Department honours outstanding achievements

The Department of Medicine’s annual banquet was held on Friday, May 10. Guest speaker Dr. Darcy Marciniuk, Associate Vice-President Research, University of Saskatchewan (USask) and Professor of Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, delivered a message about the importance and rewards of engaging in clinical research.

Awards were presented to winners in several categories, including faculty and resident research awards, resident and faculty awards and the annual provincial head awards. All 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. Josh Lawson (Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health and Director of Research, Department of Medicine).

• Clinician of the Year: Dr. Kirsten Walker (Division Head, Dermatology). 

• Researcher of the Year: Dr. Benjamin Leis (GIM). 

• Researcher of the Year: Dr. Michael Levin (Neurology, Saskatchewan Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research Chair). 

• Teacher of the Year: Dr. Jason Orvold (Division Head, Cardiology). 

The Department of Medicine's Faculty Research Day was held on Friday, May 3.

Awards were presented at the annual banquet by Dr. Robert Skomro, Interim Director of Research for the Department of Medicine.

• First place presentation: Dr. Kerri Schellenberg (Neurology).

• Second place presentation: Dr. Michael Prystajecky (GIM). 

• Third place presentation: Dr. Erika Penz (Division Head, Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine). 

• Bedside Teacher of the Year, Saskatoon: Dr. Linden Kolbenson (GIM). Awarded to a Saskatoon faculty member in the internal medicine program for outstanding bedside teaching.
• Bedside Teacher of the Year, Regina: Dr. Kelsey Tallon (Respirology). Awarded to a Regina faculty member in the internal medicine program for outstanding bedside teaching.

• Teachers of the Year, Saskatoon: Drs. Linden Kolbenson (GIM) and Bev Wudel (Infectious Diseases). Awarded for excellence in informal and formal teaching.
• Teacher of the Year, Regina: Dr. Brendon Macknak (Cardiology). 

• Distinguished Lecturer Award: Dr. Michael Prystajecky (GIM). 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. These awards were presented by Dr. Baptiste. 

• Dr. David Cotton Award: Dr. Aubree Worobetz. Awarded to the junior resident who best displays the qualities of professionalism, accountability, commitment to excellence, duty, integrity and respect for patients and colleagues.

• Dr. Ian Holmes Award: Drs. Brook Danger and Zach Huschi. 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. Katherine Markewich. 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. Maria Merlano. 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. Lisa Hubbs. 

• The Alex Trebek Award, Saskatoon: Dr. Zach Huschi.
• The Alex Trebek Award, Regina: Dr. Karl Vantomme. Awarded to the senior residents who best demonstrates excellence in bedside teaching, informal teaching, morning report teaching or any other teaching activities. 

• PGY2 Fall Research Days First Prize: Dr. Paige Shelemey. 

• PGY2 Fall Research Days Second Prize: Dr. Hannah Latour.

• PGY2 Fall Research Days Third Prize: Drs. Brook Danger and Fiona Burns (not pictured). 

• PGY1 Case Presentations First Prize: Dr. Arman Brar.

• PGY1 Case Presentations Second Prize: Dr. Nicholas Robichaud. 

•  PGY1 Case Presentations Third Prize: Dr. Arshdeep Marwaha. 

• The Kloppenburg Resident Research Prize in Medicine: Dr. Narges Ashrafinia. Awarded to the PGY3 resident who has displayed consistent excellence in resident research throughout three core years of internal medicine training. Pictured (centre) with Dr. Julian Tam and award donor Cheryl Kloppenburg (right).