I N T H E FA C U LT Y O F M E D I C I N E & D E N T I S T R Y U N I V E R S I T Y O F A L B E R TA ISSUE NO. 2
2018
B IG DATA, B IG OPPORTU NITIES How UAlberta health scientists are fulfilling the promise of big data to revolutionize everything from prevention to diagnosis to treatment
TOP NEWSMAKERS
PORTRAITS OF DIABETES
MOMENTUM DRIVERS OF THE YEAR
Propelling health research and education in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry University of Alberta
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents 2 Dean’s message
FEATURES
3 Top news POPUL AR HEADLINES
Big data opens door to big possibilities in health care
6 Education SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY UNDERGRADUATE UPDATES
9 Global health
For UAlberta scientists Lawrence
11 Research
Richer, Padma Kaul and Rhonda Rosychuk, the future is now.
NEW DIRECTIONS DISCOVERIES: NOTEWORTHY FINDINGS
14 Cover story
27 Innovation 32 Learners as leaders 35 Generosity CL ASS GIVING VISIONARIES
38 Alumni AWARDS TRAILBL AZER
41 Expert commentary 42 Throwback 19 Momentum drivers of 2018
28 Portraits of diabetes
MOMENTUM
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
PORTRAITS OF DIABETES
UAB.CA/MOMENTUM
ROSS NEITZ SHELBY SOKE L AURA VEGA KIRSTEN BAUER, ’05 BA, ’17 MA TARWINDER RAIS CHERYL DESL AURIER LESLEY YOUNG, ’94 BA AMY SAMSON TAYLOR L AMBERT
CREATIVE DIRECTOR MJ FELL
DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING SALENA KITTERINGHAM, ’00 BA NATASIA DESIGNS NATASIA MARTIN, ’13 BDES L AUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY WRITER / COPY EDITOR / PROOFREADER SASHA ROEDER MAH, ’91 BA
PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD SIEMENS THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA RESPECTFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TRADITIONAL L ANDS OF FIRST NATIONS AND MÉTIS PEOPLE.
MOMENTUM DIGITAL / PHOTOGRAPHER MELISSA FABRIZIO, ’15 BA UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
1
DEAN’S MESSAGE
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA’S
It is our mandate to ensure that
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
social accountability, patient-centred
continues to be propelled by
methods and a relentless search
unprecedented momentum, moving
for excellence remain as the pillars
at a strong and swift pace towards
that support every enterprise on
sustaining excellence.
which we embark.
Our faculty is taking a central role in the transformational development of Alberta’s health innovation ecosystem. We are proudly moving into new spaces that foster health entrepreneurship and scientific discovery for life-saving, tangible solutions. Working in tandem with strategic partners in research, education and care, we have advanced great lengths to serve communities with a higher understanding of their needs and precision approaches to diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
“Our research institutes stand out as invaluable cores of interdisciplinary work, bringing in fresh faces and talented minds ready to build on the legacy of the giants that went before us.”
We grow by weaving powerful connections that expand our reach.
This is a wonderful time to be a part
We solidify relationships with our
of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
growing community of alumni—
A promising path awaits as we continue
ambassadors of our values and
to learn, mentor, collaborate and unveil
mission—and with our learners as we
new possibilities thanks to our most
envision the next steps for our faculty.
precious asset—our people.
Our research institutes stand out as invaluable cores of interdisciplinary
I hope you join us in this rewarding
work, bringing in fresh faces and
and fascinating journey.
talented minds ready to build on the legacy of the giants that went before us. We move forward together in collaboration and with curiosity, to redefine the face of Canadian and global health.
2
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
RICHARD N. FEDORAK MD, FRCPC, FRCP (LONDON), FRCP (EDINBURGH), FRSC DEAN, FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
TOP NEWS
‘Poop pills’ as good as colonoscopy to treat C. difficile STOOL CAPSULES COULD BE THE MAGIC PILL FOR TREATMENT OF THE DANGEROUS INFECTION ORIGINAL STORY
PHOTO BY
CBC, NOVEMBER 2017
L AUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
Dina Kao’s study shows capsules were 96-per-cent effective in treating C. difficile.
WHEN IT COMES to treating Clostridium
that while both methods resulted
microbiota transplant,” Kao said,
difficile (C. diff) with a fecal
in a 96-per-cent success rate in
noting that using the capsules instead
microbiota transplant—yes, human
treating C. diff, the capsules have
of colonoscopy could save the health
poop—swallowing a frozen capsule
many advantages: They are non-
system at least $1,000 per patient.
appears to have far less of an “ick
invasive, less expensive and can be
“From a health-care perspective,
factor” and works as well as delivering
administered in a doctor’s office
I think it becomes a no-brainer,”
the therapy via colonoscopy,
without the patient being sedated.
said Kao. “Why would we be delivering
University of Alberta researchers say.
a transplant by any other route?” Kao believes administering fecal
C. diff is a potentially fatal infection of
microbiota transplant using
“FROM A HEALTH-CARE
the gut marked by severe diarrhea and
capsules—a delivery mode in which
abdominal pain. Outbreaks in hospitals
fecal matter from donors is refined,
PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT
and long-term care facilities are
then frozen—could help broaden
notoriously challenging to eradicate.
the use of fecal transplants for
The research was funded by Alberta
treating C. diff.
Health Services and the University
A study led by U of A associate
BECOMES A NO-BRAINER.”
Hospital Foundation and published
professor and gastroenterologist Dina
“This will transform the way people
in the Journal of the American
Kao (’94 BSc, ’99 MD, ’08 MSc) found
think about how we deliver fecal
Medical Association.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
3
TOP NEWS
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Docs should think twice before prescribing marijuana ORIGINAL STORY
CTV NEWS, FEBRUARY 2018
A NEW MEDICAL guideline published
caught up,” said project leader Mike
in the medical journal Canadian Family
Allan, director of evidence-based
Physician says there is limited evidence
medicine in the U of A’s Department
to support the reported benefits of
of Family Medicine.
medical marijuana for many conditions.
Most home bloodpressure monitor readings are inaccurate
It adds that any benefit could be
The guideline was created by a
balanced or even outweighed by the
committee of 10 doctors, allied health
potential harm.
professionals and a patient, after U of A researchers performed an in-
“While enthusiasm for medical
depth review of clinical trials. It was peer
marijuana is very strong among some
reviewed by 40 others, including doctors,
people, good quality research has not
pharmacists, nurses and patients.
ORIGINAL STORY
IN A STUDY published in the American
Journal of Hypertension, researchers from the U of A have found that
Meet the newsmakers
up to 70 per cent of readings from home blood-pressure monitors are “unacceptably inaccurate.” Funded by the University Hospital Foundation, Jennifer Ringrose (’98 MSc), co-author Rajdeep Padwal and their team tested dozens of in-home blood-pressure monitors. “High blood pressure is the Number 1 cause of death and disability in the world,” said Ringrose. “We need to make sure that home blood-pressure
JENNIFER RINGROSE ’98 MSc – Women and Children’s Health Research Institute RAJDEEP PADWAL Mazankowski Heart Institute, Department of Medicine Division of General Internal Medicine
MIKE ALLAN Director – PEER (Patients, Experience, Evidence, Research) Director – Evidence Based Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
readings are accurate.” 4
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
PETER LIGHT Dr. Charles A. Allard Chair – Diabetes Research Director – Alberta Diabetes Institute, Department of Pharmacology
ANITA KOZYRSKYJ Professor – Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Respirology, Pulmonary and Asthma
ARTWORK BY: NATASIA DESIGNS EDITED BY SASHA ROEDER MAH
CTV NEWS, FEBRUARY 2018
ISSUE NO. 2
TOP NEWS
2018
Whoa! Sunlight could actually shrink your fat cells ORIGINAL STORY
READER’S DIGEST, JANUARY 2018
WINTER ALWAYS SEEMS to bring on
get any light. What’s more, the lipid
weight gain, even if we resist Christmas
droplets in the light-treated cells
baking and stick to our workout
were also smaller than the ones in
routines. A study in Scientific Reports,
the placebo group.
led by U of A pharmacology professor and director of the Alberta Diabetes
While more studies are needed and
Institute Peter Light, may show why.
the researchers haven’t pinned down why light affects fat storage, the study
Funding partners Canadian Institutes for Health Research University Hospital Foundation
Light and his team put some fat cells
authors believe blue light might tell
under lamps giving off blue light
your body how to store fat. During the
(the shortest visible light to come
winter, when daylight is short, your
from the sun) for four hours and
body is programmed to store fat;
Alberta Diabetes Foundation
kept other samples in the dark.
with more sunlight in the summer,
American Diabetes Association
After two weeks, the fat-cell groups
your body burns it off again.
showed remarkable differences.
Alberta Innovates Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund Firefighters Burn Trust Fund
The researchers hope the findings could The blue light-treated fat cells had
lead to weight-loss innovations, but
fewer lipid droplets—organelles that
warn not to try shedding pounds just by
store fat—than the cells that didn’t
spending extra time in the sun.
Dr. Rod Eidem Diabetes Research Fund Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
C-section in overweight moms increases risk of obesity in kids through changes in babies’ gut bacteria ORIGINAL STORY
OVERWEIGHT MOTHERS ARE more likely
different gut bacteria from those in
NEW YORK TIMES, FEBRUARY 2018
to have overweight babies and the gut
babies born to normal-weight women
bacteria the babies inherit may in part be
and are more than five times as likely to
to blame, according to a study led by U of
be overweight.
A professor of pediatrics Anita Kozyrskyj. There is no single probiotic that can Published in JAMA Pediatrics and
undo changes in gut bacteria of infants
funded by AllerGen, Alberta Innovates
after a C-section, says Kozyrskyj, and
and the Canadian Institutes of Health
“if a C-section is unavoidable, there
Research, the study reports that
is no easy answer.” But typically,
overweight mothers are more likely to
she adds, “breastfeeding is effective
have a caesarean section. Babies born
in helping to prevent infants from
by C-section to those mothers have
becoming overweight.”
