Calgary cardiologist 'ecstatic' to be named U of C medicine dean
'Great health care requires a great medical school. There's just no way around that'
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A longtime Calgary cardiologist says he’s thrilled to take the helm of his hometown medical school.
Dr. Todd Anderson was recently appointed dean of the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary on a renewable five-year term set to begin July 1.
“Calgary is a special place. Part of the reason I stayed here for so many years is it’s an incredibly charitable community,” said Anderson, who is currently the school’s vice-dean and a professor in the department of cardiac sciences.
“To be given that opportunity, that privilege to be part of that leadership team is really very gratifying. I’m ecstatic about this opportunity that has been given to me.”
Anderson completed his undergraduate education as well as medical school and his residency at the U of C. He left the city for a three-year research fellowship at Harvard University in 1990 but returned to Calgary, where he’s been an academic clinician since.
Though his primary focus has been on academic research and leadership, Anderson made a point of continuing to see patients through the years. Staying connected to patient care is important, he said, given the fundamental purpose of a medical school is to find ways to better meet the needs of community members.
“I have a busy clinic of people I’ve been following for 25 years,” Anderson said. “I think it’s good. It allows me to be grounded, to kind of understand what the needs are for the patients.
“Great health care requires a great medical school. There’s just no way around that. If you’re not generating knowledge and training the people to look after things, you’re never going to be cutting-edge.”
Anderson said his main goals for the term will be working with Alberta Health Services to bolster the province’s health-care system. He added he also wants to strengthen the school’s equity, diversity, inclusion and wellness aims for faculty and students.
Another development of note during Anderson’s term will be the opening of the Calgary Cancer Centre, currently estimated for 2023. It will be the second-largest cancer centre in North America.
Anderson said the centre will be a point of pride for the city and will help enable more research from the medical school.
“I remember when the Tom Baker Cancer Centre first opened long ago, I was just starting undergraduate, and it was a terrific legacy at the time but it’s 40 years old,” he said. “It’ll be a centre of excellence in Canada to attract the best and brightest individuals who want to train here.”
The current Cumming School of Medicine dean, Dr. Jon Meddings, has served in the role since July 2012.
Twitter: @jasonfherring
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