Celebrating Department Success

Whether you're a prospective student, a current member of our department, or a collaborator, we invite you to explore the incredible work being done by our faculty and staff. Their dedication to research, education, and community engagement is what makes our department thrive.

Help us celebrate by making submissions for this page here. 

Fall 2026 Spotlight Stories

Faculty Excellence

• Drs. Cindy Feng and JianLi Wang receive Research Nova Scotia's Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award
  Congratulations to Dr. Cindy Feng and Dr. JianLi Wang on receiving Research Nova Scotia's Mental Health & Addictions Research Funding Award. This prestigious award supports Nova Scotia researchers whose work advances understanding of mental health and addictions while addressing the social, structural, and environmental factors that shape well-being. The funding will support important research aimed at improving access to care, advancing health equity, and strengthening mental health outcomes for communities across the province. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the impact of their work.
  
  Read more about the award here.

• Dr. Jill Hayden invited to deliver keynote at international low back pain congress
  Dr. Jill Hayden, professor in the Department of Community Health & Epidemiology and lead of Dalhousie's Back Pain Evidence Synthesis and Translation (BACK) Program, has been invited to deliver a keynote lecture at the 12th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain, to be held in Porto, Portugal, from 2 to 5 November 2026. The congress is one of the world's leading multidisciplinary meetings focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lumbopelvic pain, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and policymakers from across the globe.
  
  Dr. Hayden is internationally recognized for her research in musculoskeletal health, evidence synthesis, prognostic research, and knowledge translation. Her invitation to deliver a keynote lecture recognizes her significant contributions to advancing the understanding and management of low back pain and her ongoing leadership in translating research evidence into improved patient care and health system decision-making.
  
  
• Faculty of Medicine recognizes top tutors Drs. Gabriela Ilie, Robin Urquhart and Michelle Dimitris
  We are proud to celebrate Drs. Gabriela Ilie, Robin Urquhart, and Michelle Dimitris, who have been recognized among the top 10 per cent of MED 1 tutors for the 2025–26 academic year, each earning a perfect student evaluation score of 5/5.
  
  This recognition reflects their outstanding dedication to teaching, mentorship, and learner success. Through their expertise, commitment, and passion for education, they are helping shape the next generation of physicians.
  
  Thank you, Gabriela, Robin, and Michelle, for the lasting impact you make on our students and our medical education community. We are fortunate to have you sharing your knowledge and experience with the physicians of tomorrow.
  
  

Staff Achievements

• Coming soon!

Student Success

• CH&E PhD Graduate Allie Carew Receives Inaugural Excellence in Research Training Award
  The Department of Community Health & Epidemiology is proud to congratulate Allie Carew, a recent PhD graduate, on being named the inaugural recipient of the Dalhousie Medical Alumni Association (DMAA) Excellence in Research Training Award.
  
  Introduced this year by the DMAA, the award recognizes outstanding achievement in research training and reflects a commitment to celebrating excellence across the Faculty of Medicine’s research community. As the first recipient, Allie is being recognized for her exceptional contributions as a trainee and emerging researcher.
  
  During her doctoral studies, Allie distinguished herself through scholarly excellence, scientific rigor, and a strong commitment to advancing health research. Her selection for this inaugural award is a testament to both her accomplishments and the impact of research trainees within the Faculty of Medicine.
  
  Allie will be formally recognized at the DMAA Alumni Recognition Awards, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
  
  We congratulate Allie on this well-deserved honour and wish her continued success in the next chapter of her career.

Recent Publications & Projects

Highlights from recent research, community initiatives, and strategic collaborations. 

• Dr. Adrian MacKenzie publishes research on cancer care delivery and nursing workforce sustainability
  CH&E adjunct faculty member Dr. Adrian MacKenzie has recently contributed to two publications addressing key challenges facing healthcare systems: access to care and workforce sustainability.
  
  Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Population-Level Trends in Utilization of Outpatient Medical Oncology Services examines trends in the use of outpatient medical oncology services, providing insights that can help inform cancer care planning and the delivery of oncology services.
  
  Dr. MacKenzie also co-authored Initiatives to Support Nursing Workforce Sustainability: A Rapid Umbrella Review, published in International Journal of Nursing Studies – Advances. The review synthesizes evidence on initiatives designed to support recruitment, retention, and sustainability within the nursing workforce.
  
  Together, these studies reflect Dr. MacKenzie's ongoing contributions to health services and workforce research, generating evidence that supports effective healthcare planning and strengthened health system performance.
  
  

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