University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine

10/16/2026

Want to feel inspired? Join Dr. Emma Schalm, MD, a second year resident anesthetist, on a day in her busy life.
 
Today is World Anesthesiology Day, a chance to reflect and celebrate the diverse roles of anesthesiologists in and outside the operating room. From first contact through recovery and long-term follow-up, patients interact with anesthesiologists at multiple stages of their care journey, extending across diverse healthcare settings.
 
The CSM’s Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine department includes 13 sections and dozens of physicians working at the five hospitals in the city and several rural locations in Alberta.
 
Thank you to all of them! Today we celebrate your efforts and expertise in teaching, learning and keeping the community safe through this important medical specialty.
 
World Anesthesiology Day takes place Oct. 16 each year to commemorate the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia by William T. G. Morton at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 1846.

10/16/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Kathryn Birnie, PhD, who has received a 2026 Killam Emerging Research Leader award!

A renowned leader in paediatric pain research and the associate scientific director of Solutions for Kids in Pain, Dr. Birnie led a national partnership that brought together youth, caregivers and health professionals to identify the top priorities in kids' chronic pain, helping to inform Health Canada’s first Action Plan for Pain in Canada.

Dr. Birnie also led development of one of the first national health standards for paediatric pain management recognized as a National Standard of Canada in 2023.

Killam Emerging Research Leader awards recognize outstanding contributions to research in the early-career stage. Bravo Dr. Birnie. 👏

⬇️ WATCH below to find out more about her dedication to supporting children in pain.

Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI | Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education | O'Brien Institute for Public Health | Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute

10/13/2026

We are celebrating professor Dr. Gregor Wolbring, PhD, who has received the Killam Undergraduate Mentorship Award! 👏

Honouring outstanding teaching, supervision, and research at the University of Calgary, this award recognizes Dr. Wolbring’s mentorship and support of students, whom he views not simply as learners but as agents of change who will shape society.

Dr. Wolbring is a professor with the Department of Community Health Sciences whose research explores the lived reality of people with disabilities. He believes all students have the potential to act as allies to people with disabilities and can make a positive difference in peoples’ lives, during and after their studies.

Dr. Wolbring has supervised more than 62 undergraduate students and created a community through the “The WolbPack” (pictured below) where he supports students in building self-esteem in their work, while creating a supportive, safe space to ask questions and challenge ideas.

Thank you, Dr. Wolbring.

Read more: https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/2026-killam-awards-underscores-excellence-supporting-student-research

O'Brien Institute for Public Health
📷 Jason Lewis, University of Calgary

10/08/2026

🎥 Last week, we welcomed recently elected UCalgary Chancellor John Osler to the Cu***ng School of Medicine for a behind-the-scenes tour at some of the incredible health research underway at Foothills campus.
 
Thank you to Drs. Deborah Kurrasch, PhD, Aaron Phillips, PhD, and Aaron Goodarzi, PhD, for opening their labs and sharing how their teams are helping address some of today’s most pressing health challenges.
 
We’re grateful for Chancellor Osler’s visit and his shared commitment to supporting innovation, research and education!

10/06/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Tanvir Turin Chowdhury, MBBS, PhD, who has been selected as the 2026 Calgary South Asian Inspiration Award Winner – STEEM. 👏🏼

This recognition celebrates Dr. Chowdhury’s outstanding leadership and accomplishments, and the positive impact he has made as a physician and health services researcher within the South Asian community and beyond.

Dr. Chowdhury is an associate professor at whose research focuses on immigrant and refugee health with a primary interest in improving access to care for vulnerable populations. Possessing a diverse set of research methodological skills and multidisciplinary experience, Dr. Chowdhury has been involved in research collaborations both nationally and internationally.

Bravo Dr. Turin Chowdhury on being recognized by the Sifarish Network as one of Calgary’s inspiring leaders and changemakers!

Libin Cardiovascular Institute | The Sifarish Network- South Asian Networking and Community Organization

10/02/2026

We are very excited about this new on-campus sports stadium which aims to be a vibrant hub for both the university and the wider community! The purpose-built facility will connect Calgarians with the our university's athletic and academic ecosystem, and advance the future of UCalgary field sports to the benefit of our Cu***ng School of Medicine student athletes and others across campus! 👏

Read more below.

New UCalgary stadium vision aims to strengthen varsity and community sport, as fundraising officially kicks off with more than $23 million committed https://bit.ly/4xJAIsJ

University of Calgary Dinos | University of Calgary Kinesiology

10/02/2026

Did you know the Cu***ng School of Medicine is one of the few medical schools in Canada where every medical student must complete a term-length Community Engaged Learning (CEL) placement as part of their curriculum?

Earlier this year, more than 180 students spent 13 weeks learning alongside community organizations across Calgary, gaining a deeper understanding of the lived experiences, strengths and challenges of the communities they will one day serve.

From supporting programs at The Mustard Seed and the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured to learning alongside community members at Elements Calgary Mental Health Centre and Renfrew Educational Services, students gained valuable insight into some of the resources that are available in the community while building skills in empathy, advocacy and relationship-centred care.

A huge thank you to the more than 50 community partners who serve as co-educators, helping to shape the next generation of physicians by sharing their expertise and lived experiences. This summer’s Community Engaged Learning Symposium celebrated the learning, connections and impact made possible through these partnerships.

We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of students as they begin their CEL journey this month!

10/01/2026

❤️ Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common heart rhythm disorder — and about one in three or four people will develop it during their lifetime.

But what exactly is AFib? Who is at risk? How is it treated? And what can you do to reduce your risk?

For Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, we spoke with Dr. Islam Ibrahim, cardiac electrophysiology fellow at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, to break down the basics of AFib, from symptoms and risk factors to treatment and prevention.

The Libin is also involved in several clinical research studies exploring new approaches to preventing AFib, reducing stroke risk and improving ablation treatments.

Read our article to learn more about AFib and the research underway at the University of Calgary 👇

https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/atrial-fibrillation-awareness-month

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University of Calgary's Cu***ng School of Medicine

09/25/2026

We proudly join the University of Calgary and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI in celebrating internationally renowned stroke researcher Dr. Mayank Goyal, MD, PhD, for being awarded this prestigious national prize!

The Royal Society of Canada’s McLaughlin Medal celebrates Dr. Goyal’s research which has helped redefine how acute ischemic stroke is diagnosed and treated.

Bravo to Dr. Goyal, whose exceptional work has contributed to the transformation of acute stroke care around the world! 👏🏼

⬇️ Read the full story below.

Internationally renowned stroke researcher, Dr. Mayank Goyal, receives Royal Society of Canada McLaughlin Medal for sustained excellence in medical science https://bit.ly/4rmQNmA

University of Calgary's Cu***ng School of Medicine