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
5
PORTRAITS EDUCATION OF DIABETES
MD students Alexander Wong (left) and Emily Fong (right) are helping post-secondary students Taelina Andreychuk (centre) and Ryan Scheltus (not pictured) prepare for the Medical College Admission Test.
AUTHOR
SHELBY SOKE
PHOTO BY
L AUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
Free student-led MCAT course supports aspiring MDs UALBERTA MEDICAL STUDENTS LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS BY REDUCING OBSTACLES IN THE MEDICAL-SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS THE MD ADMISSIONS Initiative for
favoured those coming from higher
Indigenous descent. Early feedback
Diversity & Equity (MD AIDE) will
socioeconomic backgrounds,” said
from Indigenous participants suggests
make it easier for post-secondary
Emily Fong, another MD student
that the small class size, one-on-one
students from low-income and
and co-lead of MD AIDE.
engagement and feedback between
Indigenous backgrounds to prepare for
students and MD AIDE leads—together
the infamously difficult Medical College
Wong and Fong created the initiative
with class time that works with their
Admission Test (MCAT).
to help make medical education more
schedules—have made this experience
socially accountable and produce future
meaningful for them. Many participants
“Registering for the MCAT exam itself
physicians who will best serve the
said they planned to take the MCAT in
costs a few hundred dollars, and that
needs of the population.
late summer 2018.
purchasing online practice questions
“We talk about providing culturally
The MD AIDE program is medical
or enrolling in tutoring, which can cost
safe care, especially with Indigenous
student-run in partnership with the
thousands of dollars,” said Alexander
communities, and one of the best
U of A’s Undergraduate Medical
Wong, an MD student and co-lead of
ways we can do this is to have care
Education Office, the Office of Equity,
the initiative.
providers that come from Indigenous
Diversity and Inclusion and the
backgrounds,” said Wong.
Indigenous Health Initiatives Office
doesn’t include the cost of books,
“One of the most concerning issues
within the Division of Community
with regard to medical education is
MD AIDE was offered for the first time
Engagement, and in collaboration with
when only those who can afford it
from May to July 2018, with more than
Communities United, an initiative
can access it. Our system has always
30 per cent of the inaugural class of
under EndPoverty Edmonton.
6
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
ISSUE NO. 2
EDUCATION
2018
Hearing Indigenous communities, walking together INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND UALBERTA HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BEGIN DIALOGUE TOWARDS A SHARED VISION OF INDIGENOUS HEALTH Top (from left) Tibetha Kemble, Elder AUTHOR
PHOTO BY
Marilyn Buffalo, Jill Konkin and Barry Lavalle
L AURA VEGA
MELISSA FABRIZIO
Bottom left: Elder Rick Lightning Bottom right: Tibetha Kemble
IN FEBRUARY 2018, First Nation Elders,
community members and UAlberta health professionals came together to initiate a dialogue towards a shared vision for the future of Indigenous health. “An important aspect of the gathering was having a high proportion of community partners guide and shape our shared future direction,” said Tibetha Kemble, director of Indigenous Health in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry’s Division of Community Engagement.“It’s working with Indigenous communities to determine where we’re going to go together,” added Jill Konkin, associate dean, Division of Community Engagement. A federal report released in 2018 indicates that despite new funding to support improved health outcomes, Indigenous peoples now have a 15-yearshorter life expectancy than nonIndigenous peoples—nearly two times the gap reported 20 years ago. For Elder Rick Lightning, from Maskwacîs, it was important for non-Indigenous people to learn about the misconceptions of how communities are funded to address their health problems. “We’re given $50,000 to work with suicide. It costs $10,000 to bury one child. We’re already looking at 14 people who committed suicide since December 2017 and we’re supposed to try to fight the suicide epidemic in our communities,” said Lightning. He praised Indigenous university students as survivors beating the odds of suicide, alcoholism and more. “Like when turtles are born and race to the ocean with predators around, those students are like the few turtles that made it through.”
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
7
EDUCATION
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Undergraduate updates
Radiation Therapy
Medical Laboratory Sciences
PROGRAM MILESTONE
Dental Hygiene PROGRAM MILESTONE
ELEVEN STUDENTS GRADUATED in
PROGRAM MILESTONE
THE DENTAL HYGIENE degree-
June 2018 with a 100-per-cent pass
THE PROGRAM WAS first
only program’s first cohort of
rate for the Canadian Association
established in 1958, making 2018
students have completed their
of Medical Radiation Technologists
its diamond anniversary.
first year.
UPDATES
UPDATES
A stakeholder-driven curriculum
Dental hygiene students
certification examination.
UPDATES
redesign, to be implemented
are delving deeper into the
For the first time, senior-
in 2020, has focused on the
determinants of health from a
year students are actively
essential employability skills and
broad range of personal, social,
participating on the clinical floor
professionalism required for the
economic and environmental
at Tom Baker Cancer Centre in
next generation of technologists.
factors that determine individual
Calgary. Thank you to the clinical
The senior year of the degree
and population health.
staff at Tom Baker for being so
will contribute to the precision
welcoming and supportive of
health movement by integrating
An online module enhances
our students.
research, management and
students’ understanding of
emerging technologies.
Indigenous peoples and includes
The Radiation Therapy Student
8
a variety of active learning
Association continues to grow
Student leaders have initiated
strategies, from small-group
in its capacity, offering valuable
a series of Student Wellness
discussions and narrated
Lunch ‘n Learn sessions where
Nights, with learners from
presentations, readings, podcasts
students can work on developing
all years of the MLS program
and videos, to reflective learning
their professional identities.
invited to take part in a range
whereby the students describe
of activities such as paint night,
their feelings about the content
The program recently recruited
financial wellness talks, a session
presented. Topics include
internationally acclaimed
on nutrition and a puppy playdate
treaties, colonization, residential
radiation therapy faculty
organized in collaboration with
schools, Indian hospitals, oral
member, Amanda Bolderston.
Sundance Animal Rescue.
health and health disparities.
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
PHOTOS BY: L AUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY, MELISSA FABRIZIO
national competency-based
ISSUE NO. 2
GLOBAL HEALTH
2018
Could there be a ‘social vaccine’ for malaria? UALBERTA RESEARCHERS FOUND THE HIGHER A MOTHER’S EDUCATION LEVEL, THE LOWER THE CHANCE OF HER CHILD BEING INFECTED WITH MALARIA AUTHOR
PHOTO BY
A U of A study led by Michael Hawkes, Women
ROSS NEITZ
MELISSA FABRIZIO
and Children’s Health Research Institute member, reveals the deep impact of maternal education on childhood malaria.
Pediatric diagnostic tool wins Grand Challenges Canada competition A NEW DEVICE developed by
Israel Amirav and Michael Hawkes of the Department of Pediatrics won $100,000 from Grand Challenges Canada for its potential to save the lives of children in the developing world. Called a multimometer, the simple-to-use pointof-care device is used like an oral thermometer but simultaneously measures a child’s key vital signs— respiratory rate, temperature, oxygen saturation and heart rate—making pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions more accurately
“MATERNAL EDUCATION HAS as
Hawkes says it doesn’t take a lot of
and efficiently identifiable.
profound an effect on childhood
education to teach a mom how to take
malaria as hundreds of millions of dollars
simple precautions such as using a bed
It was one of only 20 ideas
spent on the leading biomedical vaccine,”
net and seeking care when a child has
from across Canada that won
said Michael Hawkes, assistant professor
a fever. While maternal education isn’t
Grand Challenges prizes,
in the Department of Pediatrics,
a magic bullet by itself, he says it is
awarded by Global Affairs
who worked with a UAlberta team of
part of the solution, which will include
Canada and other partners.
researchers and the Democratic Republic
increased efforts by policymakers to
of Congo (DRC) to examine the issue.
educate girls and women in malaria hotspots around the world.
The World Health Organization is currently rolling out in countries across
This study was published in the journal
Africa a new vaccine that has an efficacy
Pathogens and Global Health and funded
of about 30 per cent, but children
through the Association for Health
whose mothers are educated beyond
Innovation in Africa and the Stollery
the primary level have a 53-per-cent
Children’s Hospital Foundation,
reduction in their malaria rates.
through the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute. UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
9
GLOBAL HEALTH
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Climbing the ranks 1
2
U OF A IS RANKED AS THE
40
th
MOST INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD FOR 2018
U OF A IS RATED IN THE WORLD IN TRANSPLANTATION
6th
UAlberta brings new cardiology techniques to China AUTHOR
L AURA VEGA
IN NOVEMBER 2017, the Fourth
“It is fast, cheap, widely available,
Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang
portable and non-invasive, with no
University Medical School
radiation or risk of kidney damage
performed its first contrast stress
from dye,” said Choy, who has been
echocardiograms in Zhejiang, with the
performing stress echocardiography
guidance of the U of A’s Jonathan Choy
in Canada for 10 years.
(’92 MD), cardiologist and associate 3 THE U OF A’S FACULTY OF
MEDICINE & DENTISTRY IS
dean, clinical faculty.
In addition to making an impact on heart-disease diagnostics in
While ultrasound contrast is
China, U of A faculty, clinicians and
commonly used in China to monitor
administrative leaders are shaping
or diagnose liver tumours, Choy says
leading health centres in the areas of
stress echocardiograms had not been
surgery, psychiatry, neurology, family
previously performed in Zhejiang
medicine and more through sustained
1. Times Higher Education
due to lack of expertise. Now the
partnership programs with several
2. Center for World University Rankings
procedure could vastly improve
medical education institutions in East
diagnostic opportunities and health
Africa, South America, the Caribbean,
outcomes for patients there.
Nepal and Australia, among others.
