Faces of our Medical School
Since opening our doors in 1967, our medical school has grown and evolved into an internationally recognized leader in education and research with a focus on precision medicine and precision public health. We are incredibly proud of the rich history of our medical school, and look we forward to working together to create the future of health in Calgary and beyond.
Dr. Pam Roach | Glenda MacQueen Distinguished Leadership Award
Congratulations to Dr. Pam Roach, PhD, for being awarded the inaugural 2021 Glenda MacQueen Distinguished Leadership Award. Named in honour of Dr. Glenda MacQueen, MD, PhD, the award recognizes a female faculty member who demonstrates leadership, mentorship and a dedication to uplifting others.
Four young leaders named Top 30 Under 30
Introducing four members of the Cumming School of Medicine community named Top 30 Under 30 by Alberta Council for Global Cooperation.
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Academic, gastroenterologist and trailblazer
The passion Dr. Kerri Novak, MD, has for her work has helped UCalgary become a leader in training gastroenterologists globally.
Passionate medical students advocate for universal contraception
First-year Cumming School of Medicine students head to Ottawa for 2020 Day of Action.
Rupinder Toor l Sparking an empowerment mindset
Dr. Rupinder Toor, MD ’96, says her most profound lessons come from her patients. One in particular brought about a significant change.
Ryan Schroeder l Fusing interests to improve musculoskeletal function
When Dr. Ryan Schroeder, PhD ’20, returned to school as an engineering student, he knew he wanted to work at the forefront of innovative technology.
Janet Tapper | A leader in rehabilitation services
Dr. Janet Tapper, MD’11, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialist who is developing rehabilitation services for the Indigenous population in Calgary and Southern Alberta.
Emily Boucher | Rhodes Scholar driven to improve the health of older adults through research
Emily Boucher’s mind started racing. She was on the plane about to depart from Winnipeg back to home to Calgary. Just prior to take off, her phone rang.
Dr. Alberto Nettel-Aguirre | Taking the fear of statistics out of the equation
For Dr. Alberto Nettel-Aguirre, MSc’99, PhD’05, two great things came out of calculus class.
Dr. Elizabeth MacRae | Forging the path for women in neurosurgery
Dr. Elizabeth (Betty) MacRae was just a three-year-old when she began to dream of a career in medicine.
Patty Beug-Jang | A lot to be proud of
About 10 years ago, Patty Beug-Jang joined the human resources (HR) team at the University of Calgary as an HR co-ordinator.
Shaunna Huston | A life-changing opportunity
Shaunna Huston never looks at a job as Monday to Friday 9-5 p.m.
Joyce Forster | A sense of belonging
“I failed retirement,” says Joyce Forster with a giggle. “But I didn’t come back because I failed. I came back because this is where I’m meant to be.”
Captain Stephanie Smith | Canadian hero for people in need
“I always wanted to be a doctor,” says Captain Stephanie Smith, now in her second year of the MD program at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM).
Jennifer Logan | Supporting BHSc students on their undergraduate journey
“I would like people to know that I have the very best job at CSM”, says Jennifer Logan, an almost 11-year veteran of the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM).
Dr. Jeffrey Veale | From Calgary to the red carpet in California
Inspired by children’s smiles, Jeffrey Veale applied for medical school to become the next Patch Adams, a physician, social activist and clown whose life’s work is memorialized in a Hollywood movie.
Stacy Lee Lockerbie | From bike trails to community based research: A few paths less travelled
“We all take our own path”, says Stacy Lee as she describes how she ended up working at the Department of Family Medicine, at the Cumming School.
Leigh Hurst | Planting a tree
When Leigh Hurst started working at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) in 1998, she was only four days removed from finishing her last exam at the University of Calgary.
Derrick Rancourt | Biologist, family man and ‘opportunity guy’
“People have said to me, ‘You should pick a disease to study and stick to it for your whole life.’ But that’s just not my approach, I’m more of an opportunity guy,” says Derrick Rancourt, PhD, a professor in the departments of Oncology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Medical Genetics.
Dr. Liam Martin | Rheumatologist, patient champion and soccer fan extraordinaire
Liam Martin has seen a lot of changes since he came here from Ireland in 1986 to work in Marv Fritzler’s lab.
Giovanna Trotta | From Italy to Calgary
“My parents come from a town called San Giovanni in Fiori, Italy. There was no work for them in Italy to raise a family,” says Giovanna (Jo) Trotta. “My father came to Canada alone to see what it was like and then called my mother and older sister to join him. That was 60 years ago.”
Charlene Wrona | Bringing top talent to the Cumming School of Medicine
On her way to get coffee in the morning, Human Resources (HR) advisor Charlene Wrona often sees the many familiar faces whom once walked into her office as a new employee of the University of Calgary.
Jesse Kon | Knowlegeable in varied technologies, helping others do better
Jesse Kon keeps himself on top of things by reminding himself to do better. “My personal motto is simple,” he says, “you can’t get complacent. No matter how good you are at something, you can always learn more and do better!”
Kevin Johnston | Helping others achieve success one workshop at a time
Kevin Johnston considers himself an administration and logistics guy in his role as program coordinator for the Cumming School of Medicine’s (CSM) Office of Faculty Development (OFD).
Dr. Lawrence Korngut | Family man and neuromuscular medicine champion
“When I was 12, I found a book about the brain in a used bookstore,” says Dr. Lawrence Korngut.
Tyler Murphy | Here to make a difference
“Customer service is hard, but I believe we make a difference every day.”
