DMAA announces 2023 award recipients

Dr. Bob Abraham (BSc'83, MD'87, PGM'92) epitomizes the relentless pursuit of excellence. He has received accolades as a mentor, teacher and researcher, and is an internationally recognized speaker and visionary in his field. His unwavering commitment to innovation led him to co-found ABK Biomedical. As CEO he raised millions in grants and investment and pioneered the development of revolutionary image-guided cancer treatments. As Canadian Association for Interventional Radiology President and Chair of the RCPSC Radiology Examination, his innovative thinking and dedication to excellence, equality and fairness resulted in transformative organizational changes. He is an ardent advocate and volunteer for social causes. His journey embodies the power of vision, perseverance, and determination, leaving an indelible mark on medicine and the world at large driven by his unyielding passion to improve people's lives.

Dr. Orlando Hung (BScPh'79, MD’83, PGM'88) has had a profound impact on Dalhousie University, beginning first as an award-winning pharmacy student in 1976 and then as an inspirational medical student, and anesthesia resident. After a two-years leave as a research fellow in clinical pharmacology at Stanford University, he returned home to Dalhousie to begin his formidable career as an anesthesiologist, pharmacologist, educator, researcher and inventor.

Dr. Hung is internationally renowned as a leader in the specialty of anesthesiology. An ingenious and innovative thinker, his most recent invention is the FIVAFlow^TM monitor device which aids in safe administration of IV fluid by monitoring and alerting clinicians and nurses. He has also made significant contributions to the field of advanced airway management in assisting the development of Airway management Guidelines for the Canadian Society of Anesthesiologists.

Dr. Michelle Dow (MD'87, PGM'88) is a dedicated medical practitioner to her patients and her community. She has been a leader in establishing a collaborative community health centre to provide care for the residents of Clare and surrounding areas. Over the years, she has also provided ongoing mentorship to the new physicians recruited at the Clare Health Center.

Dr. Dow has provided leadership at her clinic as medical director as well as to the broader medical community with her DoctorsNS positions (president 2016-2017; MAMG 2018-2022).  She is a preceptor to new physicians with the longitudinal integrated residency program from South West Nova. This has provided recruitment opportunities for new physicians to join the Clare team and provide ongoing care within the community. She is currently in a TIPTOP transition with a former resident who will eventually take over her practice.

Dr. Trudy Taylor (MD’01, PGM'06) contributed to undergraduate medical education in the position of unit head early in her medical career, then transitioned to Program Director for the Adult Rheumatology training program at Dalhousie.

Nationally, she has been a longstanding member of the Specialty Committee for Rheuamtology at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of and active member of the Canadian Rheumatology Association. She is the current Vice President of the Canadian Rheuamtology Association and will take over the role of president in the upcoming year.

Dr. Taylor been recognized for her excellence in medical education locally and nationally, including the Department of Medicine Excellence in Medical Education award twice, the Outstanding Faculty Resident’s Choice Award for the Department of Medicine, the Faculty of Medicine Excellence in Education  Award, a the prestigious Association of Faculties of Medicine in Canada (AFMC) Clinical Teacher Award.

Dr. Sarah Mader (JD'15, MD’21) is an exemplary physician who is well respected by her resident colleagues as well as her Dal Medicine colleagues. Beyond her chief resident position, she has taken on a pivotal role in simulation training with Dalhousie’s Longitudinal Integrated Clerks. She has run monthly simulation sessions with the medical students and is also working on a local guide to the LIC here in Cape Breton. Dr. Mader has a keen interest in Primary Maternity Care and was able to organize a local ALARM course in Cape Breton. She is helping to reshape the Primary Maternity Care delivery locally as she plans to stay and practice in the area. Dr. Mader has been passionate about maternity care delivery to First Nations, and often ensures culturally responsive care is delivered in this setting.

Dr. Courtney Gullickson (BSc'15, MD’19) has been an outstanding resident leader since she started her pediatrics residency at Dalhousie three years ago. Her leadership skills have been most notable over the past year during her tenure as MarDocs President. Dr. Gullickson was the lead resident during contract negotiations and was able to secure a new deal that has directly improved resident wellness and educational opportunities as well as developed a new program that has provided fresh meals for residents on call. Dr. Gullickson has also undertaken several positions behind the scenes, including as a member of the Resident Doctors of Canada board of directors, the PGME Dean selection committee, and the PGME committee, to name a few.