College of Medicine Award Recipient Profile -
“It’s very meaningful to have the work we do recognized in this way, and I’m grateful for the acknowledgment.”
The acknowledgment Dr. Calvin Tsui (MD) refers to was formally cemented on May 15 as he was awarded a 2025 Regina Campus Teaching Award in recognition of his excellence in teaching, alongside his colleagues and fellow awardees, Dr. Ryan Pikaluk (MD) and Dr. Donald McCarville (MD).
Tsui, an assistant professor in General Internal Medicine, is in his eighth year as a member of the Regina Campus faculty. Upon completion of his undergraduate medical degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Tsui matched to a Regina residency position in 2017 and has never looked back.
From the very beginning, he was impressed with the medical campus with its ability to offer full tertiary care resources, while being small enough to foster a close-knit, collegial community.
“There is a genuine spirit of collaboration here, with people who are always willing to support each other to deliver the best possible care for our patients.”
Tsui notes his decision to stay and build his practice in Regina felt natural. “I was fortunate to be supported by mentors who had known me since my very first year of residency, and I appreciated the flexibility to grow my career organically and shape it in a way that aligned with my goals,” he says.
As his career at the Regina Campus took shape, Tsui became more recognized for his ability to be a great medical education teacher, and why he was nominated by his peers for the Regina Campus Teaching Award.
When he was notified of being one of three recipients of the award, Tsui says he was genuinely surprised, excited and deeply touched by the kind sentiments shared by residents who supported his nomination. “It is truly fantastic to receive recognition from both peers and learners. It means a great deal to me and reinforces the importance of the work we do together.”
Teaching has always been something Tsui aspired to. Throughout his training, he says he was fortunate to learn from many inspiring mentors across different fields of medicine. He recalls how the best teachers had a distinct spark in their eye when sharing their passion. “That enthusiasm left a lasting impression on me and is something I have always strived to emulate,” he says.
“I am sincerely grateful for this award and the recognition it represents. I know there is still much for me to learn, and I look forward to continuing to grow and contribute at the Regina Campus. It truly is a hidden gem, supported by a wonderful and dedicated community.”
Before Tsui started his medical school journey in Ontario before moving to Saskatchewan, his life was in British Columbia growing up in a family of Asian heritage. He says from a young age, he was taught the value of hard work and education — not only in academics but also in cultivating a curiosity about the world. “That mindset has carried into my practice today, where continual learning and growth are essential,” he says.
As Canada recognizes May as Asian Heritage Month, Tsui, who is fluent in multiple languages including Cantonese and Mandarin, sees the importance of diversity in medicine both locally and around the country.
"A diverse faculty brings a broader range of experiences and perspectives, enhancing our cultural sensitivity to the diverse patients and learners we interact with daily.”
Dr. Calvin Tsui
USask honours educators for teaching excellence and innovation
Dr. Jacqueline Kraushaar (MD), assistant professor and Regina area department lead in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has been recognized with a prestigious teaching award.
She has been named as a recipient of the Provost’s College Award for Teaching Excellence, which is presented annually to teachers in each college or school at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), who have demonstrated teaching excellence.
Dr. Kraushaar: “One of the greatest skills that I can impart to my students is a love of learning and a desire to continually pursue opportunities to expand their knowledge. I believe that true learning
happens when students are not just acquiring information but are actively seeking ways to further understand and question it. As a teacher, I aim to create a supportive, inclusive learning environment by encouraging learners to remain curious, embrace challenges, seek feedback, and recognize that learning is an ongoing process.”
Dr. Kraushaar, alongside the other award recipients were celebrated at the USask Staff and Faculty Awards event on June 26. A full list of recipients of USask Staff and Faculty Awards is available online
CMHF recognition for third-year Regina campus student
Laureates of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame cite qualities such as perseverance, collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit as contributors to their success as national and world health leaders. The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award recognizes medical students who demonstrate these qualities and show outstanding potential as future leaders and innovators of health care in Canada.
This month, third-year Regina campus student Natisha Thakkar '26 was formally recognized for being selected as a 2024 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award recipient of the Dr. Calvin R. Stiller Award for her leadership and advocacy.
“I’m extremely passionate about advocating for women’s health. It’s because of leaders and innovators that have paved the way before me that I am able to work to inspire change in our institutions today,” she said.
Read more about Natisha's committment to women's health at cdnmedhall.ca/2024cmhfaward#USask
Research News
Regina faculty named as 2025-27 Clinician Research Support Program (CRSP) recipients
Through a collaborative partnership between the Hospitals of Regina Foundation (HRF), Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), and the USask’s College of Medicine Regina Campus, Saskatchewan is moving forward in research.
Administered by the SHA Research Department, the Clinician Research Support Program (CRSP) provides promising new clinician researchers an opportunity to achieve early successes and to build a track record that can strengthen their future funding applications to provincial, national, and international funding opportunities. Successful applicants receive 1-2 days/week of research support from a SHA Research Specialist for a period of 2 years.
