A message from Dermot Kelleher, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health, UBC.
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Ahmer Karimuddin has been appointed Head, Department of Surgery, effective from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2030.
Dr. Karimuddin will also assume the role of professor and C.N. Woodward Chair in the Department of Surgery, where he has served as a clinical faculty member since 2008. Dr. Karimuddin is a practising colorectal and general surgeon at St. Paul’s and Mt. St. Joseph’s Hospitals and has previously served in a variety of leadership roles, including Co-Director of the General Surgery Residency Program, President of Doctors of BC, General Surgeons of BC and the BC Surgical Society, as well as Chair of the Canadian Surgery Forum. Over the years, his many contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the UBC Program Director of the Year Award and the UBC Postgraduate Medical Education Faculty Wellness Award.
As Head, Dr. Karimuddin will provide leadership and strategic direction, working collaboratively with the department’s community of faculty, clinical faculty, staff and learners. With a commitment to fostering excellence, he will support the department’s continued growth and success, with the aim of advancing surgical training and research across British Columbia.
Dr. Karimuddin’s appointment follows the leadership of Dr. Gary Redekop, who held the role from 2017, following interim leadership from 2014. Respected for his thoughtful and responsive leadership, Dr. Redekop significantly strengthened the department’s academic and administrative foundation including building an environment marked by excellence and respectful engagement as well as notable improvements in governance, sustainability and transparency. He has also been a dedicated advocate of clinical faculty, devoted to recognizing their significant contributions to academic life and developing programs to support clinical faculty research in the department. I wish to thank Dr. Redekop for his many years of excellent leadership and contributions to the Faculty in this role.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Karimuddin on his appointment.
