Appointment of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Saleem Razack as Dean of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine for a five-year term starting September 1, 2026.

Dr. Saleem Razack is a tenured professor of pediatrics, pediatric intensivist, and medical education researcher at BC Children’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto and completed his pediatrics and PICU training at the Montreal Children’s Hospital/McGill University, where he was on faculty from 1996-2022. He has held several positions of educational and clinical leadership locally and nationally. His research program focuses on best practices in health profession education with a specific focus on health equity and anti-oppressive educational curricula, as well as the intersection of patient safety and health equity. He is the author of over 70 publications and is the 2025 recipient of the AFMC President’s Award for Exemplary National Leadership in Medical Education. Other notable awards and honours he has received include the AFMC May Cohen Equity and Gender award (2012), and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada Award for Leadership in Medical Education (2014).

“I am beyond thrilled to be given the opportunity to join the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University as Dean of Medicine. I have been impressed by the Faculty of Medicine’s strong roots in the Maritimes, coupled with its excellence in innovation and global impact.

The Faculty of Medicine is truly a place which honours its commitments to socially accountable medicine, and I look forward to continuing this journey with the exceptional faculty, students, and staff across the Maritimes as we advance the mission of the Faculty of Medicine together.” — Dr. Saleem Razack

Dr. Razack will succeed Dr. David Anderson following two accomplished terms in the role. Our university, and in particular the Faculty of Medicine and its partners, have benefited immensely from Dr. Anderson’s insight, experience and leadership as Dean over the past decade, and we are grateful for his service. Dr. Anderson’s term is scheduled to conclude on June 30. Dr. Eileen Denovan-Wright, Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Medicine, will serve as Acting Dean in July and August.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the search committee for their excellent contributions over the course of the extensive and highly competitive international search process, as well as members of the Faculty of Medicine community and external partners for their active engagement throughout.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Razack on his appointment and welcoming him to Dalhousie. Our university’s leadership in health care education and research makes a tangible impact on health outcomes, care delivery and innovation across Nova Scotia, the Maritimes, and beyond. I look forward to working with Dr. Razack on growing this impact to even greater heights in the years to come.

Wanda M. Costen, PhD
Provost and Vice-President Academic

Search Committee Membership

• Chair: Dr. Wanda M. Costen, Provost and Vice-President Academic
• Cedric Blais, PhD Student, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Graduate Student Representative
• Dr. Robyn Doucet, Associate Professor; Medical Director, Education, Faculty of Medicine; Chair, Education Advisory Board (Dalhousie PGME)
• Dr. Ken Gillespie, Interim Regional Medical Education Director, Horizon Health Network
• Dr. Krista Jangaard, Associate Professor at the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine; President & CEO, IWK Health
• Dr. David Langelaan, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Dr. Jasmine Mah, Internal Medicine Resident
• Karen Oldfield, K.C. Interim President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health
• Dr. Jeanna Parsons Leigh, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, School of Health Administration; Killam Memorial Research Chair
• Linda Penny, Former Chief Operating Officer, Faculty of Medicine
• Benjamin Peterson, Medical Student; Past President, Dalhousie Medical Students’ Society
• Dr. Evelyn Sutton, Professor, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine; Former Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education
• Dr. Sarah Wells, Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine; Assistant Dean, Medical Sciences Program and Associate Dean, Basic Science
• Dr. Brent Young, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine; Academic Director of Indigenous Health, Faculty of Medicine; Clinical Lead at Wije’winen Health Centre, Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Society