FACULTY AWARDS & HONOURS Compiled by Melni Ghattora
Charles Bernstein [MD/85] (1), professor, section of gastroenterology, internal medicine, university of Manitoba Bingham Chair in Gastroenterology has been recognized by the Royal Society of Canada, the country’s top association of scholars and scientists. A renowned expert on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Bernstein has been elected as a Fellow of the Society, which is considered the highest honour an academic can achieve in the arts, humanities and sciences. Sharon Bruce [PhD/99]. associate professor, community health sciences, received the 2012 Ed Kroeger Mentorship Award. Nominated by her students, the award acknowledges a current professor who exemplifies excellence in graduate and professional teaching. Tamara Buchel [MD/92], assistant professor, family medicine, was appointed executive director of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians; a chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the professional, non-profit organization represents family physicians across Canada. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) presented Harvey Max Chochinov [MD/83, PhD/98] (2) Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care and distinguished professor of psychiatry with the 2012 CMA Frederic Newton Gisborne (FNG) Starr Award. This award represents the highest honour that the CMA can bestow upon one of its members. It recognizes Chochinov’s global contribution to palliative care and to raising the profile of personhood throughout all of health-care. Juliette (Archie) Cooper [BOT/79, M.Sc./82, PhD/87] (3), professor emeritus, was awarded the Peter D. Curry Chancellor’s Award for outstanding contributions and governance of the University of Manitoba, at this year’s Fall Convocation. Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla, distinguished professor and director of cardiovascular development, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at St-Boniface Hospital Research, received an honourary prefessorship form the Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania. Cynthia Ellison [PhD/99], assistant professor, pathology (cross appointee; immunology), received the 2012 Dr. Kenneth Hughes Young Investigator Award. Dr. Ellison’s research involves the study of immunological mechanisms underlying the development of pathological changes associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Ian Jones, program director of the physician assistant education program, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by MEDEX Northwest and the Washington Association of Physician Assistants (WAPA) for his roles as leader, role model, clinician and mentor.
Lorrie Kirshenbaum [PhD/92] (4), Canada Research Chair in Molecular Cardiology; professor in departments of pharmacology & therapeutics and physiology; director of research development, Faculty of Medicine; principal investigator, cardiac gene biology, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St-Boniface Hospital Research is this year’s recipient of the 2012 Dr. R.E. Beamish Memorial Award. Presented by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, Kirshenbaum was recognized for his breakthrough study of a gene that could save the lives of heart patients. He received $10,000 in support of his groundbreaking research. Lisa Lix [PhD/95] (5), professor, community health sciences, was appointed Manitoba Research Chair, by the Manitoba Health Research Council. Lix’s five-year research program will develop, validate, apply and disseminate methods to measure and improve the quality of administrative health databases for chronic disease research and surveillance. Dr. Pawan Singal (6), professor of physiology and director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manitoba and St-Boniface Hospital Research, received a lifetime/Outstanding Achievement award from the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Singal was cited for his international recognition in the field of “oxidative stress and heart failure” as well as for his leadership role in community projects.
Trailblazing health researchers inducted Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Dr. Heather Dean, Lorrie Kirshenbaum [PhD/92], and Peter Nickerson [MD/86] were inducted into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) this past September, at a ceremony held in Ottawa. The three Faculty of Medicine professors have transformed how we care for people with diabetes, heart failure and organ rejection, and they’ve been recognized for their pioneering efforts. Elected by their peers, each one has demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies and commitment to advancing academic health sciences in their respective research interests. Membership into the CAHS is considered one of the highest honours for the Canadian health sciences community. Heather Dean (7), (pediatrics, Manitoba Institute of Child Health) was the first pediatrician to report type 2 diabetes in children in Canada. Nearly 30 years ago she founded the first provincial, inter-professional, comprehensive program for children with diabetes in Canada: the Manitoba Pediatric Diabetes Education Resource for Children and Adolescents. Her major research activities focus on the epidemiology, care, education, support and prevention of type 2 diabetes in children. Dean serves as Assistant Dean, Academic in the Faculty of Medicine. Lorrie Kirshenbaum (4), Canada Research Chair in Molecular Cardiology, (pharmacology & therapeutics and physiology, St-Boniface Hospital Research) is best known for his groundbreaking work on viral gene therapy and the regulation of both cell cycle and cell death proteins in the heart. His research has revolutionized the field by providing a means to genetically modify non-functional proteins in cells that cause human disease. Groundbreaking discoveries have paved the way for novel therapies for heart failure, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Peter Nickerson (8) (internal medicine and immunology) is a leader in transplantation science. He and his colleagues have been at the forefront in identifying subclinical inflammation as a cause of organ rejection, particularly relating to the kidneys. He has also been instrumental in developing a new, national strategy for organ donation and transplantation, which is now being rolled out by Canadian Blood Services and is improving the odds that transplants will be available for people facing organ failure. Nickerson serves as Associate Dean, Research, Faculty of Medicine.
FACULTY NEWS
MB medicine | winter 2012
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