Anne Heiligsetzer | A familiar face
By the time most people arrive at work for the day, Anne Heiligsetzer has already helped patients get to their appointment, greeted students on their way to class, and welcomed colleagues as they rush off to start on their to do lists.
John Kornelson | Family man and Harley fan
The human body is a fascinating machine, while we often think how well it serves us during our lifetime; we know it still has a lot of use after death.
Mathieu Chin | Superstar student on the pathway to medicine
Mathieu Chin is a busy man. “From the first day on campus, there have been a million opportunities,” he says.
Dr. Garland Jonker | Rural medicine physician gets his start as surgeon to tiny fish
Dr. Garland Jonker’s (MD ’09) personal motto is “Et si c’était à refaire, je referais ce chemin,” by Louis Aragon, meaning, “if I were to do it again, I would do it this way.”
Mike Paget | Explorer with an aptitude for technology
“Entomologist, archaeologist, artist, chef, double O agent, time traveler,” says Mike Paget, when asked what career paths he wanted to pursue as a child.
April Gustavsen | Advisor to Calgary’s future physicians
Great colleagues make all the difference for April Gustavsen.
Berchman Wong | Ready for the next step
“Everything is finally connecting,” says Berchman Wong when talking about the path that led him to the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “The stars have aligned, and I’m ready for the next step.”
Leda Stawnychko | Taking a colleague for coffee promotes campus-wide research collaborations
Leda Stawnychko has a knack for bringing people together.
Dr. Shoghi Nikoo | Putting it all together
“No, definitely not,” says Dr. Shoghi Nikoo when asked if he always knew that he wanted to attend medical school.
Dr. Rita Watterson | Juggling priorities leads student to help vulnerable people
Although she once briefly dreamed of opening a trapeze school, when it came time for Rita Watterson to decide what to do with her life, you might say she couldn’t fight fate.
Dr. Norman Schachar | Professor emeritus saw bald prairie transformed into medical school
When Dr. Norman Schachar first showed his wife where he worked, she couldn’t believe it.
Fatemeh Shahhosseini | Mentoring highly skilled newcomers to Canada
Fatemeh Shahhosseini, PhD, knew from a young age that she wanted to work in science.
Darrell Belke | No regrets
Darrell Belke, PhD, has some amazing stories to tell about his research career.
Dr. Maureen Topps | Scottish-born physician has a history of seeking the future
There’s a fitting kind of symmetry to Maureen Topps’ career.
Jocelyn Lockyer | ‘Unlikely career’ in medical education earns national honour
Growing up in a small pulp mill community in northwestern Ontario, Jocelyn Lockyer never dreamed she would one day become an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. David Hogan | Geriatric specialist with a funny bone
Dr. David Hogan is looking forward to his well-deserved retirement – from his position as The Brenda Strafford Foundation Chair in Geriatric Medicine, anyway.
Barb Cowley | Former barrel racer enjoys working with the community
Spending time around horses while growing up gave Barb Cowley some insights into how to work well with people.
Dr. Rithesh Ram | Family physician, family man
Growing up, Rithesh Ram, like many children, was fascinated with space and dreamed of one day being an astronaut.
Ann Zalucky | Taking chances leads to great success
"Why not try?" is the mantra instilled by one of Ann Zalucky’s early mentors, Dr. Sofia Ahmed, a nephrology specialist at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM).
Asha Hollis | Research and advocacy go hand-in-hand
During her time as a student in the Cumming School of Medicine’s (CSM) Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) program, Asha Hollis has taken advantage of every opportunity.
Elliott Reichardt | Bachelor of Health Sciences’ student with a passion for research
Elliott Reichardt may be only 21 years old, but he’s already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments.
Jenna Slobozian | Why work doesn’t feel like work
When Jenna Slobozian talks about her work with the Cumming School of Medicine’s research team, you can see the passion on her face and hear it in her voice.
John Nystrom | Pumped about problem solving
John Nystrom may not be a doctor or researcher, but his work is critical to the smooth operation of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta (LCIA).
Emma Buzath | Using mental skills to solve the medical care puzzle
The mental skills it takes to safely scale a 50-metre-high cliff is what rock climber Emma Buzath brings to her work at the Cumming School of Medicine.
Nabeela Nathoo | Pursuing her teenage dream to become a neurologist
Divulging a fun fact that a second career would be that of writing mystery novels, Leaders in Medicine student Nabeela Nathoo believes one must follow the path that will make them happy, so Steve Jobs' comment resonates strongly with her.
Trevor Emmel | Helping make everyone’s day just a little bit easier
As Trevor Emmel sits at a table in the Health Research Innovation Centre atrium, there are few people who walk by and don’t recognize him.
Delores Atkinson |
Keeping students, faculty and staff safe and secure, and making patients, visitors and dignitaries feel welcome
Bob Phillips | From a career in banking to a career in security at the Cumming School of Medicine
Growing up on a farm in St. Paul, Alberta, Robert (Bob) Phillips dreamed of being an RCMP officer, but the force had a strict height policy which kept him from being accepted as a recruit.
Dr. Aravind Ganesh | Rhodes Scholar, stand-up comedian
If you ask Dr. Aravind Ganesh about his personal motto, he would paraphrase the quote attributed to Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Aisling Gamble | Communications advisor, event planner and hockey mom
“I feel like I’m planning my wedding multiple times a year, except it isn’t as stressful,” said Aisling Gamble when talking about her role on the Cumming School of Medicine’s (CSM) Communications, Media Relations and Marketing team.
Josh White | Stepping into our 50th year with new socks created by a CSM Student
Finding just the right takeaway gift to mark the 50th Anniversary of the school of medicine was no easy feat.