Dr. Donald M. McLean passed away on July 12, 2022.
A professor emeritus, Dr. McLean joined UBC as a professor of medical microbiology in 1967, teaching in the Department of Pathology.
Dr. Gary Brayer
Dr. Gary Brayer passed away on July 25, 2022.
A professor emeritus, Dr. Brayer taught in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Peter Cripton appointed Director pro tem, School of Biomedical Engineering
A message from Dermot Kelleher, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health.
I am pleased to announced the appointment of Dr. Peter Cripton as Director pro tem, School of Biomedical Engineering for a one-year term, effective to June 30, 2023. Dr. Cripton will be taking on this role while Dr. Peter Zandstra is on a one-year administrative leave.
Dr. Cripton is a professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering, as well as a Principal Investigator at ICORD, the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. Dr. Cripton’s work in the field of injury biomechanics focusses on preventing brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, hip fracture and on understanding and addressing sex differences in injury risk from automotive collisions. He is one of two Canadian members of the International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Impacts, and a recipient of the Killam Teaching prize.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Peter Cripton on his appointment.
Drs. Lorienne Jenstad & Paola Colozzo appointed interim Co-Directors, School of Audiology and Speech Sciences
A message from Dermot Kelleher, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health.
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Lorienne Jenstad and Dr. Paola Colozzo have been appointed interim Co-Directors, School of Audiology and Speech Sciences, effective to August 31, 2022.
Dr. Jenstad is an audiologist and associate professor at the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences, where she directs the Amplification Research Lab. Her teaching and research expertise includes hearing aid processing and hearing health care for older adults.
Dr. Colozzo is an associate professor in the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. Her areas of expertise and specialization are language development, childhood language disorders, and interactions between language and cognition. Dr. Colozzo has also been the MSc Program Director at the School for the last five years.
Please join me in thanking Drs. Jenstad and Colozzo for their interim leadership.
Dr. Robert McMaster extended as Vice-Dean, Research
A message from Dermot Kelleher, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health.
I am pleased to announce Dr. Robert McMaster’s appointment as Vice-Dean, Research, has been extended effective to December 31, 2023.
During the past term, Dr. McMaster has led several strategic initiatives including the establishment of the Academy of Translation Medicine and the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coordination Initiative, as well as leading the Research Pillar goals and strategies in the Faculty’s refreshed strategic plan. In addition, he is widely recognized across BC for his committed leadership and support of work that will enable the province to increase its capacity and ability to conduct world-class clinical trials, receiving the Clinical Trials BC Leadership & Advocacy Award earlier this year.
In this role, Dr. McMaster will continue to play a lead role in the development of a biomedical innovation research strategy, and provide strategic leadership and guidance to health research program leaders and ensure resources are supported effectively across the Faculty on all campuses and health authorities.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Rob McMaster for his continued leadership.
Alexis Davis reappointed Director, Clinical Faculty Affairs
A message from Dermot Kelleher, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health.
I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Ms. Alexis Davis, Director, Clinical Faculty Affairs, for a three-year term effective to June 30, 2025.
Ms. Davis is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and also works clinically as a pediatric occupational therapist in the Sunny Hill Health Centre at BC Children’s Hospital.
Ms. Davis will continue to provide leadership to promote clinical faculty development and initiatives in teaching and scholarly activity, educational leadership and research. With more than 10,000 clinical faculty across BC, this position encourages participation of clinical faculty in the activities of the Faculty, its departments and programs at various sites throughout the province.
During the next term, Ms. Davis will continue to lead the newly-initiated Clinical Faculty Engagement Program, which aims to increase support and recognition of the essential contributions Clinical Faculty make to the Faculty of Medicine. I look forward to seeing this important work unfold in this next term.
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Alexis Davis on her reappointment.
Dr. Bruce Fleming
Dr. Bruce Fleming passed away on July 19, 2022.
A gifted emergency physician, Dr. Fleming contributed significantly to the UBC Faculty of Medicine as a teacher, mentor, colleague and academic leader, helping to shape the medical undergraduate experience for a generation of students.
From 2011 to 2017, Dr. Fleming served as Associate Dean, Admissions, where he oversaw MD undergraduate admissions and spearheaded new policy initiatives to improve the admissions process. A passionate supporter of the Indigenous MD Admissions pathway, he is remembered as a warm and engaging colleague who personally encouraged many prospective students to apply to UBC.
Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis reappointed Director, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention
A message from Rob McMaster, Vice-Dean, Research, UBC Faculty of Medicine
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis has been reappointed as the Director, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM), and the Reichwald Family UBC Southern Medical Program Chair in Preventive Medicine to June 30, 2027.
Dr. Martin Ginis is a Distinguished University Scholar and a Professor in the Faculty’s Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and in UBC’s Okanagan School of Health and Exercise Sciences. In addition, she is a recipient of the Government of Ontario Medal of Good Citizenship for advancing the well-being of people with spinal cord injury through her longstanding contributions to science. She is also the Principal Investigator of the Canadian Disability Participation Project, a SSHRC-funded Partnership that brings together more than 50 university, public, private and government sector partners to improve physical activity, employment and mobility among Canadians living with disabilities.
The focus of Dr. Martin Ginis’s research is placed on understanding and changing physical activity behaviour. She has a particular interest in physical activity among people with spinal cord injury and other types of physical disabilities. She is deeply committed to knowledge translation; specifically, the development and implementation of evidence-based best-practices to improve health and well-being among people with disabilities. Dr. Martin Ginis spearheaded the formulation and knowledge translation of international scientific exercise guidelines for adults with spinal cord injury. Most recently, she led the first-ever paper on physical activity in people with disabilities, for the Lancet’s quadrennial Physical Activity Series.
As Director, CCDPM, Dr. Martin Ginis is committed to foundational research, clinical research, quality improvement, program evaluation and knowledge translation to build the groundwork of community-engaged research that focuses on management and prevention of chronic health conditions. Through Dr. Martin Ginis’ leadership as Director, the Centre has grown to 61 members including investigators, clinicians and trainees. The establishment of a highly successful Clinical Research and Quality Improvement Incubator program has resulted in a success rate of 75% for research funding applications. Dr. Martin Ginis will continue to advance CCDPM’s direction to collaboratively accelerate research and knowledge translation in the field of chronic diseases; harness collective research strengths from UBC Okanagan, Interior Health, and local clinicians; foster new opportunities that expand research excellence across BC; and achieve research excellence through competitive funding and recognition both nationally and internationally.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Martin Ginis on her reappointments and thank her for her continued leadership and dedication to these valued endeavors.