Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - University of Alberta

09/10/2026

Congratulations to Jason Acker and Amber Simpson, two FoMD researchers among seven new U of A members of the Royal Society of Canada.

A professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and associate vice-president of research integrity support, Jason Acker is an internationally recognized leader in transfusion sciences and cryobiology.

As a Canada CIFAR AI Chair in the Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Amber Simpson is advancing the frontiers of applying artificial intelligence to improve human health. As the inaugural director of the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Health Research Institute at the U of A, she remains committed to training students, engaging the public and developing next-generation AI technologies to benefit human health.

Read the full story at https://www.ualberta.ca/en/news/news-releases-and-statements/announcements/2026/09-sept/seven-uofa-standouts-named-to-royal-society-of-canada.html

09/09/2026

U of A, Edmonton Public Library team up to counter confusion about health information with the Let's Talk Health series.

The new series, launching Sept. 9, connects people with U of A physicians who will share their expert knowledge through presentations on common, popular topics ranging from weight-loss medications like Ozempic to sun safety, workplace stress, gut health and more.

“There’s no shortage of health information out there, and the challenge is in knowing what to trust,” says Dr. Narmin Kassam, chair of the department in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

“We want to give people an opportunity to hear directly from physicians who work in these areas and make that information understandable, useful and relevant to everyday life.”

Read the full story on folio: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2026/09/uofa-epl-team-up-to-counter-confusion-about-health-information.html

09/08/2026

Whether you graduated last year or fifty years ago, U of A Days is your chance to rediscover campus, reconnect with classmates, and reexperience campus.

Featured FoMD Events:

Navigating the Healthcare System: A Doctor's Guide to Self-Advocacy
Friday, Sept. 18 | 12-1 p.m. (Online)
Gain crucial strategies for self-advocacy and patient care with Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe ('00 BSc, '04 MD), co-host of The Doc Talk Podcast and resident health expert on CTV's The Social. Moderated by FoMD Deputy Dean Dr. Tom Stelfox ('93 BMS, '95 MD).

Saturday Scholars Series: Supporting Autistic & Neurodivergent Youth
Saturday, Sept. 19 | 12-3 p.m. | 2nd Floor CAB
Experience high-impact research without the exams. Featuring a presentation by Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, on supporting autistic and neurodivergent youth in hospital settings.

Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Alumni Social
Saturday, Sept. 19 | 1-3 p.m. | Gregory Abel Hall, University Commons
Drop in for coffee, conversation, and catching up with fellow alumni, current students, Dean Brenda Hemmelgarn, and Dr. Leigha Rock. Plus, join an exclusive guided tour of the newly transformed University Commons (1:15 and 2:15 p.m.).

Explore the full event lineup and register at

U of A Days is an open invitation for absolutely anyone to come out and celebrate our connection to the Edmonton community and beyond.

09/03/2026

Clinician-scientists are the essential bridge between the laboratory and the bedside, transforming scientific inquiry into real-world patient care and driving the medical advancements that define modern healthcare.

The Community of Research (CoRe) program at FoMD, celebrating five years, is dedicated to supporting the clinician-scientist. Through its unique 'come and learn' philosophy, CoRe provides learners with a supportive, low-pressure environment to cultivate research competencies alongside their clinical training, equipping the next generation of physicians to discover, innovate and advance medicine.

"The CoRe program plays a vital role in the revitalization of the clinician-scientist, which is essential to the future of medicine. By engaging in this path, medical students are challenged to stay at the forefront of clinical practice, constantly updating their knowledge beyond standard guidelines. This exposure to emerging research—the science that has yet to reach the mainstream—ensures our graduates are not just practitioners, but well-rounded physicians who are prepared to lead and innovate" says CoRe director, surgeon and clincian-scientist Dr. Adam Kinnaird.

