Dr. Haddad stands on stage speaking to a crowd seated at tables.
Dr. Haissam Haddad, Provincial Head, speaks at the Annual Banquet.

Department highlights outstanding achievements

The Department of Medicine's annual banquet is a chance to celebrate the successes of faculty and residents.

The Department of Medicine’s Annual Awards Banquet was held on Thursday, May 15. The event celebrated faculty and residents and recognized the achievements and accomplishments within the department.

Awards were presented to winners in several categories, with awards in the areas of clinical, teaching research and administrative, to both residents and faculty. Among these awards were dedicated research awards, presented to winners of the resident and faculty Research Days respectively. Special guests included Dr. Marek Radomski, Vice Dean of Research; Derek Miller, Chief Operating Officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority; and Cheryl Kloppenburg, donor of The Kloppenburg Award. Photos are by Dave Stobbe.

Provincial Head Awards

The Provincial Head Awards were presented by Dr. Haissam Haddad (Provincial Department Head and Professor of Cardiology, Department of Medicine) to recognize the outstanding contributions of department members.

  • Administrator of the Year: Dr. Jessie Baptiste (Assistant Professor General Internal Medicine (GIM), Department of Medicine Director of Post Graduate Medical Education)

Dr. Baptiste receives and award.

  • Clinician of the Year: Dr. Stephen Pylypchuk (Assistant Professor Cardiology)

Dr. Pylypchuk receives an award.

  • Research of the Year: Dr. Angelica Lang (Assistant Professor Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health (CCRAH))

Dr. Lang receives an award.

  • Teacher of the Year: Dr. Tom Guzowski (Assistant Professor Gastroenterology and Hepatology)

Dr. Guzowski receives an award.

Faculty Research Day Awards

The Department of Medicine’s Faculty Research Day was held on May 2. Awards were presented at the Annual Banquet by Dr. Josh Lawson, the Director of Research for the Department of Medicine.

  • First place presentation: Dr. Jay Shavadia (Associate Professor Cardiology)

Dr. Shavadia receives an award.

  • Second place presentation: Dr. Angelica Lang (Assistant Professor CCRAH)

Dr. Lang receives an award.

  • Third place presentation: Dr. Kerri Schellenberg (Medical Director ALS Clinic, Medical Director EMG Lab, Associate Professor Neurology)

Faculty Awards

The faculty awards were voted on by Core Internal Medicine (IM) residents to recognize teaching excellence within the department. Awards were presented by Dr. Haissam Haddad (Provincial Department Head and Professor of Cardiology, Department of Medicine).

  • Bedside Teacher of the Year, Saskatoon: Dr. Linden Kolbenson (Assistant Professor GIM)

Dr. Kolbenson receives an award.

  • Bedside Teacher of the Year, Regina: Dr. Lucas Diebel (Assistant Professor GIM/Geriatrics)

    • Awarded for outstanding bedside teaching.
  • Teacher of the Year, Saskatoon: Dr. Linden Kolbenson (Assistant Professor GIM)

Dr. Kolbenson receives an award.

  • Teacher of the Year, Regina: Dr. Aadam Ijaz (Assistant Professor GIM)

    • Awarded for excellence in informal and formal teaching.

  • Distinguished Lecturer Award: Dr. Kathryn Whittemore (Critical Care)

    • Awarded for outstanding contribution to Grand Rounds, Academic Half Day or Subspecialty Rounds.

Resident Awards

The following awards were voted on by faculty – and residents where noted – and awarded to residents in the Core IM program. The awards were presented by Dr. Jessie Baptiste (Assistant Professor GIM, Department of Medicine Director of Post Graduate Medical Education).

  • David Cotton Award: Dr. Dammy Bello

    • Awarded to the junior resident who best displays the qualities of professionalism, accountability, commitment to excellence, duty, integrity and respect for patients and colleagues.

  • Ian Holmes Award: Drs. Tanna Lauriente (right-centre) and Aubree Worobetz (left-centre)

    • Presented to the senior resident who best displays the qualities of professionalism, accountability, commitment to excellence, duty, integrity and respect for patients and colleagues.

Dr. Lauriente and Dr. Worobetz receive an award.

  • Regina Resident of the Year: Dr. Kayla Lett (right)

    • Presented to the resident who best displays the qualities of professionalism, accountability, commitment to excellence, duty, integrity and respect for patients and colleagues.

Dr. Lett receives an award.

  • W. Wilson Spirit Award, Saskatoon: Drs. Dammy Bello and Arsh Marwaha

  • W. Wilson Spirit Award, Regina: Dr. Juliane Markewich

    • Awarded by the internal medicine residents to the resident(s) whose outstanding contribution to the program helped to build a rewarding and positive environment, motivating and inspiring his or her colleagues.

  • The Alex Trebek Award, Saskatoon: Drs. Logan Hahn (right) and Tanna Lauriente (centre)

Dr. Hahn and Dr. Worobetz receive an award.

  • The Alex Trebek Award, Regina: Dr. Jacob Myles

    • Awarded to the senior resident(s) who best demonstrates excellence in bedside teaching, informal teaching, morning report teaching or any other teaching activities.

  • Special thanks to: Christina Sparrow

Christina Sparrow receives a special thank you.

Resident Research Awards

These resident research awards were based on the results of resident research days conducted in fall 2024 and spring 2025. These awards were presented by Dr. Julian Tam (Assistant Professor Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine), who is the research faculty lead for the Core IM program.

  • PGY2 Fall Research Days First Prize: Drs. Belinda Yee & Nafisa Absher

  • PGY2 Fall Research Days Second Prize: Dr. Kayla Lett

Dr. Lett receives an award.

  • PGY2 Fall Research Days Third Prize: Dr. Tanna Lauriente

Dr. Lauriente receives an award.

  • Honourable Mention: Dr. Joel Tehse

  • PGY1 Case Presentations First Prize: Dr. Addison Bertrand

Dr. Bertrand receives an award.

  • PGY1 Case Presentations Second Prize: Dr. Sehar Parvez

  • PGY1 Case Presentations Third Prize: Dr. Nancy Cai

Dr. Cai receives an award.

  • Honourable Mention: Dr. Samantha Skebo

  • The Kloppenburg Resident Research Prize in Medicine: Dr. Logan Hahn

    • Awarded to the PGY3 resident who has displayed consistent excellence in resident research throughout three core years of internal medicine training. Presented by Dr. Julian Tam and Cheryl Kloppenburg.

Dr. Hahn receives an award.