Dr. Vicky Allen is a distinguished maternal fetal medicine subspecialist whose 25-year career in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has shaped clinical practice, research, and medical education across Canada. With advanced training that spans clinical epidemiology, chemistry, and high‑level subspecialty fellowships, she has produced an exceptional scholarly record, including more than 200 peer‑reviewed publications, national guideline authorship, and leadership of major CIHR‑funded research collaborations. Her service portfolio is equally extensive, encompassing senior academic governance roles, national examination board membership, and influential contributions to clinical standards on maternal morbidity, perinatal outcomes, and substance use in pregnancy.

As a Full Professor since 2014, Dr. Allen has been a transformative educator and mentor, guiding award‑winning trainees and elevating postgraduate education through curriculum leadership and subspecialty coordination. Her impact extends beyond the university through invited national and international presentations and sustained leadership at IWK Health. Recognized with honors such as the 2026 SOGC Regional Achievement Award, 2026 IWK Board Award of Distinction and multiple CIHR and Dalhousie research distinctions, Dr. Allen has exemplified the qualities of scholarly excellence, deep commitment to mentorship, and enduring service to her institution and the broader medical community.  Dr. Allen was conferred Professor Emeritus status to coincide with her retirement from the department as of August 1, 2026.

Tom Baskett was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and educated at Belfast Royal Academy and the Queen’s University of Belfast.  He qualified in medicine in 1964 and did six years postgraduate training in general practice, surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology in Northern Ireland.

In 1970 he moved to Winnipeg as a clinical fellow and remained on staff at the Winnipeg General Hospital.  He also served as a travelling consultant with the Northern Medical Unit of the University of Manitoba.

Since 1980 he has lived and worked in Halifax at the Grace Maternity Hospital, the Victoria General Hospital, Halifax Infirmary and the Women’s Hospital of the IWK. 

In 1997 he completed the Diploma in the History of Medicine at the Society of Apothecaries of London.  He was the 2008 History Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  He has published eight books and fifty-six journal articles on the history of medicine related to obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia and resuscitation practice.  For the past thirty years he has been a regular contributor to the Dalhousie Society for the History of Medicine lecture series.

He is a past president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and of the Canadian Gynaecological Society and former editor- in- chief of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada. Dr. Baskett was the recipient of the Dalhousie Dr. G. W. Archibald Gold-headed Cane Award in the Medical Humanities in 2021. Currently he is Professor Emeritus of obstetrics and gynaecology at Dalhousie University, which was conferred as of July 1, 2010.

Dr. Farrell, who joined Dalhousie’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1990 and retired as Full Professor in 2016, has had an extraordinary career marked by exceptional research productivity, transformative educational leadership, major national service roles, and internationally recognized innovation. Dr. Farrell has led multiple randomized trials and earned numerous research awards. He reshaped urogynaecology in Canada by founding the Division and Fellowship Program at Dalhousie, training specialists who now work nationally and internationally, and receiving top teaching honours. His leadership extended to roles such as President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and Chair of the MCC O&G Examination Committee, reflecting rare national influence.

Most notably, he pioneered conservative management of pelvic floor disorders through the invention of the uresta® pessary—now used by more than 50,000 women—earning international awards and contributing evidence that led the FDA to reclassify the device for over‑the‑counter use, significantly expanding access for women across the U.S.  Dr. Farrell obtained Professor Emeritus status July 1, 2026.