University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine

11/25/2025

About 70% of people with diabetes over age 65 are affected by some form of heart disease.

PhD candidate Megan Meechem, supervised by Dr. Vaibhav Patel, is exploring how diabetes affects the heart’s ability to heal.

Mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to repair tissue, explains Megan. “My research focuses on understanding the impact of diabetes on these stem cells.”

By studying how diabetes changes the regenerative capacity of these cells, Megan hopes to help develop new therapies for cardiovascular patients living with diabetes.

Her motivation is deeply personal: “My family has a strong history of cardiovascular disease… I realized a lot more research needs to be done.”

🔗 Learn more about Megan’s work: https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/exploring-how-diabetes-affects-hearts-ability-heal

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

11/24/2025

🎥 If you watched Part 1 of the 2023 film LOW, created by the Calgary Diabetes Advocacy Committee (CDAC), you don’t want to miss Part 2! The sequel, Low Priority, follows Bobby as he navigates stigma and the health-care system after a medical emergency.

Low Priority premiers in Calgary December 3, presented as part of ’s Science in the Cinema YYC series.

Discussion with the researchers and filmmaker will follow the screening!

Read more and register at the link below 👇

Send a message to learn more

11/21/2025

The Diabetes Mobile Clinic, led by endocrinologist Dr. David Campbell, MD’12, PhD’17, brings specialized care to Calgary’s most vulnerable people.

Powered by a partnership between and The Alex Community Health Centre, the program launched just over a year ago provides on-site testing, treatment and education directly to people experiencing homelessness, and to those with low income.

A recent gift from the Alberta Diabetes Foundation will help the purpose-built “clinic on wheels,” which is fully equipped with two consultation rooms and an intake area, continue to support those in need.

Dr. Campbell, an internal medicine specialist and associate professor at the Cu***ng School of Medicine, says the ability to provide mobile diabetes care allows his team to take care of people who face barriers to care in traditional hospital-based clinics.

👇 Read more or listen as Dr. Campbell takes the CBC’s Brian Goldman on a tour of the retrofitted community health bus: https://bit.ly/3LUe8vp

O'Brien Institute for Public Health | Libin Cardiovascular Institute | University of Calgary Alumni

Diabetes can be a difficult disease to manage. And for those who are homeless or lower-income, it's even harder. Enter the diabetes mobile clinic in Calgary, where endocrinologist Dr. David Campbell and a team of health care and community program workers use a bus to take diabetes care where it's ne...

11/20/2025

Are you familiar with radon and the health risks associated with exposure to the radioactive gas?

The Evict Radon National Study at combines citizen science and leading cancer research to reduce radon exposure and ultimately prevent future cases of radon-induced lung cancer.

The Evict Radon research team is currently gathering data and analyzing evidence to advance their understanding of radon exposure in Canada.

Led by scientific director Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, PhD’05, the “Toenail Study” is a unique opportunity to help Canadian researchers develop new ways of measuring a person’s long-term exposure to radon—the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

➡ Researchers are currently recruiting 10,000 Canadians to test their homes for radon and submit toenail samples. Turns out, your toenails hold a wealth of information about your exposure to toxins.

👇🏼 WATCH below & learn more: https://bit.ly/4o8eiN8

Charbonneau Cancer Institute | University of Calgary Faculty of Science | Canadian Cancer Society | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health Research

11/20/2025

🎉 Congrats to the Calgary Stroke Program team! They have won the 2025 ASTech Researcher of the Year Award!

Research led by the Calgary Stroke Program has transformed stroke treatment globally and improved the lives of countless patients.

Their ESCAPE study showed how endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) could drastically reduce stroke-related disability and death.

Successful trials have helped determine international guidelines for stroke care and established Calgary as a leader in the field.

👏🏼 Bravo to the many members of the Calgary Stroke Team!

Read more: https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/departments/dcns/programs/the-calgary-stroke-program

Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI | Libin Cardiovascular Institute | O'Brien Institute for Public Health | Heart & Stroke | Alberta Health Services

11/18/2025

Congrats to Meaghan Nolan, an Avenue Magazine Top 40 Under 40 Awardee and alumna!

⭐ Meaghan Nolan, BHSc’07, MSc'11, health-tech entrepreneur, co-founder and COO of Mikata Health

Meaghan oversees operations and product development for Mikata Health, a health-care technology company designed with firsthand insight from health-care professionals.

A comprehensive digital platform launched in 2018, Mikata automates and streamlines administrative tasks and includes a flagship AI tool that integrates with software and systems health-care professionals already use.

The handy tool called Mika AI Scribe can transcribe doctor-patient conversations and automatically draft clinical notes. ⚡

Read more about Meaghan’s exciting work: https://bit.ly/49saGBU

University of Calgary - Bachelor of Health Sciences | University of Calgary Alumni | University of Calgary Faculty of Science | Avenue Magazine — Calgary

Portrait credit: Jared Sych, Avenue Magazine

11/14/2025

Dr. Lisa Welikovitch, MD, FRCPC, has been selected as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women of 2025: Top 100! ⚡

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Welikovitch, the senior associate dean of Education at the Cu***ng School of Medicine (CSM) and professor of Cardiac Sciences.

