

RBC and Dalhousie partner to transform health‑care education

The RBC Foundation announced a $600,000 gift to Dalhousie University last month to enhance inclusivity within health professions over the next three years. This funding aims to increase the participation of African Nova Scotian/Black and Indigenous students by expanding the university’s existing programs. The supported initiatives include the Inclusive Pathways to Medical Professions (IPMP), Promoting Leadership in Health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS), and Keknu’tmasiek Ta’n Tel Welo’ltimk (KW). These programs are expected to benefit over 800 students, significantly advancing inclusive and accessible health education at Dalhousie.

Dalhousie medical school graduates opting for careers in family medicine

Half of Dalhousie’s graduating class will begin their residency training in family medicine this summer, marking a significant increase since 2018 when only 25 per cent of the class chose to enter a career path in family medicine.

Dalhousie’s Family Medicine program has also seen success, once again filling all available residency positions, a remarkable feat, especially considering the expansion of our residency seats from 70 in 2022 to 91 in 2024. While many programs nationwide face challenges in filling positions, this accomplishment is not merely fortuitous but rather the result of systematic changes implemented five years ago.

Medical students present at Dalhousie Student Success Summit

On April 29, 2024, Dalhousie’s Student Affairs Team and Dalhousie Libraries hosted the spring Student Success Summit on campus. Faculty of Medicine medical students were well represented at this event with Jordin Fletcher, and Mitchell Wright, participating in the keynote panel discussion on Dalhousie Student Leaders Engaging in Transformation Leadership, and RJ Roggeveen presenting a concurrent session on Stepping Outside of Student Leadership: Creating a Non-Profit Society. We are pleased to see our medical students excelling outside of their medical studies.

Medicine strongly represented in Dalhousie’s Board of Governors’ Award recipients

Congratulations to the 2024 recipients of Dalhousie’s Board of Governors’ Award, who have demonstrated remarkable leadership, advocating for marginalized groups, introducing innovative solutions, and actively engaging in community enrichment efforts. Nominated by their peers and selected by a committee comprising the president, Board members, and the vice-provost of student affairs, these individuals were recognized at the Impact Awards ceremony in March.

Among the recipients, Eshan Arora, fourth year BSc in Medical Sciences (Honours) student, and Gaurav Arora, third year, Doctor of Medicine student. We are so proud of all your hard work!

Faculty of Medicine presents annual awards

Each year during our annual faculty meeting, we present the Faculty of Medicine awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to education and teaching, community service, medical research, and continuing medication education. It’s my pleasure to congratulate the 2024 winners, who were awarded at the meeting on May 28, 2024:

Dalhousie Program Director Awards – Innovation: Dr. Cheng Wang, Department of Pathology
Dalhousie Program Director Awards – Leadership: Dr. David Horne, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery
Faculty of Medicine Award of Excellence in Education: Dr. David Gardner, Department of Psychiatry
Faculty of Medicine Early Career Award of Excellence in Education: Dr. Jaclyn LeBlanc, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, DMNB
Faculty of Medicine Award of Excellence in Clinical Practice: Dr. Michiel Van den Hof, Department of Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Faculty of Medicine Early Career Award of Excellence in Clinical Practice: Dr. Alison Dixon, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine Community Teacher of the Year Award: Dr. Kendra Gilmore, Department of Family Medicine in Sussex, New Brunswick
Faculty of Medicine Award of Excellence in Teaching (PhD Faculty): Dr. Ross Davidson, Department of Pathology
Faculty of Medicine Early Career Excellence in Teaching (PhD Faculty): Dr. Shawn Xiong, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Allan Cohen Memorial Award for Community Service: Dr. Aruna Dhara, Department of Family Medicine
Dr. Wayne Putnam Award: Dr. Babar Haroon, Department of Critical Care
Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Basic Research Award: Dr. Graham Dellaire, Department of Pathology
Faculty of Medicine Early Career Investigator Award: Dr. Alexa Yakubovich, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology
Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Clinical Research Award: Dr. Rudolf Uher, Department of Psychiatry
Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Research Mentorship of Trainees: Dr. Leah Cahill, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology
Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Research Mentorship of Faculty: Dr. James Fawcett, Departments of Pharmacology and Surgery
Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Research Mentorship – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Dr. Sandra Meier, from the Department of Psychiatry
Faculty of Medicine Career Excellence in Research Mentorship: Dr. Susan Howlett, Department of Pharmacology

