Department of Medicine 2026 Annual Celebration Awards
This evening is always a highlight for me. It’s a chance to step back and recognize the depth of talent and commitment across this department.
It’s so important to celebrate excellence in all its forms. Teaching, research, innovation, leadership, and the career milestones of our colleagues. It’s a chance to step back and recognize not just what we’ve accomplished individually, but what we’ve achieved together.
- Dr. Narmin Kassam, Chair, Department of Medicine
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Education and Career Development Awards | Faculty Research Awards
EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Thomas J. Marrie Mentorship Award
This award celebrates a faculty member who has demonstrated a sustained and meaningful commitment to the growth and development of others, not just through formal mentorship roles, but also in the understated, consistent ways that shape careers and build confidence.
In the words of one of her former trainees, Dr. Mahua Ghosh is a "cornerstone of professional development." She offers encouragement and support to those who need it, and she takes the time to truly understand the passions and values of her mentees. She hears what they want for their careers and tailors the support offered.
The connections she fosters go beyond the formal mentorship stage. She regularly keeps in touch with those she has mentored, offering practical ongoing support as they progress through their careers.
Medical Education Publication Award
Each year, the Department of Medicine recognizes a faculty member whose research has been published in a top-ranked journal or peer-reviewed compendium and whose work reflects excellence in scholarly achievement and research impact.
Dr. Rebecca Lee's publication, Assessing the Quality of Narrative Feedback in Entrustable Professional Activities Using the EFeCT Feedback Scoring Tool, is an impressive educational study employing novel methods, published in The Clinical Teacher. The committee appreciated the methodological rigor, theoretical alignment, and practical utility of this paper, addressing a key component of Competency-based Medical Education.
Photo: Dr. Rebecca Lee and Dr. Vijay Daniels
Jonathan B. Meddings Clinical Innovation Award
The Jonathan B. Meddings Clinical Innovation Award recognizes innovations that impact patient care positively and meaningfully. Whether it is the development of new methods of drug or patient care delivery, new practice procedures or programs, enhancements to patient safety, patient education or quality improvements, the department is very proud of the efforts of our membership that advance clinical care for Albertans.
Dr. Marlene Dytoc's exemplary work in creating and managing multidisciplinary dermatology clinics has improved access, quality, and coordination of care for complex patients throughout Alberta. Patients with complex needs often move between clinics and specialists, growing weary of repeating their medical histories, which can ultimately drive them to abandon care entirely. Dytoc’s clinics aim to alleviate some of this strain by providing patient care at the intersections of dermatology, gynecology, and psychiatry.
These clinics also provide unique training opportunities for learners of all levels in dermatology, psychiatry, and nursing ensuring excellence in both patient care and trainee education.
Photo: Dr. Marlene Dytoc and Dr. Vijay Daniels
Cooperation, Collaboration and Teamwork Award
This award recognizes those who embody what it means to work together in the truest sense of the word. This award recognizes groups who create environments where collaboration, respect, and shared purpose don’t just happen, they thrive. These teams set the bar for how we teach, research, and deliver care.
In 2021, Dr. Lilia Olaru set out to solve a very specific problem: how can rheumatologists better support the hundreds of people living with uveitis in Alberta?
Olaru brought together teams and specialists from the Division of Rheumatology and Alberta Retina Consultants, and the Combined Rheumatology and Ophthalmology Uveitis Clinic was born.
What began as a quarterly clinic five years ago has expanded today to a monthly multidisciplinary service, seeing upwards of 60 patients in a single day from across northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
From left: Dr. Karny Blum, Dr. Parampal Grewal, Dr. Chad Baker, Dr. Mark Seamone, Dr. Lilia Olaru, Dr. David Ehmann, Dr. Riz Somani, Dr. Matt Tennant
Back row, from left: Dr. Chad Baker, Dr. Shahanaz Ahmed, Dr. Riz Somani, Dr. Matt Tennant, Dr. Parampal Grewal, Dr. David Ehmann
Front: Dr. Lilia Olaru
Paul W. Armstrong Excellence in Research Award
This award honours excellence in scientific research where the work demonstrates a high degree of expertise, creativity, imagination, perseverance and/or dedication.
Dr. Sara Davison is a world-class clinician scientist and recognized internationally as a pioneer and innovator, leading the field of kidney supportive/palliative care and conservative (non-dialysis) kidney management. Her ground-breaking work is transforming kidney care nationally and globally.
She has led the development of innovative international and national policies, frameworks, and models of care that integrate kidney supportive/palliative care into all active treatments for people living with kidney disease and conservative kidney management as an active alternative to dialysis or transplant for people unlikely to benefit from these treatments.
Through exceptional leadership, Dr. Davison influenced the international guideline-developing body to hold a conference on controversies, where she led the first (and highly cited) roadmap for kidney supportive/palliative care. She developed and chairs the International Society of Nephrology’s kidney supportive/palliative care and conservative kidney management work group responsible for advocating for global policy development and clinical capacity building as part of their Strategic Plan for Integrated Kidney Care.
Photo: Dr. Sara Davison and Dr. Vijay Daniels
Basic Science Publication Award
This award recognizes outstanding publication in a top-ranked journal, with the work having been completed at the University of Alberta and the recipient serving as principal investigator.
Dr. Philip Halloran was recognized for his publication, Effect of felzartamab on the molecular phenotype of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant biopsies, published in Nature Medicine, one of the world's leading medical research journals with an impact factor of 58. The study examined the effects of felzartamab on antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients, providing important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying transplant rejection and potential therapeutic approaches. This work contributes to advancing the field of transplantation medicine and improving outcomes for patients who receive kidney transplants.
Authors: Matthias Diebold, Patrick T. Gauthier, Katharina A. Mayer, Martina Mackova, Christian Hinze, Jessica Chang, Uptal D. Patel, Ekkehard Schütz, Bernd Jilma, Eva Schrezenmeier, Klemens Budde, Georg A. Böhmig, Philip F. Halloran
Clinical Investigation Publication Award
This award recognizes outstanding clinical investigation research that contributes to advancing patient care and health outcomes.
Dr. Frank Hoentjen was recognized for his publication, Surveillance in inflammatory bowel disease: white light endoscopy with segmental re-inspection versus dye-based chromoendoscopy – a multi-arm randomised controlled trial (HELIOS), published in GUT, one of the leading journals in gastroenterology with an impact factor of 26.
The HELIOS study examined approaches to surveillance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, contributing important evidence to support clinical decision-making and optimize patient care. Through rigorous clinical investigation, this work has helped advance knowledge in the field and has the potential to improve outcomes for patients living with inflammatory bowel disease.
Authors: Maarten Te Groen, Anouk M Wijnands, Nathan den Broeder, Dirk J de Jong, Willemijn A van Dop, Marjolijn Duijvestein, Herma H Fidder, Fiona van Schaik, Meike M C Hirdes, Andrea E van der Meulen-de Jong, P W Jeroen Maljaars, Philip W Voorneveld, K H Nanne de Boer, Charlotte P Peters, Bas Oldenburg, Frank Hoentjen
Photo: Dr. Frank Hoentjen and Dr. Vijay Daniels
Translational Research Award
The Translational Research Award honours excellence in applied clinical research in areas such as population or clinical epidemiology, health outcomes, health services research, randomized controlled trials, and the development of innovative products or processes.
This year’s award recognizes Dr. Justin Ezekowitz, professor in the Division of Cardiology, for his outstanding contributions to applied clinical scientific research.
Photo: Dr. Justin Ezekowitz and Dr. Vijay Daniels