RANKED AMONG THE TOP
100
MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD
3. Times Higher Education, QS World University Rankings
STOP Glaucoma program empowers African communities AUTHOR
SHELBY SOKE
GLAUCOMA, A TREATABLE but
Alexandra Hospital Foundation that
irreversible disease, is stealing vision
the first fellows were funded a decade
at high rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
ago. A Grand Challenges Canada grant
Karim Damji, the Royal Alexandra
also enabled the team to pilot a tele-
Hospital Foundation Research Chair in
glaucoma model to improve detection
Ophthalmology, recognized something
in Ethiopia and Kenya.
had to be done and created a program
STOP Glaucoma program partners EDMONTON Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation Alberta Health Services
to train the first generation of glaucoma
“I was in Ethiopia recently and after 10
subspecialists in sub-Saharan Africa.
years of investment there, my mentees
ETHIOPIA Addis Ababa University
STOP Glaucoma training takes about
have now become my mentors,” said
Jimma University
18 months for fellows to complete, with
Damji, chief of ophthalmology at the
rotations in Edmonton and the fellows’
Eye Institute of Alberta and chair of the
Gondar University in Ethiopia
home country. It was through the Royal
Department of Ophthalmology.
10
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
KENYA Aga Khan University University of Nairobi TANZANIA Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
RESEARCH ISSUE NO. 2
NEW DIRECTIONS
2018
$5-million gift positions UAlberta as leader in child and adolescent mental health research CASA-FUNDED RESEARCH CHAIR IN DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AIMS TO IMPROVE FRONT-LINE STRATEGIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS ISSUES AUTHOR
PHOTOS BY
ROSS NEITZ
HABIT MARKETING AGENCY
CASA, A CHILD, adolescent and family mental-health
organization, has committed $5 million over the next 10 years for the University of Alberta’s Department of
At top: CASA and the U of A's Department of
Psychiatry to develop the CASA Research Chair in Child
Psychiatry announced the creation of the CASA
and Adolescent Mental Health.
Research Chair in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
The new chair will help drive community-focused research
At bottom: Xin-Min Li, Department of Psychiatry chair
and apply evidence-based findings to front-line care with an aim of improving the lives of children, youth and families with mental-health and addictions issues. A key aim will be to
“We need to support children and their families in their
collaborate with children, youth and their parents to gain new
earlier years through their challenges and struggles so they
insights and solutions.
can have healthy and productive lives,” said Milne.
“There are all kinds of gaps in the area of youth mental health,” said Denise Milne, CEO of CASA and CASA Foundation. “We see a variety of children struggling with mental-health challenges ranging from eating and sleeping disorders, to attention deficit disorder, to depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation and
“We need to support children and their families in their earlier years... so they can have healthy and productive lives.”
serious attempts.” “I’m very excited about this gift. It will be transformative,” According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada,
said Xin-Min Li, chair of the U of A’s Department of
an estimated 1.2 million children and youth in Canada are
Psychiatry. “Together with CASA, we’ll establish a leading
affected by mental illness, yet less than 20 per cent will
education, training and research centre in Canada for youth
receive appropriate treatment.
mental health.” UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
11
RESEARCH PORTRAITS OF DIABETES DISCOVERIES
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
UAlberta medical team engineers cartilage for nose reconstructions
Experimental therapy could boost stroke recovery
AUTHOR AUTHOR
ROSS NEITZ
ROSS NEITZ
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS OF surgery
Khalid Ansari, Martin Osswald and
LEAD AUTHOR ANNA Wiersma
Adetola Adesida used a clinically
of the Neuroscience and
approved collagen biomaterial as a
Mental Health Institute
scaffold to grow new cartilage for
and associate professor of
patients who need nasal reconstruction
psychiatry Ian Winship injected
after skin cancer.
chondroitinase ABC into the spinal cords of rats after they
The researchers hope to begin clinical
suffered stroke and found they
trials in the near future to prove the
Surgery professor
could enhance recovery by
efficacy of the cartilage in the operating
Adetola Adesida and
inducing amplified rewiring of
his team engineered
room. Engineered cartilage—superior
cartilage that can
in many ways to that harvested at sites such as a patient’s ribs or ear—could
circuits connecting the brain
be used for nasal
to the spinal cord. When they
reconstruction.
combined this spinal therapy
potentially supply unlimited quantities
with rehabilitative training,
for surgeons and result in custom-made
on a patient’s nose. This research was
reconstructions for patients. In 2015,
funded by Alberta Cancer Foundation,
recovery was further amplified.
there were more than three million
Mickleborough Interfacial Bioscience
“This approach is still a long
cases of skin cancer in North America
Research Program and the Canadian
way from the clinic,” stressed
alone and about one-third of cases occur
Institutes of Health Research.
Winship, “but this gives us real evidence that there are things we
Biomarker discovery could herald more effective cancer treatments
can do for people with permanent disability after stroke.” This research was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Alberta Innovates.
AUTHOR
A UALBERTA RESEARCH project found
Ali led the collaboration between
the protein RYBP prevents DNA repair
Michael Hendzel’s lab from the
in cancer cells—including breast
departments of oncology and cell
cancer— and could make chemo or
biology and Leo Spyracopoulos’ lab
radiation therapy more effective.
from the Department of Biochemistry; both are members of the Cancer
“Cancer cells that resist therapy are
Research Institute of Northern Alberta.
able to repair themselves despite the
This research was funded by the Alberta
DNA damage. By preventing them from
Cancer Foundation, Alberta Innovates,
repairing, we could more effectively
the Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy
treat cancer,” explained post-doctoral
Fund and the Canadian Institutes of
fellow Mohammad Ali.
Health Research.
12
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
Anna Wiersma and Ian Winship found that combining spinal injection with rehabilitation therapy could help people recovering from a stroke.
PHOTOS BY: MELISSA FABRIZIO
SHELBY SOKE
ISSUE NO. 2
PORTRAITS RESEARCH OFDISCOVERIES DIABETES
2018
Surprise finding could lead to new MS research
Biochemistry professor David Brindley (centre) with two members of his team, Xiaoyun Tang (left) and Guanmin Meng
AUTHOR
ROSS NEITZ
Blocking cancer cells’ escape route from radiotherapy
WHILE EXAMINING HUMAN brain
disease. Symptoms vary widely but
tissues, researchers from the
often include cognitive impairment,
University of Alberta and McGill
dizziness, tremors and fatigue,
University unexpectedly found that
caused by T-cells that, after becoming
the tissues from people who had MS—
activated, find their way into the
AUTHOR
compared with those without MS—
brain and attack the protective myelin
ROSS NEITZ
contained an extremely high level
covering of neurons in the brain and
of a protein named calnexin.
spinal cord, causing inflammation and
SCIENTISTS AT THE Cancer
damage to the central nervous system.
Research Institute of Northern
The researchers then tested the
Alberta discovered that
susceptibility of mice lacking calnexin
“It turns out that calnexin is somehow
irradiating breast fat produces
to the mouse model of human
involved in controlling the function of
an inflammatory response that
MS (experimental autoimmune
the blood-brain barrier,” said Marek
counteracts the effectiveness
encephalomyelitis) and were
Michalak, a distinguished professor
of radiotherapy.
astonished to find that the mice lacking
of biochemistry at the U of A. “When
the protein were completely resistant
there is too much calnexin, this wall
“After removal of breast
to the disease.
gives angry T-cells access to the brain,
tumours (lumpectomy), the
where they destroy myelin.”
breast is exposed to 16 daily
Canada has one of the highest rates
doses of radiotherapy. Each
of MS in the world, with an estimated
The study was funded by the Canadian
dose stimulates breast fat to
one in 340 Canadians living with the
Institutes of Health Research.
release autotaxin, an enzyme that initiates wound-healing,”
Marek Michalak led the team that discovered high levels of calnexin in brain
said David Brindley, professor
tissue from people with MS.
of biochemistry. “This response protects residual cancer cells from being killed and leads to scarring (fibrosis) in the breast.” Funded by Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute and Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Brindley’s team is now seeking to counteract these adverse effects. They are working with an experimental autotaxin inhibitor with the hope that it can improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy and decrease the adverse effects of scarring.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
13
PORTRAITS OF DIABETES COVER STORY
14
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
ISSUE NO. 2
COVER STORY
2018
Health care is on the cusp of a revolution thanks to advances in technology that can analyze huge volumes of complex data.
Lawrence Richer, associate dean of clinical research at the University
AUTHOR
PHOTOS BY
ROSS NEITZ
L AUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
THE AVERAGE CANADIAN lives in a world
winning formula that helps tech giants
filled with digital connections. Activity
such as Amazon and Google quickly
trackers monitor our steps and heart
gain insights into their customers.
of Alberta’s Faculty of
rate. Smartphones track our browsing
Medicine & Dentistry
history to bring us personalized ads
Now health innovators are taking
from retailers. Even home appliances
the lessons learned in commerce
are going “smart,” with many
and applying them to health care.
transferring information online. “There is a complete revolution in Information is the new currency. Huge
health care on the way, and I don’t
volumes of complex data—often called
think many would disagree with that,”
big data—are collected by companies
said Lawrence Richer, associate
and governments for a better
dean of clinical research at the
understanding of the needs and wants
University of Alberta’s Faculty
of the people they serve. It has been a
of Medicine & Dentistry.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
15
COVER STORY
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Richer is one of several researchers at
Rosychuk is a statistician whose
is in the early stages of a project
the U of A dipping their toes into the
research focuses on using
using big data to examine whether
deep waters of big data, seeking new
administrative health-data sets to
there are predictive signals that
solutions to difficult problems. His
look at emergency department visits
indicate risk of adverse perinatal
work uses data to look for signals that
in Alberta. She currently analyzes
or neonatal outcomes.
would help emergency departments
hundreds of thousands of records, but
predict cases of stroke in children.
hopes to link them to documentation of
According to Kaul, researchers in
patient hospitalizations and physician
Alberta are in a unique position
claims, which would grow the scope of
nationally and even globally to benefit
her work to millions of records.
from big data. With a single payer
“I was able to accurately predict those who presented with a headache and weak arm who were most likely to have something like a stroke.”
(public health care) and a single care She’s hopeful the additional
provider (Alberta Health Services),
information will bring important
the province’s health-care system
insights into how to direct patients
allows researchers to link data—
to the most appropriate health-
records of hospitalizations, outpatient
care service, but admits there is
clinic visits, physician visits, drug
no certainty about how useful
prescriptions—in a way that no other
big data will be.
province can.
“I was able to accurately predict those
“It has untapped potential as a driver
“My study is looking at records from
who presented with a headache and
of change in health, but I think that
2005 to 2015. During that time,
weak arm who were most likely to have
potential has not been realized yet,”
300,000 women gave birth to about
something like a stroke,” he said. “(Big
said Rosychuk.
500,000 babies,” said Kaul. “By the time you add up all the lab tests and their
data) won’t replace care providers or physicians, but it certainly can augment our ability to make better choices,
THE FUTURE IS NOW
pharmaceutical data, we’re looking at about 70 million records. And then
provide better care and stop doing
No one quite knows what will come of
another 70 million records from when
things that aren’t of value.”
the use of big data in health care, but
they saw their physicians. So you put
the promise is tantalizing.
all that data together and that’s like—
WHAT IS BIG DATA? Big data is information that is huge and complex. It is messy. It is constant. Thanks to technological advances, corporations have made huge strides in their ability to quickly use that information, but its application in health care is still in its infancy.
boom! That’s big data!”
“It has untapped potential as a driver of change in health, but I think that potential has not been realized yet.”
Analyzing this data through traditional methods would pose a major challenge. But with the aid of machine learning, individual pieces of data can be scrutinized and classified at a level of detail not possible by humans. Soon, health researchers in Alberta
Those who are working in the field see
“Will it open up stuff that we haven’t
will have access to more information
change coming very quickly.
realized before? I don’t know. Ask me
than ever before, when the province
in a year’s time. Or even ask me in
implements a clinical information
“Big data has been on the horizon for
three months’ time,” said Padma Kaul,
system called Connect Care. This
quite a while, at least 15 years. But
a professor of medicine with the U of
electronic tool will provide one central
I think it’s gained more popularity
A’s Division of Cardiology.
access point to patient information.
Rosychuk, a professor with the U of A’s
Kaul, an epidemiologist who does
“That will be unprecedented, really,
Department of Pediatrics.
population-based health research,
in most of the world to have that kind
in the last five years,” said Rhonda
16
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
ISSUE NO. 2
COVER STORY
2018
of data available at the population
much for somebody with access to all
“What if you had a sexually transmitted
level,” said Richer. He warns,
of this data to know quite a bit about
disease? Anything that maybe you want
though, the collection of data
you,” said Rosychuk. “I don’t think
to have more privacy about, if there
comes with risks.
people are aware of how being a small
are a lot of other people who aren’t so
part of data in a bigger picture can
private about it who end up visiting
“If EquiFax can be hacked, so can the
actually (allow someone with access
particular sites, inferences can be
health-care system.”
to) make inferences about you or draw
drawn about you.”
conclusions about you that you maybe
BIG DATA, BIG RISK The amount of information being collected on every person is growing by leaps and bounds. As it does, the sensitivity of that
don’t want.”
Even more concerning is the possibility of patient information being
“If EquiFax can be hacked, so can the health-care system.”
information increases.
misappropriated and misused on a grand scale. “If I break into a doctor’s office, I can get a thousand charts,” said Richer. “If I
As an example, she points to the
break into a data warehouse now, I get
“People may think that as an
practice of visiting a particular website
millions. So that’s the scale difference.
individual, you are not actually
associated with a disease. Rosychuk
That’s our biggest threat: doing this
contributing all that much to this
said there can be a probabilistic
poorly. We could shut the whole thing
bigger data pile. But you may not
argument made that if you go to the
down. One big mess-up and the public
actually have to contribute very
site, you likely have the disease.
could say ‘stop everything.’ And they would be right in saying so.”
WITH RISK COMES REWARD While the potential risks are great, the rewards of big data could be even greater. “If you were to mix health data with education data, how could we better understand the health outcomes of children? If you were to mix health data with justice data, how could we better understand treatments in areas like mental health, for example?” said Richer. “We are at the cusp of that in Alberta and really working hard with engaged stakeholders who hold the data, wanting to see this happen.” To get there, according to Richer, the major barrier that needs to be scaled isn’t computation power or the Rhonda Rosychuk, professor with the U of A’s
availability of data. It’s the availability of
Department of Pediatrics
people who know how to work with it.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
17
COVER STORY
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
“We need to triple the number of people who know how to do this and can do it well.” Rosychuk agrees, but believes progress needs to happen on many fronts. “We need some more automated systems and then we need people who are smart and clever who can figure out alternative ways to identify patterns because they are looking at things in maybe a different way than a computer would.” The ultimate goal is that lessons learned from information analytics will complement decisions made in the clinic.
“…We need people who are smart and clever who can figure out alternative ways to identify patterns because they are looking at things in maybe a different way than a computer would.”
Padma Kaul, professor of medicine with the U of A’s Division of Cardiology
“Precision health is all about big
“It allows the team to assess the
data,” she said. As for Richer, he sees
baby and make care decisions
a future—not far distant—in which
based on those subtle changes that
big data and computer learning save
maybe weren’t apparent just by
lives by alerting health-care providers
watching the screen,” said Richer.
at the point of care to potential issues
“It’s this predictive ability that I
in real time.
think is the real holy grail of using big data. That, to me, is the most
“I think the promise with big data is that
He points to a system that has been
if you have evidence, you can solve any
tested in neonatal intensive care units
problem,” added Rosychuk. “This would
in which computers monitor different
be a way to find evidence cheaper, more
signals to predict which infants have
easily and on a more representative
sepsis before the bedside provider
group of people, as opposed to doing a
realizes there is a concern.
small cohort or case control study that takes a lot of resources.” While the information involved in big data is massive in scope, Kaul sees the impact as personal, affecting individuals by taking into account each one’s unique circumstances. 18
valid application.”
“Bring on the revolution.” There are big dreams for big data
“The promise with big data is that if you have evidence, you can solve any problem.” FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
and the limits are still unknown. As the world continues to digitize and consolidate information, its applications are only going to grow. For health-care researchers at the U of A, a new day is coming. Bring on the revolution.
MOMENTUM DRIVERS
GO TO UAB.CA/DRIVERS TO READ THE FULL PROFILES
A diverse group advancing health sciences From revolutionizing medical science with nanotechnology to spearheading community-engaged research to better address the needs of the communities we serve, from making bionic breakthroughs with artificial intelligence to advocating for graduate student mental health and wellness: here are the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry’s Momentum Drivers of the year. It is a diverse group of disruptors, connectors, healers and inventors, all working to advance health sciences education, research and patient care.
MOMENTUM DRIVERS 3
5
7
4
1
6 2
1
LISA PURDY ’93 BScMLS, ’97 MSc Enhancing and expanding resources and supports for graduate students in the Learner Advocacy and Wellness office
2
MICHELLE GRAHAM Lead author of international study finding aspirin can help prevent heart attacks in non-cardiac surgery patients who previously had a coronary stent
3
ROBERT BURRELL Leading UAlberta team using nanotechnology to develop a handheld device that differentiates between viral and bacterial infections in minutes
4
5
MINN YOON ’98 BSc, ’01 BCom Dentistry professor collaborating with artists and patients to raise awareness of often-hidden experiences of head and neck cancer patients ARYA SHARMA Making headlines worldwide as a medical expert on evidence-based prevention and management of obesity
6
7
JACQUELINE HEBERT Part of international team making bionic breakthroughs to create sense of movement in prostheses VINCENT AGYAPONG Psychiatrist tending to emotional aftermath of Fort McMurray fire. Advocating to expand mental-health services in a city that needs them more than ever
MOMENTUM DRIVERS 11
8
13 9
10 12 14
8
JOHN MACKEY ’90 MD Director of Clinical Research Unit at the Cross Cancer Institute, where UAlberta’s academic physicians are leading pivotal trials to benefit cancer patients worldwide
9
KATHRYN DONG ER physician helping change the culture of acute care to better address substance-use disorders
10
LYNORA SAXINGER UAlberta infectious-disease expert putting the lie to Lyme disease “alternative facts,” addressing vaccination misinformation and reducing unnecessary antibiotic use
11
MICHAEL OVERDUIN Leading international consortia using superconducting magnets at NANUC to find protein signals that mark the difference between cancer and noncancer cells
12
LOUANNE KEENAN ’75 Dip(DentHyg), ’81 BA, ’95 MEd, ’02 PhD UAlberta Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award winner for her commitment to social accountability in communityengaged health-care research
13
PATRICK PILARSKI ’09 PhD University of Alberta researcher revolutionizing AI in medical science. Leader on the DeepMind Alberta team fostering Canadian artificial intelligence excellence
14
VERNA YIU ’84 BMedSc, ’86 MD President and CEO of Alberta Health Services. Harnessing the power of storytelling to transform culture
MOMENTUM DRIVERS
GO TO UAB.CA/DRIVERS TO READ THE FULL PROFILES
Samina Ali
Samina Ali’s research team is investigating how a robot named MEDi can improve a child’s
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, PROFESSOR
experience in the emergency department.
SAMINA ALI IS ON A MISSION
DEPLOYING TOOLS RANGING from
need more accurate and robust
TO FIND THE BEST WAYS TO
distraction by blowing bubbles
data so that they can responsibly
to a new high-tech robot at the
prescribe pain medications
Stollery Children’s Hospital, Ali is
in children.”
TREAT KIDS’ PAIN.
also leading a national NO OUCH clinical research trial that will
The NO OUCH trial is part of the
answer big questions about how to
SPOR–Innovation in Pediatric Clinical
safely treat kids who arrive at the
Trials initiative, funded by the
emergency department with pain
Canadian Institute of Health Research
due to a sprain or broken bone.
and supported by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
“No child should be in pain if they
through the Women and Children’s
don’t have to be,” said Ali. “Doctors
Health Research Institute.
MOMENTUM DRIVERS
Michiko Maruyama
One of Maruyama’s favourite creations is her
CARDIAC SURGERY, RESIDENT | INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, GRADUATE CANDIDATE
enter the field of surgery.
COMBINING HER EDUCATION
FENTANYL-RELATED DEATHS ARE
Association, in conjunction with the
IN SURGERY AND
hardly a game, but Maruyama joined
Canadian Medical Association and with
forces with Cheryl Mack (Pediatrics),
support from the Edmonton Community
Ferrante Gragasin and Vivian Ip
Foundation. Download it for free at
(Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine),
DoctorsAgainstTragedies.com.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, MICHIKO MARUYAMA’S DREAM IS TO BE A CLINICIAN-ARTIST.
painting, Susie the Surgeon—based on Rosie the Riveter—which she created to inspire women to
adapting the biting tone of Cards
“I WOULD HAVE A STUDIO
Against Humanity to create a game
Maruyama also designs toys—such
WHERE I CAN DEVELOP
to inform youth about opioids and
as 3-D models of hearts, a doll that
ultimately save lives.
helps teach children about heart
MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND GAMES.”
defects and origami paper models The Doctors Against Tragedies card
like her sternotomy teddy bear—
game was made possible through
to help young patients prepare for
a grant from the Alberta Medical
cardiac surgery.
MOMENTUM DRIVERS
Vijay Daniels
Vijay Daniels (centre with patient
MEDICINE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL ASSESSMENT, MD PROGRAM
assessment for the MD program.
and students) is director of clinical
FAVOURITE INSTRUCTOR
THE 2018 RECIPIENT of the
skills course, leading to
VIJAY DANIELS FOSTERS
Clinical Teaching Award from the
him receiving the U of A’s
Association of Faculties of Medicine
Rutherford Award for excellence
of Canada, Daniels is the first U
in undergraduate teaching.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AT THE BEDSIDE, WHERE HIS
of A faculty member to receive this national honour, given to one
“It’s about the tactile sensory
FLEXIBLE, HANDS-ON
exemplary teacher chosen from all
experience, like when the learner
APPROACH RESPECTS THE
of Canada’s medical schools.
hears a heart murmur they would not
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF BOTH STUDENTS AND PATIENTS.
have heard without a bit of coaching… A mentor for students, residents and
These micro-epiphanies continue to
faculty, Daniels has spearheaded a
excite me,” said Daniels.
four-year longitudinal physical exam
MOMENTUM DRIVERS
Paul Armstrong has won the Prix Galien Canada
Paul Armstrong
Research Award and been awarded the U of A’s University Cup.
CLINICIAN SCIENTIST | CARDIOLOGIST, MEDICINE | DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
CARDIOLOGY PIONEER PAUL
THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT of the
of the U of A’s Faculty of Medicine
ARMSTRONG WAS NAMED
Canadian Academy of Health
& Dentistry. “He led a major study
Sciences, Armstrong was also
on the use of clot-busting drugs in
recognized for his leadership in
ambulances for early intervention
Canadian health care.
in acute cardiac diseases. This
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA IN 2018 FOR HIS TRANSFORMATIVE RESEARCH IN ACUTE CARDIAC CARE.
was an important step in the “He played a major role in
evolution of treating heart patients
developing the Canadian VIGOUR
and is now being explored for
centre (Virtual Coordinating
stroke patients.”
Centre for Global Collaborative Cardiovascular Research),” said Lorne Tyrrell, a fellow officer of the Order of Canada and former dean
MOMENTUM DRIVERS
GO TO UAB.CA/DRIVERS TO READ THE FULL PROFILES
Haili Wang
Haili Wang and David Chang, CEO of Metabolomics Technologies Inc., are improving cancer detection
’03 MD ’11 MSC | SURGERY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR METABOLOMIC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
and prevention with the commercialization of a
THE SCIENCE WANG PURSUED
METABOLOMICS TECHNOLOGIES
Foundation with the Outstanding
A DECADE AGO AS A U OF A
INC. (MTI)—founded by Wang and
Leadership in Alberta Technology
Richard Fedorak (now dean of the
Award, the team is now examining
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry)—
whether they can develop similar tests
developed a product called PolypDX,
for the early detection of prostate and
a non-invasive, easy-to-collect urine
breast cancer.
GRADUATE STUDENT SET THE STAGE FOR AN INNOVATIVE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AN AWARDWINNING SPINOFF COMPANY
test, to more accurately detect
AND A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR
precancerous polyps.
BUSINESS DEAL.
metabolomic urine test for colorectal cancer.
“Our work is ultimately coming to real use in the world. It’s not just an
With the help of TEC Edmonton, MTI signed a licensing agreement in 2016 with Atlantic Diagnostic Laboratories. Recognized in 2017 by the ASTech
experiment anymore,” said Wang.
INNOVATION
TEC EDMONTON NAMED WORLD’S THIRD-BEST INCUBATOR LINKED TO A UNIVERSITY
UAlberta Health Accelerator revs up in TEC Centre Labs AUTHOR
PHOTO BY
ROSS NEITZ
L AUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
ALBERTA-MADE HEALTH INNOVATIONS
programming for faculty members
now have a new stimulating space
to identify and advance early-stage
in which to seed and grow, thanks to
commercial opportunities, plus a
the opening of the $2.3-million TEC
student stream to train the next
Centre Labs.
generation of entrepreneurs.
Located in downtown Edmonton’s
“I think our researchers and trainees
Entreprise Square, with nearly 8,000
are going to love being downtown
square feet of wet lab and collaboration
in this vibrant collision space to
space for health technology companies
connect with other like-minded
and entrepreneurs, TEC Edmonton’s
people,” said Deborah James,
TEC Centre Labs will be home
executive director of innovation for
to two accelerator programs. The
the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
Merck Invention Accelerator will
“It’s a piece to a bigger picture of
focus on advancing emerging health
instilling a culture of innovation
technologies to save and improve lives
within the faculty.”
globally and the University of Alberta
Deborah James with Chris Lumb, CEO, TEC Edmonton, at the TEC Centre Labs
TEC Centre Labs funding partners TEC Centre Labs were made possible by the Government of Canada’s investment through Western Economic Diversification Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and support from the University of Alberta, Government of Alberta, Edmonton Economic Development and the University Hospital Foundation.
TEC Edmonton, a joint venture of the Edmonton Economic Development
Health Accelerator will be driven by the
“IT’S A PIECE TO A
Corporation and the University of
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
BIGGER PICTURE OF
Alberta, has been named the world’s
The UAlberta Health Accelerator will support and inspire healthsciences innovators with a stream of
INSTILLING A CULTURE OF INNOVATION WITHIN THE FACULTY.” UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
third-best accelerator linked to a university according to UBI Global, a Swedish firm ranking and benchmarking global business incubators. 27
PORTRAITS OF DIABETES
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Richard Siemens and James Shapiro RICHARD SIEMENS (LEFT) Type 1 diabetes, diagnosed 1959. Pancreas and kidney transplant recipient Portraits of Diabetes photographer winning Gold 2018 Circle of Excellence award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education JAMES SHAPIRO (RIGHT) Director, U of A’s Clinical Islet Transplant Program Canada Research Chair in Transplantation Surgery and Regenerative Medicine Diabetes Canada’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Leader of the original Edmonton Protocol team. Now investigating the use of stem cells instead of islet cells during the transplantation procedure
28
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
ISSUE NO. 2
PORTRAITS OF DIABETES
2018
The Alberta Diabetes Institute marked its 10th anniversary by unveiling a series of portraits of people living with diabetes.
SEE THE AWARD-WINNING PHOTOS AT UAB.CA/POD
AUTHORS
PHOTOS BY
MJ FELL AND SALENA KITTERINGHAM
RICHARD SIEMENS
THE POIGNANT BLACK-AND-WHITE
and support from Alberta Diabetes
Portraits of Diabetes by U of A
Foundation, Alberta Diabetes
photographer Richard Siemens now
Institute and Faculty of Medicine
line the halls of the Li Ka Shing Centre
& Dentistry.
for Health Research Innovation.
“INSULIN, PUMPS, PILLS, By putting diverse faces to the disease, Portraits of Diabetes offers a glimpse into the highs and the lows of life with diabetes. With one million Albertans
TRANSPLANTS––THEY’RE ALL AMAZING GIFTS OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY THAT HELP
living with diabetes or prediabetes,
US LIVE, AND HOPEFULLY
the images speak to the importance
BRING US CLOSER TO THE
of ongoing support for diabetes
DISCOVERY OF A CURE.”
research. The photography project was made possible through collaboration UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
—RICHARD SIEMENS
29
PORTRAITS OF DIABETES
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
DECADE OF DIABETES RESEARCH PROGRESS TRACES BACK A CENTURY “There’s always been a rich history
Ray Rajotte, founding director of
of diabetes research in Edmonton
the Alberta Diabetes Institute and
at the University of Alberta, dating
professor emeritus of surgery and
all the way back to the early 1920s
medicine, laid the crucial groundwork
and the work of James Collip, a local
for the Edmonton Protocol, now the
biochemist who purified insulin,” said
gold standard for islet transplantation.
1
ROSE YEUNG Assistant professor, Endocrinology and Metabolism Integrating diabetes care delivery with patient empowerment and education KAILAN SIEGEL Type 1 diabetes, diagnosed 2006
Peter Light, director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute.
Rose Yeung and Kailan Siegel
Today, under one roof, more than 65 principal investigators from diverse
The city’s name was officially put on the
fields study the complexity of diabetes.
world’s diabetes research map in 2000,
While their research projects are
with the development of the Edmonton
diverse, all Alberta Diabetes Institute
Protocol, an internationally recognized
members share the same goal: to
procedure that implants insulin-
improve the lives of people with
producing islet cells into the liver of
diabetes and to find a cure.
2
Peter Light and Siyapreet Brar PETER LIGHT Director, Alberta Diabetes Institute Dr. Charles A. Allard Chair in Diabetes Research Genetically engineering islet cells and immune cells to improve islet transplantation outcomes
a person with Type 1 diabetes, often allowing for insulin independence.
SIYAPREET BRAR Type 1 diabetes, diagnosed 2016
3
Peter Senior and Bob Teskey PETER SENIOR (LEFT) Medical director, Clinical Islet Transplant Program Pursuing novel therapies for preventing kidney-function loss in diabetes patients BOB TESKEY (RIGHT) Type 1 diabetes, diagnosed 1961 One of seven patients in the original Edmonton Protocol clinical trial
Arun Patel and Patrick MacDonald ARUN PATEL Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed 1991 PATRICK MACDONALD Director, Alberta Diabetes Institute’s IsletCore Diabetes Canada’s Young Scientist Award recipient Unravelling the cellular biology that underpins the function of pancreatic islets
30
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
4
Jessica Yue and Kira Heck JESSICA YUE Assistant professor, Physiology Investigating how the brain regulates fat and sugar metabolism KIRA HECK Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed 2014
PORTRAITS OF DIABETES
1
2
3
4
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
31
LEARNERS AS LEADERS
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Meet three learners who are leading lights in their fields
Iain Sander
Mackenzie Coatham
Danielle Clark
UALBERTA’S FIRST PHD IN OB/GYN
HYGIENE AWARD WINNER
at Queen’s University, Sander
RECRUITED THROUGH THE
DANIELLE CLARK, RDH, BSc DH, is
co-designed a device for swimmers
graduate program in Maternal
the first Canadian student to win
with disabilities. But it was
and Child Health (MatCH),
the American Dental Education
coaching Special Olympians that
Mackenzie Coatham is an
Association (ADEA) Crest
ignited his interest in medicine.
award-winning endometrial
Oral-B Scholarship for Dental
cancer researcher and the first
Hygiene Students Pursuing
As a 2018 Rhodes Scholar at Oxford
PhD student in obstetrics
Academic Careers Award.
University, Sander will study
and gynecology at University
orthopedic biomechanics and
of Alberta.
MD STUDENT AND RHODES SCHOLAR
MSC STUDENT AND DENTAL
AS AN ENGINEERING undergrad
dental hygiene at the U of A
seeking root causes of mobility-
Coatham is passionate about
School of Dentistry’s Oral
related disorders. After his two-year
the importance of basic science
Health Clinic and is a clinical
sojourn, he will finish medical school
research in advancing women’s
instructor within the division of
at the University of Alberta and
health. Her biochemistry
periodontology. Her research,
hopes to specialize in physiatry.
background makes her a valuable
focused on the role of loricrin
asset in Cancer Research Institute
(a protein) in aggressive
“WHEN PEOPLE SAY,
of Northern Alberta (CRINA)
periodontal disease, has her
‘WHAT DO YOU WANT TO
co-director Lynne Postovit’s lab
publishing in leading peer-
and she volunteers monthly to help
reviewed journals, attending
curate the CRINA e-newsletter.
conferences and lecturing
DO 10 YEARS FROM NOW?’ I SAY, ‘I’LL STILL BE IN SCHOOL.’ “
32
Currently, she is practising
around the world. “As scientists, I think it is important for us to be accountable
“More work needs to be done
“When people say, ‘What do you
to society and disseminate our
in terms of knowledge
want to do 10 years from now?’ I
findings to our fellow researchers
translation in order to see
say, ‘I’ll still be in school.’ But that’s
so that the entire field can keep
high-risk populations get the
OK. I love it.”
progressing,” said Coatham.
care they need.”
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
PHOTOS BY: JEANETTE SESAY AND MELISSA FABRIZIO
examine the musculoskeletal system,
ISSUE NO. 2
LEARNERS AS LEADERS
2018
COMING TO TERMS WITH A SERIOUS ILLNESS HAS MADE HER A MORE EMPATHETIC DOCTOR, SAYS MICHELLE HUIE
Why vulnerability may be the best medicine AUTHOR
ORIGINAL STORY
PHOTO BY
EDITED BY
LESLEY YOUNG
FOLIO
MELISSA FABRIZIO
SASHA ROEDER MAH
Through accepting and treating her depression, Michelle Huie discovered the kind of doctor she wanted to be.
CALGARIAN MICHELLE HUIE started
At first, Huie—who was voted
She insisted she was fine. Huie told
first-year medical school at the
class representative by her peers—
herself that concentrating in class
University of Alberta like every other
appeared outgoing and energetic.
wouldn’t always feel like running in
student: enthusiastically. She knew
But by mid-year, those who knew her
water. That sleeping and eating would
that acceptance into the competitive
well, such as her boyfriend, were very
once again be pleasurable activities.
program is a milestone in and of itself.
concerned about her.
That she wouldn’t be standing on
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
33
LEARNERS AS LEADERS
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
the street corner, weighed down by
not only accept her illness, but also
“I remember thinking, ‘OK, I’m back.’ I
her heavy backpack, thinking absent-
slowly begin the process of managing
saw a bright light at the end of the tunnel.”
mindedly, “I could just step out in front
its symptoms. She also took actions to
of this bus...”
help her recovery, including exploring
She entered clerkship, which moved
aspects of herself beyond university
her out of the classroom and into
“I was very sick,” she admitted. “I tried
life. She joined intramural volleyball
direct interactions with patients. That
to mask it. Nobody else seemed to be
and became a mentor to a 12-year-old
was when she felt the transformative
struggling. And with medical students,
girl in the Boys and Girls Club. “It was
powers of her personal experience
you are with a cluster of people who
very healing,” she said. “I think she
combine with her education, and what
strive to overcome obstacles and push
inadvertently mentored me as much
kind of doctor she would become.
past things. Everyone is a rock star, so I
as I mentored her.”
felt like I couldn’t show I was struggling.”
“A lady came in teary eyed, confused as to Huie also got involved with a camp
why she never wanted to leave the house.
"EVERYONE IS A ROCK STAR,
that mentored underprivileged high
I asked my preceptor if I could have a few
SO I FELT LIKE I COULDN’T
school students and exposed them
minutes to sit down with her and hash it
to medical school. “I didn’t realize
out. In that moment, I realized how my
it at the time, but I was choosing
own personal experience changed how I
Huie’s depression affected her marks.
activities that really interested me,
reacted to the situation.”
When she received the devastating
and they were all leading me towards
news that if she wanted to be a doctor,
my specialty—pediatrics. I discovered
She added, “Being sick is humbling.
she would have to redo her first year—
how important youth and advocacy
It makes you realize how it impacts
an allowance the faculty makes in rare
work was to me.”
people’s lives. Because doctors see
SHOW I WAS STRUGGLING."
cases—she realized she needed help. Huie decided to get counselling from the Office of Learner Advocacy & Wellness (LAW) in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. LAW was established
illness every day, it’s so important
"THE COMBINATION OF SOME
for them to remember every illness
COMMON PERSONALITY
is unique to every patient. Patients
TRAITS AND A DEMANDING ENVIRONMENT CAN INCREASE
seven years ago to provide support
THE RISK FOR MENTAL
and advocacy to undergraduate and
HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR
postgraduate learners within the faculty.
SOME LEARNERS.”
“In 2016, we had just over 3,000 visits
often wait weeks or months to see a doctor, and their encounter impacts their care as much as the procedure or medication. A doctor’s empathy and compassion in itself is healing.” For outstanding compassion in care
from undergraduate and postgraduate
A few weeks before Huie returned
during her clerkship, Huie was
learners, and about 20 per cent of those
to first-year orientation for what she
awarded the Dr. Tom Ranieri & Dr. Alf
visits were counselling appointments,”
jokingly dubs “Year 1.5,” she told a
Conradi Excellence in Compassionate
said Jaleh Shahin, LAW’s psychologist.
few friends about her illness.
Care Scholarship.
“Medicine is a demanding program,”
“It was surprising how many students
Today, Huie, ’17 MD, is working through
said Shahin, “and learners generally
said, ‘It could have been me.’ In the end,
her pediatrics residency at the U of A and
share a high drive to succeed and are
I couldn’t have felt more supported.”
she’s managing her health by clarifying
very ambitious. The combination of
her identity outside of school, eating and
some common personality traits and a
By the end of a year that involved
exercising well, learning to say no and,
demanding environment can increase
studying hard, counselling sessions
perhaps most importantly, opening up
the risk for mental health challenges
and sharing her story in what would
to others and sharing her experiences, as
for some learners.”
prove to be the very empowering first
often as she’s comfortable.
student-led Monologues in Mental Huie ended up going for counselling all
Health coffeehouse, Huie was feeling
Said Huie, “No one should ever have to
spring and summer, which helped her
more like herself.
go through an illness feeling alone.”
34
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
GENEROSITY ISSUE NO. 2
CLASS GIVING
2018
A boost to student mental wellness, fuelled by MD Class of ’92 AUTHOR
PHOTO BY
EDITED BY
L AURA VEGA
MELISSA FABRIZIO
SASHA ROEDER MAH
ALUMNI CAME TOGETHER TO PROMOTE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH BY ESTABLISHING AN AWARD FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS
THE IDEA WAS born in 2017, when the MD Class of 1992
were preparing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their graduation. A very close group, the graduates felt strongly the absence of those who wouldn’t be at the reunion, especially a classmate who took his own life shortly after they graduated. To honour his memory, Dilini Vethanayagam, ’92 MD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine,
Dilini Vethanayagam, ’92 MD, associate
spearheaded a project to collect donations from her
professor of medicine
graduating class and create an award for new U of A medical students who become involved with
mental health services available, but people currently look for
mental-health initiatives.
them only when they are struggling a lot. People now think of taking time out of their day to exercise; it is important that
“There are wonderful mental health services available, but people currently look for them only when they are struggling a lot.”
people remember that being well is working out physically a few times a week, and also taking care of each other mentally a few times a week or every day.” Equally important, adds Jonathan Choy, ’92 MD, clinical professor of cardiology and associate dean of clinical faculty, is breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health issues for
The class raised enough funds to set up an endowment for
health professionals and learners.
an award—to be presented for the first time during the 2018-2019 academic year—for eligible first- and second-year
“If you told people you have cancer or heart disease and
medical students.
you’re going to get treatment, people wouldn’t think about it twice,” said (Jonathan) Choy. “But if you’re a physician
The new award is a step in the right direction for this
and said, ‘I’m suffering from depression, anxiety or paranoia’
pressing area of patient care, says Alberto Choy, ’92 MD,
people would question if you can do your job. This view on
U of A Department of Psychiatry. “There are wonderful
mental health has to change.”
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
35
GENEROSITY VISIONARIES
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
PASSION FOR EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND $1-MILLION GIFT TO THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
Alumni Q & A: Tom Stevenson
Patricia and Tom Stevenson enjoy a walk on the U of A campus, where they first met as
AUTHOR
PHOTO BY
TARWINDER RAI
L AUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY
students more than 45 years ago.
TOM STEVENSON, ’73 DDS, spent
Recently, he and his wife Patricia
establishes the Dr. Tom Stevenson
35 years working as an oral
made a $1-million gift to the School of
and Mrs. Patricia Stevenson Student
maxillofacial surgeon. Today,
Dentistry, with $300,000 supporting the
Support and Wellbeing Endowment,
he is the associate chair of student
Boyle McCauley Dental Clinic, enabling
which will provide support for
affairs in the School of Dentistry
dental students to work with inner-
undergraduate students in Dentistry
at his alma mater.
city patients. The remaining $700,000
and Dental Hygiene.
36
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
GENEROSITY ISSUE NO. 2
VISIONARIES
2018
WHERE HAS YOUR CAREER TAKEN YOU SINCE GRADUATION?
My wife Pat and I recognize that we
there is more to learn, they will be
haven’t been successful in anything
graded and judged on social media,
without the help of other people in the
and the expectations of our patients
background. We feel fortunate in the
is higher.
After graduating, I practised general
opportunities we’ve had in Edmonton
dentistry for two years. In 1975, I
and Alberta, and that we can give back.
went to Chicago to start a residency
Also, over the past decade the School
program in oral and maxillofacial
of Dentistry has come a long way. We
surgery at the University of Illinois
recognized that, with our support,
Medical Center and Cook County
we can help keep this momentum
Hospital. I then moved back to
going. With our gift we are able to do
Edmonton after completion and
something that will have a positive
started my own practice, South
effect on both our students and the
Dentistry is not just about teeth; it
Edmonton Oral Surgery, in 1980.
patients that we serve.
is about the patients that we treat. I
I joined the School of Dentistry in 1981 as a part-time instructor. After retiring from my practice, I became a full-time clinical professor.
HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN DENTISTRY?
have found that one of the greatest
WH AT ADVI C E WOU L D YOU LIKE TO S H AR E WITH NE W D ENT I ST RY STUDENTS?
students to be better than me. I tell our students dentistry is hard work. People think it is easy, but it isn’t. My father
yearbook. I chose dentistry because
always told me, “Don’t watch the cash
I remember thinking it was something
register, watch your patients.”
I did with my hands, involved
my pre-dent years in university I had a huge passion for dentistry and I was so pleased when I was accepted. I always had an interest in medicine and I found a great mix between medicine and dentistry as an oral maxillofacial surgeon.
can be a humbling experience when you hear about some of the problems and challenges your patients experience in their lives.
full time, I had one goal: I wanted my
since junior high—just check my
bit of a creative background. During
rewards is talking to my patients. It
When I decided to come back to teach
I had a passion for anything medical
creativity and independence. I have a
“Dentistry is not just about teeth; it is about the patients that we treat.”
“With our gift we are able to do something that will have a positive effect on both our students and the patients that we serve.”
Boyle McCauley dental clinic expansion underway Thanks to ongoing donor support, low-income patients and families get access to care and U of A dentistry students get hands-on experience through a community partnership.
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM DENTAL SCHOOL?
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO GIVE?
Dentistry is not a job; it’s a career.
I come from a humble background. My
demanding and you can expect to
dad was a carpenter and my mother a
put in long hours and work hard.
It’s meeting my wife here at the
registered nurse. He always wanted the
Also, learning doesn’t end with
U of A. She was a dental hygiene
education that I had but didn’t have
graduation. Professional practice,
student and it was the start of a
the opportunity. I was the first one in
while rewarding, is also lifelong
romance that has lasted more than
my family to go to university. It shaped
learning. I feel that my students have
46 years and a partnership that has
what we do as far as supporting things.
it harder than my generation in that
made our gift possible.
Dental school is challenging and
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
37
ALUMNI AWARDS
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry’s 2018 Alumni Award recipients AUTHOR
PHOTOS BY
KIRSTEN BAUER
JOHN UL AN AND RYAN WHITEFIELD
Marcia Boyd
Charles Lee
’69 DDS, 2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
’90 BSC(SPEC), ’93 MSC, ’96 PHD, 2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Lindsay Linden Crowshoe '93 BMEDSC, ’95 MD, ALUMNI HONOUR AWARD
UAlberta professor emerita and former dean of the
President of the Human
Founding director of the Elbow
Faculty of Dentistry at
Genome Organization
River Healing Lodge and
University of British
(HUGO) and director of
director of the undergraduate
Columbia. National and
the Jackson Laboratory for
Aboriginal Health Program at
international steward to
Genomic Medicine at Harvard
Cumming School of Medicine
the field of dentistry and
Medical School. Key player
at the University of Calgary.
dental education. Agent of
in the discovery of structural
Advancing Indigenous health by
many ‘firsts’ in organized
variation in the human
developing culturally informed
dentistry. Holds countless
genome, opening the door for
health practices with Indigenous
awards, honorary degrees
new genetic tests and paving
communities, creating guidelines
and membership in the
the way for modern genomics
and policies for practitioners and
Order of Canada
transforming medical education
Ronald Moore ’80 BSC,
Brenda Walker ’71 DENTAL
Scientific director of the Surgery Strategic Clinical Network within Alberta Health Services and Mr. Lube Foundation Chair in Uro-Oncology. Improving care for urological cancers and renal transplantations
Chief administrative officer of the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta. Lobbyist, advocate and driving force for advances and self-regulation in the field of dental hygiene
Barbara Romanowski
Lisa Hartling ’90 BSCPT,
Clinical professor of infectious diseases and public health advocate. Key player in establishing HIV Edmonton, Edmonton’s Sexually Transmitted Infection clinic and the development of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
Developed—with Shannon Scott, ’06 Phd, Nursing— TREKK (Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids), a knowledge mobilization initiative to digitally pool as-it-happens medical knowledge to improve emergency care for children
’86 MD, ’91 PHD, ALUMNI HONOUR AWARD
'71 BSC(MED), ’73 MD, ALUMNI HONOUR AWARD
38
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
HYGIENE, ALUMNI HONOUR AWARD
’10 PHD, ALUMNI INNOVATION AWARD
ALUMNI ISSUE NO. 2
TRAILBLAZER
2018
Yachiyo Yoneyama ’43 DDS
Harry E. Bulyea, the first director of the U of A’s School of Dentistry, painted a portrait of Yachiyo Yoneyama.
AUTHOR
TAYLOR L AMBERT
THE FIRST WOMAN TO GRADUATE FROM UALBERTA’S SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY ATTENDED WHEN THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT FORCEFULLY REMOVED AND INTERNED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JAPANESE-CANADIANS
HERE IS AN excerpt from Taylor Lambert’s book Roots:
Extracted Tales from a century of Dentistry at the University of Alberta, pointing out Yoneyama in the 1943 dentistry graduating class picture: ...the thick, long black curls of Yachiyo Yoneyama, tied back yet seemingly uncontainable, distinguish her among the close-
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
39
ALUMNI TRAILBLAZER
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
cropped haircuts of the white men
Yachiyo left no letters or journals recording her school
who fill the rest of the frame. When
experiences, but it is fair to say that this was a difficult time
Yoneyama began studying dentistry
to be Japanese-Canadian and one of the darkest moments
at the U of A, she was not the first
in Canada’s history. She graduated from the dentistry
woman—Fern Rideout had studied for a
program in 1943, then moved to Lamont, Alberta, to serve
few years around 1920 before dropping
as the dental health officer in a rural clinic before she took
out—but she would be the first woman
a Guggenheim Fellowship in New York, and eventually
to graduate. Born in Vancouver to Japanese parents who
settled in Toronto where she practised pediatric dentistry for
had emigrated to Canada shortly after marrying in 1914,
decades. She died in 2013 at 96, after a long career and rich
Yoneyama was not only the sole woman in her graduating
family life. Her achievement and distinction would often be
class, but also the only visible minority. She and (Dr. Harry
held up in later, more-progressive decades as an important
E.) Bulyea (first director of the School) became friends,
milestone in the history of the dental school. But the
bonding over their mutual artistic passions: he painted a
juxtaposing context of the concurrent injustice to her family
flattering portrait of her, and she drew a pencil sketch of him.
has always been omitted, and thus not widely known.
Yoneyama’s older sister, Misao, was also at the U of A studying medicine, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Less than three months later, the forced removal and internment of tens of thousands of Japanese-Canadians began. Their parents, their younger sister, Mitsue, and their younger brother, Yutaka, were forced to leave their farm.
“This was a difficult time to be Japanese-Canadian and one of the darkest moments in Canada’s history.”
Yutaka Yoneyama recalls that time: Taylor Lambert is an Alberta journalist and author. His other By May, the licence plates from our car were removed;
books include Darwin’s Moving, Rising: Stories of the 2013
cameras, explosives and firearms were confiscated; and
Alberta Flood, and Leaving Moose Jaw.
we were placed under curfew. Mom and Dad, especially Dad, were devastated by the evacuation order since their income would be minimal. Misao and Yachiyo still had another year to complete before graduation. Somehow Dad and Mom managed….
“I suddenly realized that I was considered one of ‘them’ and not one of ‘us.’” (At a community meeting,) discussions centred around what had to be done in the event of an attack… the lights were turned down, and I was escorted out of the meeting. I was shocked and devastated. I suddenly realized that I was considered one of ‘them’ and not one of ‘us.’ The family, already separated from two daughters, was further split up: Mitsue was sent to a relocation camp near
Roots: Extracted Tales from a century of
Hope, while Yutaka and his parents ended up working on
Dentistry at the University of Alberta is now
a farm south of Edmonton, exploited by the landowners as prisoners of war. After two months of labour, they were paid a mere $30. 40
available in trade paperback for purchase online, at the U of A Bookstore and Audrey’s Books in Edmonton. All proceeds go to support Dentistry for Life fundraising campaign.
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
ISSUE NO. 2
EXPERT COMMENTARY
2018
Oral cancer screening should be mandated for dental profession AUTHOR
ORIGINAL STORY
ARTWORK BY
PHOTO BY
LESLEY YOUNG
FOLIO
NATASIA DESIGNS
MELISSA FABRIZIO
A QUICK HEAD-AND-NECK EXAMINATION BY YOUR DENTIST OR DENTAL HYGIENIST CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE BY IDENTIFYING EARLY ORAL CANCERS
From left, Alexandra Sheppard and Seema Ganatra
“ORAL CANCER SCREENING should
the dentist should refer the patient to
practices, partners and vaccinations.
be taking place on patients as part
an oral pathologist or oral surgeon for
“We teach dental hygiene students
of regular dental visits,” said Seema
further evaluation and treatment.
how to conduct screenings for atypical
Ganatra, an oral pathologist at the
and abnormal findings which might
University of Alberta. “Unfortunately,
“Our scope of practice includes
be oral cancer,” said Sheppard,
it’s not clear how often this is being
conducting a head-and-neck exam along
adding that dental hygienists often
done by dentists and dental hygienists.”
the muscle groups and lymph nodes
see patients on a three- to 12-month
under the chin and around the neck, and
interval and the lying-down position of
Ganatra explained a soft-tissue
an intra-oral assessment of the tongue,
the patient with the use of lights and
examination of the head and neck
particularly the lateral borders and
loupes helps with visibility. Individuals
area—an effective way to spot
undersurface, and a visual assessment
with atypical oral findings can then be
precancers or cancerous growths,
of the oropharynx,” said Alexandra
referred to dental specialists including
either visually in the mouth or
Sheppard, assistant director of dental
oral pathologists, oral surgeons and
physically under the skin in the neck
hygiene clinical education at the U of A.
their physician.
dentists and dental hygienists within as
A screening also entails questions
“That’s why it’s a good idea to ask for
little as two minutes. If a lesion or lump
about alcohol and tobacco use, as
a screening at your next dental visit if
is found, and persists after two weeks,
well as asking patients about sexual
it’s not offered,” Sheppard added.
and throat area—can be conducted by
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
41
THROWBACK
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
Five summer student researchers who went on to do great things AUTHOR
ARTWORK BY
EDITED BY
AMY SAMSON
NATASIA DESIGNS
SASHA ROEDER MAH
THE LARGEST IN CANADA, THE UALBERTA FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY’S SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1969. HERE ARE FIVE SUMMER-STUDENT RESEARCHERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCE
Funding partners Since the 1980s, the program has been supported by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Alberta Innovates, alumni donors, the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and many others .
Dennis Modry, ’73 MD A SUMMER OF WORK WITH
animal models. After training in surgery
ANIMAL MODELS LED TO THE
in Montreal, Modry accepted a position
FIRST HEART AND HEART-LUNG COMBINED TRANSPLANTS IN WESTERN CANADA
at Stanford, where he was chief of the transplant division before returning to the U of A in the 1980s to pilot a heart-lung transplant program. During that time, Modry performed the first
DENNIS MODRY, WHO graduated from
heart transplant and the first heart-lung
the U of A’s school of medicine in 1973,
combined transplant in Western Canada.
spent the summer after his first year
The University of Alberta Hospital’s heart
working in the Surgical-Medical Research
and lung transplant program is now one
Institute doing heart-lung transplants in
of the nation’s busiest.
Barbara Romanowski, ’73 MD PASSION FOR COMMUNITY
1973, followed by specialized training
HEALTH MADE FORMER
in infectious diseases. From 1979 until
SUMMER STUDENT A LEADER IN SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE RESEARCH
1998, she was director of Alberta’s sexually transmitted diseases (STD) program and was involved with Edmonton’s AIDS Network, now HIV Edmonton. She has also been
IN 1970, BARBARA Romanowski
involved in humanpapillomavirus
presented at the summer student
(HPV) clinical trials for more than a
research day on a project with
decade and has published extensively
what was then the Department of
on STDs. She is currently a clinical
Community Medicine. Romanowski
professor in the division of infectious
completed her MD at the U of A in
diseases at the U of A.
42
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
ISSUE NO. 2
THROWBACK
2018
Sir John Bell, ’75 BMedSc, ’03 DSc (Hon) FORMER HONOURS STUDENT IN
A Rhodes Scholar, he attended Oxford
MEDICAL SCIENCE KNIGHTED
and Stanford universities and is currently
FOR HIS PIONEERING WORK IN THE CLINICAL APPLICATION OF GENETICS
the Regius professor of medicine at Oxford, where he founded the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. Bell was made a Knight Bachelor in
BEFORE GRADUATINGFROM the U of
2008 and, in 2015, a Knight of the
A in 1975 with a bachelor’s in medical
Grand Cross of the Order of the
science (honours), Sir John Bell—
British Empire. In 2009, he won the
together with Raymond Yee—won first
Henry G. Friesen International Prize
place at summer student research day.
in Health Research.
Janet McElhaney, ’86 MD A RESEARCH LEADER IN
medicine, followed by a fellowship in
INFLUENZA AMONG AGING
geriatric medicine.
POPULATIONS
McElhaney is a leader in influenza
JANET MCELHANEY, WHO presented
research, particularly in aging
at the 1983 summer research day,
populations. She sits on a number of
completed an MD at the U of A in
boards and committees, including, as
1986, winning the Harry Weinlos Prize
of 2016, the federal Institute Advisory
in Medicine, awarded to a student
Board for Indigenous Peoples’ Health.
who demonstrates humanitarianism
She currently works with the Health
and an excellent academic record.
Sciences North Research Institute in
She went on to a residency in internal
Sudbury, Ontario.
Lewis E. Kay, ’83 BSc
University in 1988, followed by postdoctoral studies at the National
FOUR YEARS OF SUMMER-
Institutes of Health. He is a senior
SCHOOL BIOCHEMISTRY LAB
scientist in molecular medicine at the
WORK EVENTUALLY LED TO 2017 CANADA GAIRDNER INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and a Canada Research Chair in Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics. In 2017, Kay was named Canada
LEWIS KAY WAS a summer student
Gairdner International Award Laureate
researching nuclear magnetic resonance
for “the development of modern
(NMR) throughout his undergraduate
NMR spectroscopy for studies of
degree and graduated with a bachelor
biomolecular structure dynamics and
of science in biochemistry in 1983.
function, including applications to
He obtained his doctor of philosophy
molecular machines and rare
in molecular biophysics from Yale
protein conformations.”
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
43
THROWBACK
MOMENTUM MAGAZINE
POLIO TEAM Much like wartime did, the epidemic brings together patients, doctors, nurses, community members, and later
IRON LUNG
respiratory, physical and
A negative pressure ventilator, known colloquially as an
occupational therapists.
IRON LUNG, works by decreasing pressure within the
During the 1953 epidemic,
closed chamber to induce inhalation, then repressuriz-
doctors, nurses; and orderlies
ing to allow the patient to passively exhale. Today,
frequently work extra hours
positive pressure ventilation—forcing air into the
and sometimes double shifts
lungs, then allowing the body to exhale naturally before
without payment or time-off.
repeating—has almost entirely superseded negative.
1953 EPIDEMIC Canada experiences its worst polio epidemic on record. An estimated 11,000 people in
44
1956 NEW POLIO WING AT UAH
Canada are left paralyzed by
The majority of polio patients are transferred to the
polio between 1949 and 1954.
University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) from the Royal
The disease peaks in 1953 with
Alexandra Hospital. The provincial government
nearly 9,000 cases and 500
commits to constructing a rehabilitation wing, which
deaths.
opens in 1956.
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
ISSUE NO. 2
THROWBACK
2018
1968 FIRST ICU OPENS The first Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the UAH
GARNER KING
opens. The ICU is a direct legacy of the 1953 polio epidemic and the resulting care at the Royal
Garner King initiates the
Alexandra Hospital and University of Alberta Hospital.
implementation of the first Intensive Care Unit at the University of Alberta Hospital in collaboration with Brian Sproule. Together, they develop an ICU advisory committee and
1967 NEW TRAINING PROGRAM
facilitate the opening of a six-bed ICU on the former polio ward.
Sproule helps develop the first Canadian respiratory technology course at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). He later serves as head of the program for approximately 30 years.
1973 NEW HOME Remaining polio patients and staff move from the UAH to the Aberhart Centre.
1959–1960 BRIAN SPROULE Brian Sproule joins the University Hospital staff in
1980s DIGITAL INNOVATION
1959. In 1960, he becomes the
Don Scott, polio survivor and the first head of the
first director of the clinical
Department of Computing Science at the U of A,
pulmonary division and
offers computer programming training to a small
establishes a pulmonary
group of interested polio patients. The patients later
functions laboratory around
set up Prodata services, the first customized
the same time as another polio
computer programming company in Edmonton. IBM
epidemic in Alberta.
eventually takes over the company.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
45
OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT
2J2.00 Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre 8440 - 112 Street Edmonton, AB Canada T6G 2R7 UALBERTA.CA/MEDICINE E advadmin@ualberta.ca P 780-492-6621
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry – University of Alberta @UAlberta_FoMD @UAlberta_FoMD