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Each year, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada recognizes distinguished individuals for their leadership, excellence and achievements in academic medicine.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients from Dalhousie University.

2023 AFMC John Ruedy Award for Innovation in Medical Education: Dr. Joan Sargent

To honour Dr. John Ruedy on his retirement as Dean of Medicine at Dalhousie University in 1999, the Faculty of Medicine established a national award in his name. The AFMC – John Ruedy Award for Innovation in Medical Education will be awarded to an individual or group who has developed innovative print materials, electronic learning aids or other teaching aids.

Joan Sargeant, PhD is Professor, Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS and is now in a post-retirement position.  She is past Head, Division of Medical Education, Dalhousie University and continues to be active as an educator, researcher and mentor. Her research program of 20 years on feedback and coaching explores engaging learners and practitioners in relationship-based feedback and coaching conversations that foster growth and development, and includes researchers and educators from various universities and countries. She is also interested in understanding how feedback and coaching can lessen the angst of feedback for faculty and learners and foster learner wellness.  

2023 AFMC Learner Changemaker Award: Dr. Thomas Brothers

The two Learner Changemaker Awards each celebrate an exceptional 1) medical learner (medical student/resident) and 2) a health research graduate student/post-doctoral scholar who has created real and meaningful change for those training in Canadian faculties of medicine or health sciences faculties.

Dr. Thomas (Tommy) Brothers, is a subspecialty resident in General Internal Medicine and the Clinician-Investigator Program at Dalhousie University. He is also a PhD student in Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London (UK). His clinical and research work focuses on improving health care for people with substance use disorders, including integrating addiction treatment and harm reduction into general medical settings. Tommy helped to organize and lead an unofficial, trainee-run hospital inpatient addiction medicine consultation service and Halifax’s first supervised injection site. With community partners (including people with lived experience), he contributes to many clinical, educational, and research initiatives to improve health care for people with substance use disorders.

2023 AFMC Clinician-Scientist Award: Dr. Scott Halperin

The Clinician-Scientist award emphasizes the importance of excellence in all pillars of health research in advancing knowledge and recognizes an individual in Canada who has provided an exceptional research training environment for medical students, residents, fellows, health research graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

Dr. Scott Halperin is a Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His area of expertise is pertussis, and his research addresses key issues in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pertussis and other vaccine-preventable diseases across all age groups. As Director of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology and Nominated Principal Investigator of the Canadian Immunization Research Network, Dr. Halperin has played a foundational role in the establishment of these and other Canadian collaborative research networks undertaking evaluative vaccine research that informs public health policy and practice.