Dr. Welikovitch has dedicated her career to advancing medical education. She served as program director of the cardiology residency training program for 10 years and currently leads the team responsible for all aspects of health professions education at the CSM.

A former associate dean of Postgraduate Medical Education, Dr. Welikovitch has received several teaching awards including the Canadian Association of Medical Education Award of Merit. She is also a cardiologist based at Calgary’s Foothills Medical Center.

Presented by the Women's Executive Network (WXN), the Top 100 Women awards honour extraordinary achievement and courageous leadership.

Congratulations to Dr. Welikovitch! 👏🏼

Libin Cardiovascular Institute | University of Calgary

11/14/2025

Applauding Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 Awardees from (pictured clockwise from left) who are driving health discovery and innovation at early stages in their careers!

⭐ Dr. Ana Nikolic, MD, PhD, neuropathologist
⭐ Dr. Leah Mayo, PhD, Parker Research Chair in Psychedelics
⭐ Dr. Serena Orr, MD, pediatric neurologist
⭐ Dr. Joe Kendal, MD, orthopedic oncology surgeon
⭐ Dr. David Langelier, MD, medical lead, Alberta Cancer Physiatry
⭐ Dr. Adam Muzychuk, ophthalmologist
⭐ Dr. Sayeh Bayat, PhD, director, Healthy City Lab

🔗 Read more about their ambitious work: https://www.avenuecalgary.com/top-40-under-40/2025-class/

Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI | O'Brien Institute for Public Health | Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute | McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health | Charbonneau Cancer Institute | UCalgary Arts | Schulich School of Engineering

Portrait credits: Jared Sych, Avenue Magazine

11/12/2025

🥳 Congratulations to Vanier Graduate Scholarship winners of 2025 Araz Minhas, Jessica Scheufen and Zainab Khan!

Forging new paths in neuroscience, their research conducted at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute is investigating pediatric intensive care, stress-related neurobiology and anesthetic neurotoxicity.

The Vanier Scholarships are one of Canada’s most prestigious graduate awards, recognizing doctoral students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership.

👇 Read more about the recipients in the story linked below.

At the University of Calgary's Cu***ng School of Medicine, three PhD students are turning neuroscience into impact.

University of Calgary's 2025 Vanier Scholars, Araz Minhas, Jessica Scheufen and Zainab Khan, are each advancing brain health in unique ways.

Minhas is developing AI tools to help critically ill children communicate. Scheufen is exploring how the brain’s endocannabinoid system influences stress. Khan is studying how anesthetics affect brain function and safety.

Their research embodies the leadership, collaboration and innovation that define the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

Read the full UToday article: https://bit.ly/47H0yTd

11/06/2025

Dr. Oluwatomilayo (Tito) Daodu, MD, MPH, FRCSC, has been selected as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women of 2025: Top 100! ⚡

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Daodu, the assistant dean of Research & Scholarship with the Precision Equity & Social Justice Office, and an assistant professor of Surgery and Community Health Sciences at the Cu***ng School of Medicine (CSM).

Dr. Daodu, who is also a pediatric surgeon at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, is committed to eliminating systemic barriers in surgical care for equity-deserving populations, and nationally recognized as a leader in research, education and advocacy.

She says she is honoured to be included among the women selected for this award:

“I’m so grateful for this recognition, as it really reflects the dedication and collaboration of so many amazing people I get to work with at CSM and beyond. The fact that I get to do the work I do is a testament to the support I have received from so many.”

Presented by the Women's Executive Network (WXN), the Top 100 Women awards honour extraordinary achievement and courageous leadership.

👏🏽 Congratulations to Dr. Tito Daodu.

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute | O'Brien Institute for Public Health | University of Calgary

11/04/2025

“It's been the journey of a lifetime.”

Leading spinal cord injury researcher, Dr. Aaron Phillips, PhD, has watched a research notion grow from concept to life-changing reality.

His research, focused on tapping into the nervous system to solve cardiovascular health problems, includes a new technology to help restore blood pressure balance for people with spinal cord injury, like Cody Krebs.

🔗 Dr. Phillips describes the rewarding trek from idea to implementation that started at : https://bit.ly/3Js59AP

👇🏼 WATCH below.

Libin Cardiovascular Institute | Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI | McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health |

10/31/2025

Dr. Pamela Roach, PhD, a renowned leader in dementia and Indigenous health research, received a 2025 Killam Emerging Research Leader Award last week! 👏🏼

As the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health Systems Safety, Dr. Roach leads the program that integrates anti-racism and decolonial frameworks to improve brain health services for Indigenous communities.

Research director of Indigenous Engagement in the Office of the Vice-President (Research) at UCalgary, Dr. Roach also holds dual leadership roles at the O'Brien Institute for Public Health as deputy director and associate scientific director.

Applause and thanks to Dr. Roach!

👉🏼 Read more about her work: https://bit.ly/4oM6hhC

Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI | Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute | UCalgary Indigenous Health Program