The 2025-27 CRSP recipients are:
Dr. Maria Giroux, Obstetrics & Gynecology: Dr. Giroux is Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgeon (FPMRS) and an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan. She is early career urogynecologist with a subspecialty practice dedicated to providing comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for pelvic floor disorders, obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs), and persistent postpartum pain.
Her research interests include management of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs), pelvic floor pain, and persistent postpartum pain (PPP). Dr. Giroux has established a dedicated community clinic with endoanal ultrasound for patients with OASIs where she conducts research in obstetrical trauma.
She is currently involved in more than 10 local, national, and international academic projects and actively mentor learners at the University of Saskatchewan. CRSP support will provide Dr. Giroux with the ability to grow academically to make a positive impact to the care for women in the province of Saskatchewan who suffer from obstetrical trauma and OASIs.
Dr. Shain Thakrar, Emergency Medicine: Dr. Thakrar is an early career researcher with experience in supervising the clinical and research activities of residents and undergraduate medical learners. His clinical activities have encompassed being the Emergency Medicine Provincial Lead of Addictions & Vulnerable Populations and assistant professor at USask’s College of Medicine.
Dr. Thakrar has a passion for enhancing patient care in a multitude of ways including finding solutions to improve treatments for patients with opioid use disorder, to make significant impacts to patients, families and clinicians by allowing patients to play a more active role in their care plans, and by using administrative databases to address inquiries pertaining to patients who leave the hospital before medically advised.
Dr. Thakrar’s hope is that through the engagement with healthcare system leaders and the involvement of researchers, students and residents to learn about developing research projects to address clinical issues, the research he participates in can lead to meaningful impact on patient outcomes, experiences and care.
Dr. Lauren Zarnett, Neurosurgery: Dr. Zarnett is a neurosurgeon and an Assistant Professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine.
During her neurotrauma fellowship. Dr. Zarnett was fortunate to work within a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary TBI team, an experience that deeply shaped her approach to clinical care and research, and she hopes to build similarly integrated efforts in Saskatchewan over time.
Her complex spinal surgery fellowship emphasized the effect of patient education, especially on post-operative expectations and satisfaction, and she feels strongly that patients would benefit from reliable, individualizable resources they could utilize both while awaiting elective spine surgery and post-operatively.
Dr. Zarnett’s clinical experiences have shaped her research focus into two main areas: improving data collection for traumatic brain injuries and creating accessible educational resources for spine patients in Saskatchewan. Early in her research career, she is excited about the opportunity to build meaningful, patient-centered projects that directly improve care and communication.
In addition to the new CRSP recipients, through a donation from Dr. George Carson, two doctors were awarded an additional year of CRSP support: Dr. Ernesto Figueiro and Dr. Sarah Smith, both from the department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Drs. Figueiro and Smith were recipients of CRSP support for the 2023-25 term.
Click here for more on the SHA Research Department
Click here to read the most recent edition of the Research Impacts newsletter.
Two weeks prior to walking across the stage as one of the newest doctors of medicine in Saskatchewan, Regina Campus student Abby Miller took part in the Reesor 50 in Cypress Hills, located southwest of Regina.
The 83km trail race provides not only a true test of endurance for those navigating the course but also a journey through a piece of Saskatchewan’s living history. Abby took 1st place in the female division and was 6th overall.
Abby became an avid runner at the age of 12, competing in elite triathlon and distance running events, and has continued to race throughout her post-secondary education journey, including her time in the College of Medicine.
“I moved to the bigger distances and trail running more in the last few years and have really fallen in love with it,” she said, noting she has made the podium a few times in the ultra marathons she has raced but the Reesor 50 was her first overall win.
“It felt pretty special combined with graduating from the College of Medicine”.
Abby said continuing to race throughout medical training was a way to keep her mind well-balanced. “Sport is a part of who I am,” she said. “It is often my social time, and it was really important to me to have an outlet outside of medicine — especially when things felt overwhelming.”
The ‘overwhelming’ would include defending her Masters of Science in Kinesiology while navigating her year of medical school clerkship. “I had started it just prior to everything shutting down because of the pandemic,” Abby said.
After deferring medical school for year to try and finish her MSc, the continuous pandemic shutdowns hindered her progress. However, Abby felt it was important to finish. “I worked on it over the summer and other school breaks and was able to defend during my third year.”
As Abby moves on to the next part of her medical school journey, a rural family medicine residency in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, her goal is to continue racing.
“I want to keep racing at this level and push my limits (and distances of races!),” she said, “There are some very cool looking races on the east coast that I’m excited to try during my residency.”
Regina Campus Student Profile - Abby Miller '25
Regina Campus Student Profile - Thomas Lowe '26
In celebration for Asian Heritage month, Regina student Thomas Lowe spoke to the College of Medicine's UGME team about what diversity in medicine means to him.
