Brenda Hemmelgarn, MD/PhD. Dean, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta.
Photo: Laughing Dog Photography
An international reputation for excellence in research, a passion for teaching and a deep well of front-line experience are just a few of the assets Brenda Hemmelgarn, MD/PhD, brings to her new role as dean of the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
Hemmelgarn began her career in nursing and went on to obtain a PhD in epidemiology and biostatistics at McGill University and a medical degree from McMaster University. A specialist in nephrology, she focuses on finding the best care for patients with chronic kidney disease.
She has held the Roy and Vi Baay Chair in Kidney Research since 2011, and is the co-lead for the Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration, a team working to improve the health and quality of life for Canadians living with chronic disease.
Hemmelgarn's vision for the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry builds on work researchers and educators are already doing, leveraging the faculty's strengths to push it forward. She has a deep understanding of the academic and health-care systems in Alberta and a dedication to building and strengthening collaboration between the two.
"I'm very much about teams and team-building. I like to lead by example, and I value transparency and equity, but one person does not make an organization," says Hemmelgarn. "It's all about the team, collaboration and bringing in a variety of different perspectives to build that team."
Excellence in the areas of education, research and clinical care will lead to better health in our communities, says Hemmelgarn, and with her commitment to innovative thinking and strategic planning, she's putting the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the nexus of all three.
Five things about your new dean:
- Born and raised in the small farming community of St. Walburg, Saskatchewan
- 35-plus years in health care, academics and administration
- More than 500 peer-reviewed publications
- Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
- Avid hiker and voracious bookworm
Illustration: Natasia Designs