Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - University of Alberta

09/03/2026

Clinician-scientists are the essential bridge between the laboratory and the bedside, transforming scientific inquiry into real-world patient care and driving the medical advancements that define modern healthcare.

The Community of Research (CoRe) program at FoMD, celebrating five years, is dedicated to supporting the clinician-scientist. Through its unique 'come and learn' philosophy, CoRe provides learners with a supportive, low-pressure environment to cultivate research competencies alongside their clinical training, equipping the next generation of physicians to discover, innovate and advance medicine.

"The CoRe program plays a vital role in the revitalization of the clinician-scientist, which is essential to the future of medicine. By engaging in this path, medical students are challenged to stay at the forefront of clinical practice, constantly updating their knowledge beyond standard guidelines. This exposure to emerging research—the science that has yet to reach the mainstream—ensures our graduates are not just practitioners, but well-rounded physicians who are prepared to lead and innovate" says CoRe director, surgeon and clincian-scientist Dr. Adam Kinnaird.

Read the full interview with Dr. Adam Kinnaird to explore how the U of A is building a thriving clinician-scientist community: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/news/2026/08/beyond-the-bedside-building-a-clinician-scientist-community-at-the-university-of-alberta.html

09/02/2026

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is pleased to announce that the Alberta Institute at Wenzhou Medical University (AIWMU) has been awarded the 2026 ASPIRE to Excellence Award in Technology Enhanced Learning.

Conferred by the International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE), the ASPIRE award program identifies and celebrates international leaders in medical and health education. AIWMU—a joint initiative between the University of Alberta and Wenzhou Medical University—was recognized for its implementation of educational technologies that enhance learning outcomes and set global standards for instruction.

Dr. Tracey Hillier, Executive Dean and Director of the Alberta Institute, accepted the award on behalf of the program. This milestone reflects the continued dedication of our faculty, staff, and international partners to advancing health professions education through collaborative innovation.

09/01/2026

Welcome to all of our Northern Alberta Medical Program (NAMP) students for Fall 2026!

A special thank you to Councillor Chris Thiessen (representing the City of Grande Prairie) as well as Dean & Vice-Provost Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn for remarks at this welcome lunch event.

08/31/2026

Congratulations to all of the 2026 University of Alberta Alumni Awards recipients! The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is immensely proud to see two of our outstanding alumni recognized this year for their extraordinary contributions to patient care, systemic policy reform, and health equity.

Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, ’85 PhD, ’87 MD | Distinguished Alumni Award

A phenomenal physician and public health pioneer, Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti has redefined how Canada addresses injury control, poverty reduction and social determinants of health. Recognizing the danger of discharging unhoused patients back into the environment, he struck up partnerships to create Bridge Healing, a first-of-its-kind program that provides transitional housing and wraparound health care. He is also the first physician in Canada to serve successive terms as president of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Medical Association.

Dr. Daisy Fung, ’09 BMedSc, ’10 MD | Alumni Horizon Award

Dr. Daisy Fung is a respected family physician whose impact extends beyond her clinical practice. Through relationship-based care and regular home visits, she ensures vulnerable patients receive the support they need while reducing barriers to health care. Through her leadership at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, she has spearheaded initiatives that lifted anti-racism and anti-discrimination principles into organizational policies and standards. An educator, mentor and emerging national voice on long COVID and infection-associated conditions, Dr. Fung has shaped medical education, influenced policy and advanced public understanding of complex health issues.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Francescutti and Dr. Fung for leading with purpose and changing lives! See all of the 2026 Alumni Award recipients here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/alumni/celebrating-alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-award-recipients.html

08/28/2026

Can research gleaned from a hibernating snail save a human heart?

The study, published in Nature Communications, is led by Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, professor in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI). The breakthrough could have clinical implications ranging from organ transplantation and heart attack care to longevity medicine, or even inducing hibernation in astronauts of ultralong space travel.

