Celebrating accomplishment

The Dalhousie Medical Alumni Association (DMAA) Alumni Recognition Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in medical research and clinical practice and showcase alumni contributions to the medical school, students, and the community.

2023 DMAA award categories:

• Alum of the Year
• Exceptional Service
• Family Physician of the Year
• Young Alumnus/a of the Year
• Resident Leadership Award – Family Medicine
• Resident Leadership Award – Royal College Specialties and Subspecialties

Alum of the Year

Since 1968, Dal Med has celebrated retired and active physicians who have made unique and international contributions to clinical practice, teaching, or research throughout their careers. Over the years, the Alum of the Year recipients have been internationally recognized, published, and members of national professional and academic societies.

2023 recipient: Dr. Bob Abraham

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.

Exceptional Service Award

The Exceptional Service Award was first presented at the inaugural meeting of the DMAA in 1958. Since then, DMAA has honoured a senior alum who is highly respected in their field, with an outstanding career and level of service in the practice of medicine.

2023 recipient: Dr. Orlando Hung 

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. Hung has made significant contributions to the anesthesia Global Health initiative, in teaching and curriculum development, in countries working to build anesthesia capability, particularly in low-income countries like Rwanda. Dr Hung has been a longstanding supporter and volunteer with the Canadian Anesthesiologists Society International Education Foundation (CASIEF).

Family Physician of the Year Award

Each year, we recognize a family physician who consistently makes a significant contribution to his or her medical practice and community. The Family Physician of the Year Award was initiated in 2007 to recognize the impact of small-practice and rural physicians. We highlight family physicians who provide extraordinary medical care, set an exceptional example in the practice of family medicine, teach medical students and residents, and advocate for the health of their community.

2023 recipient: Dr. Michelle Dow

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.

Young Alum of the Year Award

DMAA first presented this award in 2002 to recognize Dalhousie Medical School graduates who make significant contributions to a medical school or their community in the first two decades of their career. The work can be in clinical practice, teaching, research, or public service.

2023 recipient: Dr. Trudy Taylor

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.

Resident Leadership Award – Family Medicine including Enhanced Skills Program

Instituted in 2020, this award recognizes a Dalhousie Medical School resident in a Family Medicine or Family Medicine Enhanced Skills program who has demonstrated outstanding leadership. Areas of leadership could include but are not limited to advocacy, research, community engagement, mentorship of students and/or other residents, or administration. Nominees must be in a residency program at the time of nomination to be eligible.

2023 recipient: Dr. Sarah Mader

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.

Resident Leadership Award – Royal College Specialties & Subspecialties

Instituted in 2020, this award recognizes a Dalhousie Medical School resident in a Royal College Specialty or Subspecialty program who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in their field. Areas of leadership could include but are not limited to advocacy, research, community engagement, mentorship of students and/or other residents, or administration. Nominees must be in a residency program at time of nomination to be eligible.

2023 recipient: Dr. Courtney Gullickson

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.