University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine

Dr. Kevin Hay, MD, and his colleagues are turning the immune system into a powerful, living medicine.

Co‑director of UCalgary’s Living Medicines Initiative and medical director of the Riddell Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy, Dr. Hay is helping to develop treatments made from living things, like the body’s own cells, genes and microbes which can grow and work inside the body to fight disease.

He is leading research to eventually create more precise and effective cell therapies, especially for rare and hard-to-treat cancers.

Living medicines are not just changing cancer care, they are opening doors in new areas of medicine. It is complex research, and difficult to fund through traditional grants alone.

We are grateful for the generosity of donors like Harold and Betty Allsopp who help researchers like Dr. Hay create the foundations for future breakthroughs in living medicine.

➡️ Read more: https://bit.ly/3SfuFNH

Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases | Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI | Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education | Libin Cardiovascular Institute | O'Brien Institute for Public Health | Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute | McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health | Charbonneau Cancer Institute | University of Calgary

The Cu***ng School of Medicine (CSM) is pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Robert Newton, PhD, and appointment of Dr. Alexander Lohman, PhD.

Dr. Newton has been reappointed as head of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology effective May 1, 2026.

A professor and a vital member of the Lung Health Research Group, Dr. Newton’s core research interests lie in the actions of drugs commonly used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other inflammatory conditions.

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Dr. Lohman has been appointed head of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, effective July 1, 2026, having served in the role on an interim basis for the past year.

An associate professor in the department for three years, Dr. Lohman has also led the CSM Optogenetics Platform since 2022. His research centres on investigating neuroinflammatory dynamics after single and repetitive brain injuries using a multidisciplinary approach.

Congratulations to Dr. Newton and Dr. Lohman!

➡️ Read more: https://bit.ly/4v4k3zO

Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases | Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute | Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI

🎓 Class of 2026 | Huge congrats to all of the students who graduated this week!

We are proud to celebrate the Cu***ng School of Medicine students from across our undergraduate and Graduate Science Education programs whose perseverance and hard work led them to the convocation stage this week.

It was a special graduation ceremony full of excitement and emotion. With thanks to honorary degree recipients Marilyn and Jeff McCaig for their thoughtful convocation address and to distinguished graduate Dr. Elisabeth Woolner, MD’88, for leading the Graduates’ Pledge.

🎓 Caps in the air to everyone!

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lynn Cornell, MD, as the new academic head of the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Cu***ng School of Medicine (CSM).

Dr. Cornell is a professor with the departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Medicine at CSM and an anatomical pathologist with Alberta Precision Laboratories.

Prior to joining the University of Calgary, Dr. Cornell dedicated many years to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. She founded the Clinic’s renal pathology fellowship program and served as the program director from 2012 to 2025.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Cornell, whose appointment takes effect July 1!

➡️ Read more: https://bit.ly/4ejWo8m

Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases

We are thrilled to celebrate the first recipient of the Health Services and Policy Research Impact Award, Dr. Sumantra (Monty) Ghosh, MD! 👏🏼

This award recognizes Dr. Ghosh’s exceptional research impact and the success of the National Overdose Response Service (NORS), a full service virtual safe consumption hotline and peer wellness program.

An internist and addiction specialist in both Edmonton and Calgary, Dr. Ghosh is also an assistant professor at and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - University of Alberta. His research focuses on advancing system-level responses to substance use, homelessness, and health inequity with a central focus on overdose prevention and response.

The NORS program has become a lifeline to some of Canada’s most vulnerable people. The peer-driven service is operated in partnership with Grenfell Ministries, co-led by CEO Lisa Morris-Miller, and run by individuals with personal experience in substance use who provide confidential 24-hour support and supervision.

The inaugural research impact award celebrates the ability of the NORS project to sustain success since its launch in 2020. It is also an important recognition of the program's contributions to social and economic prosperity through the creation of meaningful employment and leadership opportunities for people with lived experience of substance use.

Presented by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research, the HSPR Impact Award recognizes research that has made an impact by contributing to the transformation of health systems, improving people’s lives, or generating social or economic benefits. It celebrates research that has moved beyond publication to achieve real-world impact.

“The CIHR CASPR Award for Social Impact is recognition of the extraordinary work being done by NORS and Grenfell Ministries,” says Dr. Ghosh. “Their staff, volunteers, and participants are creating real change on the ground. As a researcher, I was fortunate enough to help tell that story.

“The value of research is not simply to publish findings, but to provide credible evidence that helps governments and policymakers understand what works,” he adds. “Supporting community organizations in demonstrating their impact is essential if we want effective programs to receive the recognition, investment, and sustainability they deserve.”

➡️ Read more: https://www.nors.ca/

Hotchkiss Brain Institute - HBI | Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education | O'Brien Institute for Public Health

🎉 Celebrating this! Shout out to the City of Lethbridge- City Hall for supporting the Southern Alberta Medical Program!

Thanks to the city for organizing a community event to welcome the first group of medical students to join the new program, developed in partnership between the University of Lethbridgeidge and University of Calgary, and for supporting these aspiring physicians as they learn and build connections in the community.

We join in celebrating Lethbridge’s role as a regional hub for medical education and physician recruitment!

⬇️ Read more linked below.

Rural Medicine (DLRI) UofC | Rural Health Professions Action Plan

During Alberta Rural Health Care Week, City Council is proud to support the welcome of the inaugural Southern Alberta Medical Program class at the University of Lethbridge 🎉

“This is an important moment for our city and our region,” said Mayor Hyggen. “We want to welcome these students and recognize the outstanding effort of local physicians and community members who helped build this program. Many of these doctors have been doing this work on top of their regular clinical work to care for the residents of this community.”

This milestone reflects strong partnerships and a shared commitment to training future doctors in rural and regional communities. By learning and building connections here, these students are helping strengthen healthcare across southern Alberta, now and into the future.

We look forward to welcoming them to Lethbridge this summer💙

More 👉https://www.lethbridge.ca/news/posts/city-council-supports-future-doctors-to-strengthen-healthcare-in-southern-alberta/





University of Calgary's Cu***ng School of Medicine