Annual banquet time to shine

The Department of Medicine’s annual banquet was held on Friday, May 12. Guest speaker Dr. Janet Tootoosis, Interim Vice Dean Indigenous Health at the College of Medicine outlined the priorities for the new Department of Indigenous Health and Wellness at the University of Saskatchewan's (USask) College of Medicine. 

Awards were presented to winners in several categories, including faculty and resident research awards, resident and faculty awards and the annual provincial head awards. Photos are by Dave Stobbe. 

The Provincial Head Awards were presented by Dr. Haissam Haddad, Provincial Head, Department of Medicine at the USask College of Medicine.

• Administrator of the Year: Dr. Bonnie Richardson (Nephrology, Regina Area Lead).

• Teacher of the Year: Dr. Julian Tam (Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Saskatoon).

• Clinician of the Year: Dr. Kempe Gowda (General Internal Medicine, Saskatoon).
• Researcher of the Year: Dr. Bhanu Prasad (Nephrology, Regina), not pictured.

The Department of Medicine's Faculty Research Day was held on Friday, May 5. Awards were presented the following week at the annual banquet by Dr. Josh Lawson, Director of Research for the Department of Medicine.

• First place presentation: Dr. Niels Koehncke (Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture).
• Second place presentation: Dr. Bhanu Prasad (Nephrology, Regina), not pictured.
• Third place presentation: Dr. Linden Kolbenson (GIM, Saskatoon).

• Bedside Teacher of the Year, Saskatoon: Dr. Ben Leis (GIM). Awarded to a Saskatoon staff member in the internal medicine program for outstanding bedside teaching.
• Bedside Teacher of the Year, Regina: Dr. Kathryn Whittemore (Critical Care), not pictured. Awarded to a Regina  staff member in the internal medicine program for outstanding bedside teaching.

• Teacher of the Year, Saskatoon: Dr. Megan Surkan (Geriatric Medicine). Awarded to a Saskatoon staff member in the internal medicine program for excellence in informal and formal teaching.

• Teacher of the Year, Regina: Dr. Ingrid Wirth (Respirology). Awarded to a staff member in the internal medicine program for excellence in informal and formal teaching.
• Distinguished Lecturer Award: Dr. Ingrid Wirth. Awarded to a staff member in the internal medicine program for outstanding contribution to Grand Rounds, Academic Half Day or Subspecialty Rounds. 

The following awards were voted on by faculty –and residents where noted– and awarded to residents in the Core IM program. Dr. Anne PausJenssen, Division Head of General Internal Medicine (GIM) presented the awards.

• David Cotton Award: Drs. Zach Huschi (not pictured) and Paige Shelemey. 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: Dr. Preston Njaa. Presented to the senior resident who best displays the qualities of professionalism, accountability, commitment to excellence, duty, integrity and respect for patients and colleagues.

• Regina Resident of the Year: Dr. Lindsey Richels. Presented to the resident who best displays the qualities of professionalism, accountability, commitment to excellence, duty, integrity and respect for patients and colleagues.

• T.W. Wilson Spirit Award, Saskatoon: Dr. Tanna Lauriente. Awarded by the internal medicine residents to the resident whose outstanding contribution to the program helped to build a rewarding and positive environment, motivating and inspiring his or her colleagues.
• T.W. Wilson Spirit Award, Regina: Dr. Katherine Markewich, not pictured. 
• The Alex Trebek Award, Saskatoon: Dr. Muzzamil Jelani, not pictured. Awarded to the senior resident who best demonstrates excellence in bedside teaching, informal teaching, morning report teaching or any other teaching activities.
• The Alex Trebek Award, Regina: Dr. Ahmed Radwan, not pictured. 

• PGY2 Fall Research Days First Prize: Drs. Stephanie Choquette (not pictured) and Dr. Preston Njaa
• PGY2 Fall Research Days Second Prize: Drs. Olivia Friesen and Garrett Robson, not pictured. 
• PGY2 Fall Research Days Third Prize: Drs. Adrian Chan and Jake Towriss, not pictured. 
• PGY1 Case Presentations First Prize: Dr. Hailey Tyndall, not pictured. 
• PGY1 Case Presentations Second Prize: Dr. Belinda Yee, not pictured. 

• PGY1 Case Presentations Third Prize: Dr. Molly Rayner

• The Kloppenburg Resident Research Prize in Medicine: Dr. Lindsay Richels. 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.