Medal for Distinguished Service
Dr. Dort is a head and neck surgeon and emeritus professor in the departments of Surgery, Oncology and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. He was the founding Executive Director of the Ohlson Research Initiative, a head and neck cancer translational research program at the Cumming School of Medicine/Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Research Institute. Dr. Dort served as the Senior Medical Director of the Alberta Cancer Strategic Clinical Network. Early in his career, Joe was the Director of the Office of Surgical Research and, during his tenure he led the establishment of the Surgeon Scientist Program, a program that continues to support bright young surgeons in their pursuit of research training. Dr. Dort held a variety of senior executive positions with the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and served as its President in 2009-2010.
Dr. Dort trained in family medicine and practiced in Manitouwadge, Ontario before returning to residency to study otolaryngology at the University of Manitoba. He completed a clinical fellowship in Skull Base Surgery at the University of Zurich and also holds an MSc in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. In addition, Dr. Dort is a graduate of the Intermountain Healthcare Advanced Training Program in Healthcare Delivery Improvement.
Under Joe’s leadership the Ohlson Research Initiative (ORI) has a national and international reputation in head and neck cancer clinical effectiveness research, which includes health services research and studies exploring the design and delivery of high value healthcare for head and neck cancer patients. The ORI established programs in head and neck tumour biology and the use of virtual reality to teach, plan, and rehearse surgical procedures.
Dr. Dort’s passion and primary academic focus is clinical effectiveness research that improves the design and delivery of healthcare for patients and families dealing with head and neck cancer.