Alum of the Year
Awarding excellence
Since 1968, we’ve been celebrating retired and active physicians who have made unique and international contributions to clinical practice, teaching, or research. Over the years, we’ve chosen recipients who have been internationally recognized, published, and have participated in national professional and academic societies.
Every fall, the Dalhousie Medical Alumni Association celebrates the careers of our outstanding alumni through the DMAA Alumni Awards. For the first time ever, the award was co-presented to four individuals - all provincial chief medical officers of health.
2025 Recipient
Dr. Diane McIntosh (MD’93, PGM’98, BSCPH’89)
Dr. Diane McIntosh is an exceptional nominee for the Alumnus of the Year Award, embodying the very best of Dalhousie’s legacy through her distinguished career in psychiatry, medical education, and mental health advocacy. Her groundbreaking work includes co-founding SwitchRx, an essential resource used by tens of thousands of healthcare providers for evidence-based psychotropic medication management. She also launched PsychedUpCME, a platform enhancing continuing education for psychiatric prescribing, and founded RAPIDS Health, pioneering personalized clinical decision support in mental health.
Dr. McIntosh is also a powerful voice in public education and advocacy, authoring acclaimed books such as This Is Depression and co-hosting influential podcasts that demystify mental illness and reduce stigma. Her leadership extends to national boards and contributions to clinical research and guidelines, further cementing her influence in psychiatry. In 2025, her exceptional service was nationally recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, underscoring her profound impact on mental health care and education in Canada.