The CIP Trainees

Dr. Alyssa Federico (Lead Resident 2026-27)

Dr. Alyssa Federico is an Orthopaedic Surgery resident, currently pursuing her MSc under the supervision of Drs. Joseph Kendal and Michael Monument. She obtained her BHSc and medical degree from the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on evaluating the Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Information System (PROMIS) in patients undergoing surgery for bone and soft tissue sarcomas. The study also explores the use of a smartphone application to deliver PROMIS questionnaires and track patient activity, with the aim of improving the assessment of post-surgical recovery.

Dr. Brij Karmur (Lead Resident 2024-2025)

Dr. Brij Karmur is currently pursuing a PhD in Community Health Science Clinical Epidemiology under the supervision of Drs. Jay Riva-Cambrin and Garnette Sutherland. After completing an undergraduate degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, & Behaviour at McMaster University, he went to medical school at the University of Toronto. He then started his neurosurgery residency in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary in 2020. His clinical interest lies in skull-base neuro-oncology (surgically treating tumors of the skull-base) and his research interests are in meningioma and artificial intelligence.

Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults. Emerging molecular technology is helping us understand which tumors are more concerning, however, these technologies are costly and sometimes unavailable, even at resource-rich centres. His research seeks to identify if artificial intelligence applied to MRI images can reliably predict the molecular underpinnings of meningiomas.

Dr. Claire Connors

Dr. Claire Connors is an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at the University of Calgary, currently pursuing an MSc in Community Health Sciences (Epidemiology) under the supervision of Drs. Amy Metcalfe and Erin Brennand. They obtained their Honours BSc from Queen's University and medical degree from the University of Calgary.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause pelvic pain and infertility, with access to treatment often influenced by geographic and socioeconomic factors. Dr. Connors' research examines how hospital location and patient insurance coverage affect the surgical management of endometriosis. Using a large U.S. healthcare database, the study will investigate whether patients in rural or remote communities and those with Medicaid coverage are more likely to undergo invasive surgical procedures. The findings aim to identify disparities in care and support more equitable access to endometriosis treatment.

Dr. Amy Chen

Dr. Amy Chen is a Neurosurgery resident at the University of Calgary, currently pursuing a PhD in Community Health Sciences under the supervision of Drs. Colleen Cuthbert and David Cadotte. She obtained her Honours BHSc from the University of Calgary and her medical degree from Queen's University.

Spinal conditions are a major cause of pain and disability, yet navigating the healthcare system to access appropriate spine care can be complex and associated with significant delays. Dr. Chen's research focuses on improving the Calgary spine triage pathway by examining how patients are referred, assessed, and directed to appropriate care. Her work combines healthcare data with the perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals to better understand where barriers and inefficiencies arise within the current system. The findings aim to identify opportunities to redesign the spine care pathway and support timelier and patient-centered care.

Dr. Tya Marchand

Dr. Tya Marchand is an Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Calgary, currently pursuing an MSc in Community Health Sciences (Public Health) under the supervision of Drs. Tito Daodu and Rita Henderson. She obtained both her BSc and medical degree from the University of Calgary.

Many First Nations communities in Southern Alberta face barriers to timely emergency medical care, including geographic isolation, limited resources and discrimination within the healthcare system. Dr. Marchand's research examines Indigenous-led paramedicine services and their role in improving access to emergency care. Through storytelling and sharing circles with Indigenous paramedics, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and community members, her study will identify the strengths and challenges of community-based emergency medical services. The findings aim to support community-led improvements in emergency care, inform healthcare policies and advance health equity for Indigenous peoples.

Dr. Samiha Mohsen

Dr. Samiha Mohsen is a Dermatology resident at the University of Calgary, currently pursuing a PhD in Community Health Sciences (Epidemiology) under the supervision of Drs. Glen Hazlewood and Aaron Drucker. She obtained her BSc from Grand Canyon University, completed an MSc in Community Health Sciences (Epidemiology) at the University of Calgary, and received her medical degree from the University of Toronto.

Prurigo nodularis is a chronic skin disease characterized by intensely itchy lesions that affect quality of life, including sleep and social interactions. Although emerging treatments offer hope, there is no standardized way to measure their effectiveness, and research outcomes have largely been selected without patient input. Dr. Mohsen's research will identify and prioritize outcomes that matter most to patients. Her project will review studies and conduct interviews and focus groups with patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders to define meaningful improvement for patients. Findings will inform a core set of outcome domains agreed upon by patients, clinicians, industry representatives, and regulators. Patient partners, including those from equity-deserving communities, will be involved throughout the research. She will also conduct a living meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of current and emerging treatments.The findings aim to standardize patient centered outcomes for clinical trials, improve treatment evaluation, and guide therapeutic development and clinical decision-making.

Dr. Cody Dunne (Lead Resident 2023-2024)

Dr. Dunne is an Emergency Medicine resident, currently pursuing his PhD in Community Health Science under the supervision of Drs. Andrew McRae and Khara Sauro. Dr. Dunne obtained his BSc and medical degree from the Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) or choking represents a life-threatening emergency where the person’s outcome is determined largely by the initial actions taken by bystanders and care providers.  Focusing on long-term care residents, the goal of Dr. Dunne’s study is to evaluate how various factors improve or worsen the outcome of a person who suffers a choking event. Factors that will be examined include age, health status, what the person choked on, and what intervention(s) were used. By improving knowledge in this field and optimizing how first aiders intervene, there is potential to decrease poor outcomes in these individuals.

Dr. Gareth Ryan

Dr. Gareth Ryan is an Orthopedic Surgery resident, currently pursuing his MSc in Medical Science under the supervision of Dr. Prism Schneider. Dr. Ryan obtained his BSc from Dalhousie University and medical degree from the University of Toronto.

Patients with head injuries tend to produce more bone compared to those without a head injury. This can result in increased bone formation during fracture healing, or abnormal bone formation around joints or in muscles. Animal studies have suggested this might be due to certain bone-promoting proteins. His research will evaluate the blood levels of various bone-promoting proteins on patients with long bone fractures, with and without traumatic brain injury. The study hopes to aid in understanding the relationship between head injury and bone healing and potentially aid in the development of new therapeutic techniques to improve fracture healing.