Dr. Vishal Uppal named Presidential Scholar Award Recipient

Congratulations to Dr. Vishal Uppal, associate professor in the Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Perioperative Medicine, who was recently named an American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Presidential Scholar recipient. The award honors anesthesiologists who have significantly advanced regional anesthesia and pain medicine over the past decade, boasting strong academic backgrounds and high-impact publications. Dr. Uppal’s influence is evident through his roles in journal clubs, as an associate editor, and as a chair within professional societies. With over 60 peer-reviewed papers and extensive teaching experience, he continues to shape the future of anesthesiology and pain medicine.

Read more here.

Breakthrough Breakfast: Pioneering Possibilities in Cancer Research

Dalhousie is the hub of a world-class cancer research community in Atlantic Canada. More than 50 principal investigators lead a vigorous team effort, involving approximately 250 postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, research assistants, coordinators, and technicians. On June 18, 2024, join us for breakfast at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 where we’ll hear from three researchers who are working together and with partners across the region to understand cancer and find ways to better detect, diagnose, treat, and prevent this too-prevalent disease.

Learn more and get your tickets here.

Save the Date: Dean’s Welcome Ceremony

Please save the date and join us on August 25, 2024, to welcome the Class of 2028 to Dalhousie Medical School. This is always a very exciting event as a new class of future physicians begins their medical school journey. RSVP to carolyn.doyle@dal.ca by August 19, 2024. I hope to see you there.

Recognize your peers through People First

Earlier this year we were proud to launch “People First” a peer-to-peer public recognition program that allows you to informally recognize someone in your department, division, or unit, who exemplifies the Valuing People stream of work by:

Creating a positive work environment
Supporting career growth
Fostering wellbeing
Maintaining an affirming organizational culture

You can make submissions here, and posts will be shared on the Faculty’s SharePoint site and may also be shared broadly in the Dean’s Blog, Dal Med News, bi-weekly newsletter, and our social media channels. At the end of each month, a name will be drawn randomly, and the winner will be given a Faculty of Medicine branded water bottle.

In Memoriam: Dr. Robert Stone

The Faculty of Medicine was saddened to hear of the passing of retired faculty member and former head of the Department of Surgery, Dr. Robert Stone, on April 26, 2024, at the age of 83.

Dr. Stone, a native of Ontario, came to Halifax in 1993 and assumed the role of head of the Department of Surgery at Dalhousie, a position he held until 2006. Upon his retirement, he was appointed Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Stone was well recognized for his excellence in teaching and his guidance and support shaped countless medical students, residents, and fellows. In 2006 the Department of Surgery announced The Dr. Stone Traveling Fellowship in his honour. The prize is awarded annually to the top resident at the annual research day and provides funds to aid in travel expenses to secure fellowship training after residency.

Dr. Stone was a remarkable physician and leader. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Read his full obituary here.

In Memoriam: Dr. Kimberley Marie Nix

The Faculty of Medicine was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dalhousie Medical School graduate Dr. Kimberley Marie Nix on May 8, 2024, in Calgary, Alberta at the age of 31.

Dr. Nix grew up in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, and attended Dalhousie Medical School, graduating in 2018. She went on to pursue her residency in internal medicine and master’s degree in epidemiology.

After a cancer diagnosis at 28, Dr. Nix continued to live life to the fullest, offering hope and positivity to many as she documented her cancer journey on social media. Passionate about helping others, she used her platform to spread awareness for sarcoma cancer and fundraise for cancer research.

Dr. Nix was an inspiration to many and will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Read her obituary here.

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