Dr. Virendra Arya, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, was awarded the POPE Family Professorship in Anesthesiology.
Kristin Bergen has been appointed as the managing director of community health sciences. Bergen has a bachelor of science in health studies and a master of public health from the University of Waterloo. Bergen was most recently the director of primary care at NorWest Co-op Community Health. She brings more than 15 years of management and leadership experience.
Dr. Sandor Demeter, associate professor of community health sciences, was recently appointed to the PGME Competency Committee – Public Health, and director UGME – population and public health – evaluation. Demeter has been a member of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) Health Technology Expert Review Panel (HTERP) since 2019, and his membership has been renewed until 2026.
Dr. Michelle Driedger has been appointed department head of community health sciences. Read more.
Dr. Keith Fowke has been reappointed department head of medical microbiology and infectious diseases. Read more.
Dr. Amanda Fowler-Woods has been appointed assistant professor of community health sciences and will be located at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) and the George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation. Fowler-Woods’ most recent position was as a research associate at UM. She is developing a research program aimed at developing and applying Indigenous methodologies to health services research including data housed in the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository at MCHP.
Dr. Grant Hatch, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics and former Canada Research Chair in molecular cardiolipin metabolism, received the title professor emeritus in July. He was presented with a plaque by UM President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch, and UM Chancellor Anne Mahon at a ceremony on Nov. 22.
Dr. Julie Lajoie was appointed assistant professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases. She brings a strong research program which will focus on the effects of sex hormones on the immune system, including susceptibility to infections such as HPV and vaccinations. The program will be very active with the department’s Nairobi-based clinical cohort.
Dr. Shilpa Loewen, who completed her residency in public health and preventive medicine at UM in 2023, and Dr. Pierre Plourde, professor of community health sciences, have been appointed co-directors of the Population Health Curriculum, CHS Undergraduate Medical Education.
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program congratulates Darlene Lussier, administrative coordinator academic year 1, on her retirement. The MPAS team said it’s been an honor to work with Lussier and wish her all the best in the future.
Michelle Olivson joined Dr. Meghan Azad’s THRiVE Lab as a research program manager. Olivson has worked in research administration for more than a decade at UM. She has extensive experience in research agreement development and grant proposal review. Olivson supports the THRiVE team in research program operations, including project planning, monitoring and reporting.
The MPAS program would like to welcome back Tara Smoat, clinical year 2 administrator. The team is pleased to have her back and look forward to working with her again.
Dr. Tamara Taillieu is the successful candidate for an assistant professor position in the department of community health sciences and Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Taillieu’s most recent position has been as an instructor II within the department. Her research interests include the effects of child maltreatment, intimate partner violence and other traumatic events on physical and mental health (including substance use) across the lifespan.
Dr. Stephen Ying has been appointed department head – radiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, and provincial specialty lead – radiology, Shared Health. Read more.