Thomas is in his final year of the MD program at the Regina campus. Not only is his family there, but he greatly enjoys working with the community he grew up in. Prior to medical school, he achieved an undergraduate honours degree in physiology and pharmacology at USask.
As a previous competitive tennis and badminton player, Lowe continues to enjoy racket sports recreationally with his brother, parents, and friends.
Lowe shared what drew him to medicine, saying “there are two main things. First, my mom is a psychiatric nurse, and it was always nice to hear how she impacted patients not just through clinical care, but also through listening. Second, I used to volunteer at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon during my undergrad in the haemodialysis unit, supporting patients undergoing dialysis. Hearing their stories taught me that medicine is about human connections.”
During his volunteering, Lowe found it rewarding to get to know each person. He credits being exposed to health care at a young age and having this interest reaffirmed through his volunteering as the motivation to pursue medicine.
Thinking about his best experience during his medical journey, Lowe admitted that “it’s tough to pinpoint one. I’d say an experience that really inspired me was my internal medicine rotation in Regina during my third year. I enjoyed it because Regina has a good team of internal medicine residents and staff. Internal medicine also has very sick patients, so it creates an environment of collaboration to bring specialties and allied health together. The approach to care is quite holistic.” After graduating, Lowe will be going to the University of Calgary for an internal medicine residency, telling us “my experiences and mentors in Regina helped me figure out that internal medicine was for me.”
When asked about what he wants to do in medicine, Lowe said that he has “two big overarching goals. I really enjoy teaching and working with other medical students and residents and would like to keep learning throughout my career. I am also a curious person and hope to continue being involved in research to explore new ideas.” Examples of the research Lowe has taken part in include working in the USask Neuroscience Research Cluster on projects relating to epilepsy. Lowe is a member of the USask Cardiovascular Research Group. His projects focus on assessing the risk of complications like arrhythmias and shock following a heart attack.
Considering what diversity in medicine means to him, Lowe answered, “what it means to me is that we have a diverse population of patients, and we need health-care teams that reflect the diversity of the patients we serve. Diversity in care teams really encourages people to learn from and utilize the cultural beliefs and experiences of others.”
Lowe went on to stress, “diversity is especially important in medicine because we work with people from around the world from every culture, religion and background. It’s good to keep learning about different health care perspectives so practitioners can put that at the forefront of patient care.”
On July 1st, Regina Campus was excited to welcome our new residents from schools around the world. We look forward to the arrival of the Class of 2029 Year 1's as well as all of our returning learners on July 30th.
Canadian Pediatric Dermatology Primer
The inaugural Canadian Pediatric Dermatology Primer is taking place on September 13th, 2025, in Saskatoon. This conference is geared toward physicians, residents, nurse practitioners, medical students and pharmacists interested in improving their pediatric dermatology skills.
With no pediatric dermatologist in Saskatchewan (and a critical shortage of dermatology in general), this conference will offer the invaluable opportunity to have questions answered by national experts as they share clinical pearls and takeaways on numerous dermatology topics.
Speakers for the conference include Regina faculty members, Dr. Brittany Waller and Dr. Rachel Asiniwasis.
Visit https://cpdprimer.ca for full conference details and to register.
TEDxUniversityofSaskatchewan 2026
Ready to share your idea worth spreading?
Apply to speak or perform at TEDxUniversityofSaskatchewan 2026!
A TEDx talk is different from a traditional academic or research presentation. Rather, it's a brief (less than 12 minutes) curated presentation centered around a single idea worth spreading. TEDx talks are accessible, impact-focused and engaging. Compelling applications should reflect this distinction.
Participating as a TEDxUniversityofSaskatchewan speaker or performer is an incredible career development opportunity.
The skills fostered during this process stand to significantly support individuals in their future endeavors. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their ideas to engaged audiences at home and around the world.
For more information on the process and how to apply, visit research.usask.ca/tedx/2026 Applications close Thursday, July 31 at 4:00pm CST.
Watch the talks from TEDxUniversityofSaskatchewan 2025 here.
Did you miss our last edition?
If you missed an opportunity to check out our March 2025 edition of the Regina Campus newsletter, it is available to read online here.
If you would like to be added to the email list to receive the newsletter link when new editions are available, please email aisling.gamble@usask.ca
Submit your news and events for consideration
The College of Medicine Regina Campus Newsletter will be a quarterly publication available to our students, faculty and staff. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information on Regina campus news as well as highlights of past events and information on upcoming events that are relevant to our campus members.
If you have news or events you would like to have considered for a future edition of the Regina Campus Newsletter, please email our Communications Specialist, Aisling Gamble at aisling.gamble@usask.ca
Content due dates:
• September 2025 Newsletter - content is due August 15
• December 2025 Newsletter - content is due November 15