Read the full interview with Dr. Adam Kinnaird to explore how the U of A is building a thriving clinician-scientist community: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/news/2026/08/beyond-the-bedside-building-a-clinician-scientist-community-at-the-university-of-alberta.html

09/02/2026

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is pleased to announce that the Alberta Institute at Wenzhou Medical University (AIWMU) has been awarded the 2026 ASPIRE to Excellence Award in Technology Enhanced Learning.

Conferred by the International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE), the ASPIRE award program identifies and celebrates international leaders in medical and health education. AIWMU—a joint initiative between the University of Alberta and Wenzhou Medical University—was recognized for its implementation of educational technologies that enhance learning outcomes and set global standards for instruction.

Dr. Tracey Hillier, Executive Dean and Director of the Alberta Institute, accepted the award on behalf of the program. This milestone reflects the continued dedication of our faculty, staff, and international partners to advancing health professions education through collaborative innovation.

09/01/2026

Welcome to all of our Northern Alberta Medical Program (NAMP) students for Fall 2026!

A special thank you to Councillor Chris Thiessen (representing the City of Grande Prairie) as well as Dean & Vice-Provost Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn for remarks at this welcome lunch event.

08/31/2026

Congratulations to all of the 2026 University of Alberta Alumni Awards recipients! The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is immensely proud to see two of our outstanding alumni recognized this year for their extraordinary contributions to patient care, systemic policy reform, and health equity.

Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, ’85 PhD, ’87 MD | Distinguished Alumni Award

A phenomenal physician and public health pioneer, Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti has redefined how Canada addresses injury control, poverty reduction and social determinants of health. Recognizing the danger of discharging unhoused patients back into the environment, he struck up partnerships to create Bridge Healing, a first-of-its-kind program that provides transitional housing and wraparound health care. He is also the first physician in Canada to serve successive terms as president of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Medical Association.

Dr. Daisy Fung, ’09 BMedSc, ’10 MD | Alumni Horizon Award

Dr. Daisy Fung is a respected family physician whose impact extends beyond her clinical practice. Through relationship-based care and regular home visits, she ensures vulnerable patients receive the support they need while reducing barriers to health care. Through her leadership at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, she has spearheaded initiatives that lifted anti-racism and anti-discrimination principles into organizational policies and standards. An educator, mentor and emerging national voice on long COVID and infection-associated conditions, Dr. Fung has shaped medical education, influenced policy and advanced public understanding of complex health issues.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Francescutti and Dr. Fung for leading with purpose and changing lives! See all of the 2026 Alumni Award recipients here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/alumni/celebrating-alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-award-recipients.html

08/28/2026

Can research gleaned from a hibernating snail save a human heart?

The study, published in Nature Communications, is led by Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, professor in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI). The breakthrough could have clinical implications ranging from organ transplantation and heart attack care to longevity medicine, or even inducing hibernation in astronauts of ultralong space travel.

“This is the first direct transfer of hibernation biology, which has remained enigmatic for decades, to non-hibernators,” Michelakis says. “It could improve the usability of offered organs and the lives of transplant patients and their loved ones.”

Read the full story here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2026/08/can-research-gleaned-from-hibernating-snail-save-human-heart.html

08/13/2026

Prepare for a new location filled with the same dental excellence you have come to expect from us. Our Sedation Updater weekend retreat will be nestled in the snowy peaks of Whistler, British Columbia, at the famous Fairmont Chateau, featuring fascinating lectures and exciting activities!

Learn more and register: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/school-of-dentistry/continuing-dental-education/cde-landing-pages/sedation-updater.html

08/11/2026

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is proud to announce the renewal of two tier one Canada Research Chairs: Lisa Hartling and Vivian Mushahwar.

These renewals acknowledge both researchers' sustained contributions to their respective fields, from improving how health research is synthesized and applied in everyday care, to engineering neural technologies that assist with mobility and rehabilitation.

Read the full announcement: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/news/2026/08/translating-evidence-and-restoring-mobility-u-of-a-announces-renewal-of-two-canada-research-chairs.html