Cameron Elliot made Avenue Edmonton's 40 under 40 list for his accomplishments in experimental surgery (Photo: Curtis Comeau for Avenue Edmonton).
They're bright health professionals with big socially accountable hearts. Meet five of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry's rising young talents, who achieved great things in 2016 and whose work will no doubt continue to make waves in 2017.
Juliana Deutscher
This third-year medical student made headlines as the recipient of the 2016 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award, not only as a remarkable student, but also for her outstanding work on global health and LGBTQ health advocacy, and her involvement in the fight against human trafficking as the youngest member of the Magdalene House Society. Her past experiences in diverse parts of the world have provided her with important insights she now wants to apply to raise awareness on important health issues and the difference a good physician can make in the world.
Read more about Deutscher's work here.
Kyle Potts
This graduate student and one of the youngest but keenest researchers in the fight against cancer wowed the audience at UAlberta Falling Walls Lab, taking the first place and audience award for his presentation "Breaking the Wall of Cancer Therapy with Viruses." Potts made a compelling case for the potential benefits of viruses in the fight against cancer, which could lead to replace chemotherapy and radiation. Potts, a member of the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA), also received the recognition of Best Poster for Basic Research in Bladder Cancer at the American Urological Association meeting in San Diego, California, earlier this year.
Read all about Pott's and his peers' Falling Walls Lab presentations here.
Fern Leavens
A 2016 dental graduate, Leavens is able to do it all. She powered through the challenges of the DDS program and clinical work along with a lot of extracurricular activities and research for the Dental Students' Association, SHINE, and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Butt Out Smoking Cessation programs. Her distinction and enthusiasm earned her this year the prestigious Alberta Premier's Silver Medal.
Read more about how she stays on top of her game here.
Cameron Elliot
This accomplished neurosurgery resident and PhD student took the limelight as one of Avenue Magazine's Top 40 under 40 for 2016. He focuses on experimental surgery with important work on the Preoperative Advanced Brain Tumour Imaging Program, which allows to remove brain tumours in a safer way by identifying important areas of the brain that could be at risk during surgery. Elliot has also done amazing work in Zambia as a surgeon.
Read Elliot's recognition in Avenue Magazine's story.
Andrea Johnson
Johnson made a stellar entrance into the MD program, with an award in her hands! After successfully completing an undergraduate degree in Medical Science, she was honoured this past September at the 2016 UAlberta Alumni Awards with The Honourable Dr. Lois E. Hole Student Spirit Award. Johnson is involved in several initiatives for student mentorship and promoting healthy living, and her spirit does not go unnoticed as she pours her artistic talents into the MSA's dance club.
Get to know more about her and the award here.
These are just a handful of our people's highlights. We can't wait to see what's in store next year as they continue to shine in Canadian and global health research and care.