Deploying our strengths
The University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is driving crucial efforts to address the global COVID-19 pandemic, from developing medical advances, tools and research breakthroughs, to sharing health expertise and coping strategies the public can use right now to keep their families healthy and well.
We wish to recognize the efforts of all who have stepped up to face the challenge and support our community. Thank you to our clinical faculty who are developing virtual rounds and mentoring trainees while navigating the pandemic in real time, the trainees themselves who have demonstrated true compassion and professionalism in their volunteer efforts, our world-class researchers who are bringing the world closer to a treatment for COVID-19, support staff who have adapted to ensure that operations continue to run smoothly, and many brilliant alumni who are working to protect our health and safety in a multitude of ways.
To stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 news from our faculty, find updates and initiatives from our members here. Additional coverage and information for the UAlberta community can be found on the UAlberta COVID-19 News and Information website.
Faculty excellence
Congratulations to Dr. Anna Oswald, Department of Medicine, on being named University of Alberta 2020-2021 McCalla Professor for her ongoing contributions to the integration of teaching and research, and for her educational leadership, particularly in clinical environments.
Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Massicotte, Department of Pediatrics and member of the Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI), on being named Global News Woman of Vision. Watch her story here.
Dr. Samina Ali, Department of Pediatrics, received the 2020 Top Pediatric Abstract Award from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians for her paper, "A systematic review of short-term use of therapeutic opioids for children and future opioid use disorders."
Dr. Matthew Hicks and Dr. Anne Hicks, Department of Pediatrics, received a $1.5-million Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team Grant over five years for "Cannabis research in priority areas for maternal-infant dyad health outcomes: infant neurodevelopment, respiratory illnesses, dyad sleep patterns and maternal mental health in the context of pre and post-natal maternal cannabis use - a prospective cohort study."
Learners as leaders
Congratulations to Quinn McLellan, Class of 2022 MD student, on being named U of A Wellness Champion (pictured below). Quinn is currently vice-president of Wellness for the Medical Students' Association (MSA), and was nominated by his peers for promoting wellness by working with and supporting students and student-led initiatives.
Brandon Hauer, PhD student, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute (NMHI), is one of 15 recipients of the national Brain Star 2019 award, co-administered by the Canadian Association for Neuroscience and Canadian Institutes of Health Research, in recognition of his publication, "The Reuniens Nucleus of the Thalamus Has an Essential Role in Coordinating Slow-Wave Activity between Neocortex and Hippocampus."
Rebekah Baumann, resident in the Department of Pediatrics, was awarded the Alberta Medical Association's Emerging Leaders in Health Promotion grant for her project "Empowering children in the foster care system: A needs assessment & toolkit to improve care."
Spreading the #UAlbertaLove
Our students, staff, faculty and alumni have all been working hard to adapt to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. To overcome the negative effects of daily news headlines, FoMD launched a campus-wide initiative to spread positive news stories using the #UAlbertaLove hashtag on twitter. A few highlights are shown here, but we encourage everyone in our Twittersphere to join in the fun.
