DMAA announces 2024 award recipients

Dr. Allen Finley (MD’80) is a distinguished pediatric anesthesiologist and pain management expert with nearly three decades of experience. He holds the position of Professor of Anesthesia, Pain Management, & Perioperative Medicine at Dalhousie University, where he is also cross appointed as Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience. Dr. Finley is the inaugural Dr. Stewart Wenning Chair in Pediatric Pain Management at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax and directs the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research.

Dr. Deanna Field (MD'05) played a pivotal role in establishing and expanding the rural week program at Dalhousie Medical School for the Northern Zone. She has been a dedicated leader in medical education, mentoring medical students, residents, nurse practitioners, and allied healthcare workers. As Site Director for the North Nova Family Medicine Residency program, Deanna was instrumental in its development, securing funding for teaching facilities and recruiting over 100 physicians to participate as educators. Despite challenges, she successfully grew the program from 6 to 20 family medicine residents over five years. Deanna's ongoing commitment includes curriculum leadership and advocacy 

Dr. Brent Young (MD’19) is Anishinaabe and a member of Sandy Bay First Nation. His mother is a Sixties Scoop Survivor, and his grandmother was a survivor of Sandy Bay Indian Residential School. He was born and raised in Unama’ki. He is a family physician at Sipekne’katik Health Centre, academic director for Indigenous health at Dalhousie Medical School, and founding clinical lead of Wije’winen Health Centre. He played a key role in supporting the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in establishing this service for the urban Indigenous community of Halifax in 2022. Through his leadership, Dalhousie Medical School has seen a substantial increase in the number of Indigenous medical students being admitted through a new Indigenous Admissions Pathway. This pathway is poised to become a key driver of the Indigenous physician workforce in the region and across Canada. His primary area of interest is dismantling anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare systems using rights-based frameworks.

Dr. Jean Cameron (MD'83, PGM (Family Medicine)'85) is celebrated for her exceptional fundraising efforts, earning her the inaugural DMAA Engagement Award. As president of the MD Class of 1983, she spearheaded one of Dalhousie's most successful class fundraising projects. The MD Class of 1983 Wellness Fund, raising over $300,000, supports medical students' wellness activities, ranking as the second-largest class fund in the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Cameron's leadership also garnered high participation rates, with over 56% of classmates contributing. She inspired her class to achieve milestones like the 200K and 300K Cups, fostering a culture of philanthropy and community among alumni, culminating in a memorable 40-year reunion in 2023.

Dr. Miranda Lees (MD ’22) has distinguished herself as a standout leader during her Family Medicine residency at the Saint John site of Dalhousie. She has been recognized with the Resident Leadership Award for her advocacy, community engagement, and mentorship. Miranda's advocacy efforts include serving as Assistant Chief Resident, where she has collaborated with program administration and New Brunswick physician recruiters to enhance recruitment efforts. She also holds roles on the New Brunswick Medical Society's Family Medicine Specialty Council Executive and Primary Care Task Force, advocating for fair compensation models and addressing physician concerns provincially.