“This is the first direct transfer of hibernation biology, which has remained enigmatic for decades, to non-hibernators,” Michelakis says. “It could improve the usability of offered organs and the lives of transplant patients and their loved ones.”

Read the full story here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2026/08/can-research-gleaned-from-hibernating-snail-save-human-heart.html

08/13/2026

Prepare for a new location filled with the same dental excellence you have come to expect from us. Our Sedation Updater weekend retreat will be nestled in the snowy peaks of Whistler, British Columbia, at the famous Fairmont Chateau, featuring fascinating lectures and exciting activities!

Learn more and register: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/school-of-dentistry/continuing-dental-education/cde-landing-pages/sedation-updater.html

08/11/2026

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry is proud to announce the renewal of two tier one Canada Research Chairs: Lisa Hartling and Vivian Mushahwar.

These renewals acknowledge both researchers' sustained contributions to their respective fields, from improving how health research is synthesized and applied in everyday care, to engineering neural technologies that assist with mobility and rehabilitation.

Read the full announcement: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/news/2026/08/translating-evidence-and-restoring-mobility-u-of-a-announces-renewal-of-two-canada-research-chairs.html

08/07/2026

A University of Alberta research lab is leading the development of a new generation of self-sterilizing materials for dental fillings.

“Almost every adult develops at least one decayed tooth in their lifetime, and historically these decayed teeth were all filled with a metallic filling that was based on silver and mercury,” explains principal investigator Dr. Prasanna Neelakantan, associate professor and Alberta Dental Association & College Chair in Oral Health Research in the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry.

Read the full story on Folio: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2026/07/self-sterilizing-dental-fillings.html

07/22/2026

We're excited to serve as the Host School Partner for the 2027 IPAC Annual Mentorship Gathering in Yellowknife.

We look forward to working with IPAC Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada to help strengthen Indigenous medical education, mentorship and physician leadership. See below for more details!

We're excited to announce a new partnership between the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) and the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, including the Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP), and the Northern Alberta Medical Program (NAMP).

Together, we're working to strengthen Indigenous medical education, mentorship, and physician leadership in northern Canada.

As part of this partnership, the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry will join IPAC as the Host School Partner for the 2027 IPAC Annual Mentorship Gathering, taking place June 10–12, 2027, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

The Annual Mentorship Gathering brings together Indigenous medical students, postgraduate trainees, physicians, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and partners from across the country to build relationships, share knowledge, and support the next generation of Indigenous physician leaders.

We look forward to working together to create a meaningful gathering that reflects the strengths, priorities, and communities of the North.

Save the date: June 10–12, 2027
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

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Nous sommes heureux d'annoncer un nouveau partenariat entre l'Association des médecins autochtones du Canada (AMAC) et la Faculté de médecine et de médecine dentaire de l'Université de l'Alberta, y compris le Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP) et le Northern Alberta Medical Program (NAMP).

Ensemble, nous travaillons à renforcer la formation médicale autochtone, le mentorat et le leadership des médecins autochtones dans le Nord du Canada.

Dans le cadre de ce partenariat, la Faculté de médecine et de médecine dentaire de l'Université de l'Alberta se joindra à l'IPAC à titre de partenaire hôte du Rassemblement annuel de mentorat de l'IPAC 2027, qui se tiendra du 10 au 12 juin 2027 à Yellowknife, dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest.

Le Rassemblement annuel de mentorat réunit des étudiantes et étudiants autochtones en médecine, des médecins résidents, des médecins, des Aînés, des gardiens du savoir et des partenaires de partout au pays afin de tisser des liens, de partager les savoirs et de soutenir la prochaine génération de leaders autochtones en médecine.

Nous avons hâte de collaborer afin de créer un rassemblement porteur de sens, qui reflète les forces, les priorités et les communautés du Nord.

Réservez les dates : du 10 au 12 juin 2027
Yellowknife (Territoires du Nord-Ouest)

Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - University of Alberta UofA Indigenous Medical and Dental Student Association

07/17/2026