Dr. Cecile Phan is an associate clinical professor with the Division of Neurology at the U of A. She goes above and beyond for both her patients and colleagues, providing quality care to patients and support to physicians. The extra efforts Dr. Phan make have not gone unnoticed; she was nominated by a colleague who admires her dedication to her work.

The first thing Jude said about Dr. Trevor Steve is that he has a wicked sense of humour. Well, people say laughter is the best medicine. In Jude’s case, she also needed Dr. Steve’s expertise as a neurologist, and she credits him with saving her life.

In the busy health care system, specialists feel the pressures of so many patients waiting to access care. With such hectic schedules, it’s no doubt difficult to present a calm and unhurried face to patients. One patient wants to applaud her gastroenterologist, Dr. Farhad Peerani, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the U of A, for being a calm presence in her long and difficult health journey.

Physicians are used to providing the care, so when the physician becomes the patient, they have a unique perspective on the health care system and those working within it. Recently, a physician found herself battling thyroid cancer and was referred to Dr. Shamir Chandarana, a surgeon with the section of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery (U of C), for treatment. While the patient wishes to maintain her privacy, she was compelled to ensure Dr. Chandarana was recognized for the excellent care he provided.

Recently finished her residency and a new family physician at Edmonton’s Nova Medical Clinic, Dr. Neha Chadha made a lasting impression on, and has a fan-for-life in, the patient who nominated her in June for recognition by the Shine A Light program. In her nomination, Paula describes how, as a new doctor, Dr. Chadha took on Paula as a patient, “complicated health portfolio … complex care plan … the ever-changing scenarios of autoimmune disease…” and all!

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia; it affects 10% of people over the age of 65. Despite having been discovered over 100 years ago, there has yet to be an effective cure. Instead, between 2000 and 2012, 99.6% of drugs tested in clinical trials for AD failed, which is a higher fail rate than cancer trials.

For Mental Health Week 2022, students at the University of Calgary offered something for everyone, including HIIT class, book swap, journaling, wellness talks, student advocacy and wellness office open house, park meet up, rock painting, free ice cream, art and music night, wellness resources info fair, yoga class, mindfulness session, therapy dogs and Zoom pizza cooking.

The University of Calgary Medical Students' Association hosted a club fair/advocacy symposium on August 19 to promote the many ways students can get involved in their community.

The 18th annual Alberta Medical Students’ Conference and Retreat (AMSCAR) was held January 21 and 22 over Zoom. The organizers created a well orchestrated weekend of learning and fun that allowed for an enjoyable virtual experience. There was a total of 246 students (179 medical students from the University of Alberta and 67 from the University of Calgary) who came together for a weekend of health and wellness – an especially important topic given the current climate.

Deputy Head, Professional Affairs, Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine; Medical Lead, Virtual Health, Alberta Health Services; Clinical Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine; Hospital Pediatrician, Alberta Children's Hospital; Member of Board of Directors, Alberta Medical Association; Member of Board of Directors, Calgary Health Foundation

Associate Dean of Advocacy and Wellbeing, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta