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Winter 2016
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Finalists from this event will move on to compete against the best and the brightest teams from Switzerland and Hong Kong at the Global Healthcare Innovation Academy
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Professor, department of medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases (MD ‘90)
Professor, departments of radiology, physiology and pharmacology, and clinical neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute Best part about being a supervisor: I like the energy that students bring to the lab. I like to think that I make an impact by conveying my knowledge and interest in science. I also like the idea that those moving through the lab become an extended family of lab members.
Assistant Professor, departments of biochemistry and molecular biology and oncology, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute Best part about being a supervisor: Seeing my students and postdocs develop as independent scientists. It has been gratifying to see them leave my lab and take up successful positions, whether as postdocs, working in industry, or as an academic principle investigator (PI). Most memorable supervisory experience: Toward the end of last year, my first three students all successfully defended their PhDs. Each of those was a great moment for me. Interesting fact about yourself that might surprise people: I used to be a stand-up comic. Best piece of advice you’ve ever received: In science, there are two ways to choose to do an experiment–the right way and again. It’s a joke, but it has an element of truth to it. But I think the best comment about research, which we can take as advice, comes from Sydney Brenner: “Do the best experiments you can, and always tell the truth. That’s all.” Advice you would give grad students: There isn’t any one point I would make in particular, other than to say that good advice and mentorship can come from many different sources. So as a student it’s important not just to rely on your PI, but also to develop a broader network of people (PIs, postdocs, your peers) with whom you get along with and whose advice and opinions you like. But always remember: the most important thing about receiving advice is to decide whether it is good or bad–that’s the real challenge.
Professor, departments of clinical neurosciences, medicine, community health sciences, and radiology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, O’Brien Institute for Public Health (MSc ‘03) Best part about being a supervisor: Watching growth and development and then being challenged by new clinical researchers. Most memorable supervisory experience: Dr. Al-mekhlafi winning the Governor General’s award for his thesis. (“The safety and costeffectiveness of carotid angioplasty and stenting in Calgary.”) Interesting fact about yourself that might surprise people: My introduction to good field epidemiology came with contracting salmonella enteriditis in Nairobi prior to flying to London, and then ultimately being tracked down by the British public health service a week later to find out where I had been! Best piece of advice you’ve ever received: The best approach to maximizing success as a supervisor is to work hard to ensure the success of your students. Advice you would give grad students: There are no right and wrong decisions in research, only well-justified ones.
Professor, departments of community health Ssciences and psychiatry, Senior Health Scholar (AIHS), Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and O’Brien Institute for Public Health Best part about being a supervisor: Being a transmitter of experience. I have been around long enough to see the discipline of psychiatric epidemiology evolve from its infancy and have been involved in hundreds of grants and papers. This ‘big picture’ view is helpful to graduate students. Most memorable supervisory experience: Being more anxious than my students at the start of their defense examinations and then feeling the shift to a sense of pride when they ‘kill it’. Interesting fact about yourself that might surprise people: I recently wrote a textbook: Epidemiology for Canadian Students. Best piece of advice you’ve ever received: My own PhD supervisor, Dr. Edgar J. Love had said, “I’ll know you are ready to defend your thesis when you tell me to <inappropriate expression>.” This was his way of saying that you know you are ready to be an independent researcher when you are ready to take responsibility for your own ideas. Advice you would give grad students: Take time management seriously and set good goals.
Most memorable supervisory experience: I don’t have a single best memory. One rewarding example is a student who had an MD and kept asking me to take them on, even though they had no research experience. I eventually decided to take a chance because he had a tremendous work ethic. He ended up being one of the best surgeons and most dedicated teachers my lab has ever had. Seeing students take what they learn in the lab and use it to build their career is satisfying. Interesting fact about yourself that might surprise people: My research career has taken me to five continents including a trip to Antarctica with the British Antarctic Survey. Best piece of advice you’ve ever received: Peter Hochachka, my PhD supervisor, told me that “Ideas are cheap”. If you hoard your ideas, thinking that they are unique and have value, most will never be put to the test and you will spend too much time trying to be protective instead of inclusive. A protectionist lab doesn’t make for good open collaboration. Advice you would give grad students: Choose a lab you enjoy working in and don’t choose just based on the lab’s academic reputation. You are there to learn so you need a supervisor that you respect, that you can work with. You also need a topic that really excites you. Research is hard. You need to be excited by the prospect of exploring new territory or you won’t be motivated to put in the time you need to get the job done.
Associate Professor, department of community health sciences, Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, Community Health Sciences, O’Brien Institute for Public Health Best part about being a supervisor: Mentoring students. And I’m always so proud when one of my students wins a community award. Working in disability studies, it’s about being invested in the work but also the community. By receiving a community award it’s demonstrating that they’ve not only done the course work but they’ve put in the effort into the community.
Best part about being a supervisor: Being a supervisor and mentor is likely the most rewarding thing I do. As an individual I can take care of a patient, publish a paper, and run a series of experiments and all these are very rewarding but at times these actions are time limited. The impact of these actions only last so long. Being involved in helping someone as they develop their personality and career is incredible, as it can have a huge impact and last indefinitely.
Most memorable supervisory experience: Every time a student succeeds in what they wish to do is memorable, but most recently it was when my Master’s Student was given the Governor General’s Gold Medal at convocation in November.
Most memorable supervisory experience: Most of the time I am most proud of the students that struggled, that were in some sort of trouble, that felt they were going to fail or not reach their goal but we were able to work together so they could excel. What makes me happiest is when they become what I call the full package: they work hard, they are nice to people, they are morally/ ethical sound, they strive to do their best and most importantly that they are happy.
Interesting fact about yourself that might surprise people: Since the 1980s I have been in, and helped conceptualize several movies and documentaries–often about individuals living with disabilities. Most recently, I was featured in the documentary ‘fixed’–the science/fiction of human enhancement. It aired on PBS. fixedthemovie.com
Interesting fact about yourself that might surprise people: I failed Math 30 (49 per cent) so for the next year I worked at being an athlete (goal of playing pro football or making the Canadian Rugby Team), joined a writers workshop and worked full time as a labourer and apprentice mechanic on the railroad (and yes, passed Math 30 at night school).
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received: Be true to myself.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received: The best piece of advice was from my PhD supervisor (Dr. Gerry Morris) who told me the most important thing in life is to be happy. If you are happy you can do everything better!
Advice you would give grad students: Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. Your choices within your education have to fit with what you want to do afterwards. Don’t just do something for the sake of doing it–be true to yourself and what your goals truly are.
Advice you would give grad students: Strive to be happy, which usually means doing what you love and loving what you do.
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