College of Medicine - University of Saskatchewan

2026 Award Recognition!

This award was established by the Alumni Association in honour of Dr. Louis Horlick, Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, and is presented to an individual who has contributed service over and above the call of duty.

Dr. Baserman was nominated by Dr. Mark Inman and Dr. Erin Woods who highlighted his extraordinary service and dedication to the College of Medicine through his unwavering commitment to learners, colleagues, patients, and the broader community. They noted his exceptional generosity of time, joyful and compassionate approach to teaching and mentorship, leadership in simulation and education, and his consistent ability to bring people together, foster belonging, and uplift others.

See Dr. Baserman’s Circle of Support statement on the awards webpage: https://medicine.usask.ca/awards.php

Join us in congratulating Dr. Baserman below!

Photo credit (second photo): Matt Braden Photography

June is Pride Month! 🌈

A time to celebrate love, identity, and belonging, and to stand in support of all 2SLGBTQ+ people and communities. Together, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming space for all.

Take time to connect, commemorate, and celebrate Pride, and join us as we continue to work to make our campus community a safe and supportive place for all students, staff, faculty, alumni, and visitors:

📍Pre-Pride Parade Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, June 28, 2026
D Room Atrium (HLTH GD50), Health Sciences Building, Saskatoon, 9-11 AM

Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=0GyrJH5IIkebw9qcQjJ3bFnQU799IKlHghCTp9aB0dtUQUJUVFYzNUNJVU1KM0pWSDFLSk9aREJBOC4u&route=shorturl

📍Saskatoon Pride Parade
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Downtown Saskatoon, 12-1 PM

🔗 Resources
https://medicine.usask.ca/news/2026/pride-month.php
https://spotlight.usask.ca/
Division of Social Accountability - U of S

With a gift from the Swanson family, University of Saskatchewan medical students undertaking rural placements can focus more on learning and less on the cost of living.

Led by Dr. Stella Swanson and her family, this support helps ease housing costs, making it easier for students to train in rural communities where they’re needed most.

The gift honours the legacy of the late Dr. Rick Swanson—an exceptional physician, educator, and advocate—and reflects the family’s shared commitment to medical education and rural care.

“Rick’s legacy is the dedication to make it possible to be a practitioner in rural medicine and to have the connections and continuing education you need to keep practicing,” said Dr. Stella Swanson.

The family have also endowed an annual award recognizing an outstanding rural physician.

Through their generosity, the Swansons are helping students succeed and strengthening care in rural communities across Saskatchewan.

USask Alumni

https://medicine.usask.ca/news/2026/swanson-legacy-invests-in-rural-medical-students.php

As we recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, we celebrate the contributions and achievements of Indigenous learners across our college community.

Earlier this year, students from the College of Medicine were honoured at 's Indigenous Student Achievement Awards, which recognizes the achievements of Métis, First Nations and Inuit students in the areas of academic achievement, leadership, community engagement and research.

We are proud to once again celebrate these outstanding students and their accomplishments!

Congratulations to:

Community Engagement Award
- Mackenzie Naytowhow, Biomedical Science

Leadership Award
- Connor Clarke, Biomedical Science
- Hannah Courtoreille, Master of Physical Therapy
- Michelle Desjarlais, Undergraduate Medical Education
- Samantha Leech, Undergraduate Medical Education

Research Award
- Caleb White, Biomedical Neuroscience

School of Rehabilitation Science

https://medicine.usask.ca/news/2026/indigenous-achievement-week.php

✨ Meet Laura Dyck and Ario Safaeian , two undergraduate biomedical sciences honours graduates who received their degrees at Spring Convocation! 🎓

Laura investigated antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii under the supervision of Dr. Jessica Sheldon (PhD). Her research helps us better understand how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics (an important public health challenge) and could support the development of more effective treatments in the future.

Ario, supervised by Drs. John Howland (PhD) and Catherine Ivy (PhD), studied how cannabis smoke affects breathing and metabolism. He received Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Canadian Institutes of Health Research undergraduate research awards, and is a first author on an upcoming lab publication.

Both students shared their undergraduate research experiences and reflections on their time at .

This fall, they’ll begin the next chapter of their education as first-year MD students in Saskatoon. 🩺

From lectures to labs: Biomedical sciences students earn honours degrees - College of Medicine For two University of Saskatchewan (USask) undergraduate students, their education was more than lectures, labs and exams, it was also about discovery.

It started with a $25 gift to the College of Medicine.

What followed is a 45-year tradition of generosity and service for Dr. David Keegan (MD’64)—one that has supported countless students and helped the College of Medicine train future physicians. His impact continues to grow through a legacy gift for learners in psychiatry and family medicine.

From his time as a medical student to his career in family medicine and psychiatry, Keegan has championed a collaborative approach to care. His work helped shape early models of patient-centred care for mental health, focused on dignity and better outcomes.

For Keegan, giving is about more than financial support. It reflects his belief in medicine that is collaborative, compassionate and firmly rooted in community.

USask Alumni

Read more:

Advancing collaborative care through generosity and service - College of Medicine It began with just $25.

Celebrating 30 years of impact! 🧠

The Cameco Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Neuroscience Research Centre at Saskatoon City Hospital, led by director Dr. Valerie-Verge (PhD), marked its 30th anniversary on June 9.

The milestone recognized founder Dr. Walter Hader’s (MD) vision and a legacy of advancing neuroscience research and patient care, which has included welcoming Dr. Michael C. Levin, MD as the Saskatchewan MS Clinical Research Chair.

The event showcased how the work of its principal investigators, trainees, and highly qualified personnel has led to important discoveries and brought us closer to new treatments for people living with MS and other neurological disorders.

Appreciation awards were presented to the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation, the College of Medicine, Cameco Corporation and the Saskatchewan Health Authority for their support.

"30 Years of Discovery – It Started Here: From Vision to Reality, 1996–2026"

June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, which recognizes and celebrates the history and diverse cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada.

Join our campus community at these events celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day:

📍Rock Your Roots
Friday, June 19, 2026
Victoria Park, Saskatoon, 10:30 AM

📍Métis Nation - Saskatchewan: Free Community BBQ
Friday, June 19, 2026
Victoria Park, Saskatoon, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Wanuskewin National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations
Saturday, June 21, 2026, Wanuskewin, 10 AM – 4 PM

📍Remai Modern: National Indigenous Peoples Day Screening: Powwow People (with Sky Hopinka)
Friday, June 19, 2026
Remai Modern, Saskatoon, 7 PM

🔗Resources
https://medicine.usask.ca/news/2026/national-indigenous-peoples-day.php
https://spotlight.usask.ca/
Division of Social Accountability - U of S

2026 Award Recognition!

This award recognizes staff members at the Regina Campus for providing outstanding service and making a significant impact to the College of Medicine.

Maria was nominated by Catherine MacKay-Wilson and Annie Ethier, who highlighted her exceptional leadership, responsiveness, and deep commitment to learners while managing both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Surgery programs. They note she is a compassionate, dependable, and highly valued colleague who consistently goes above and beyond.

See Maria's Circle of Support statement on the awards webpage: https://medicine.usask.ca/awards.php

Join us in congratulating her below!