New Appointments

Please join us in welcoming the following to their new roles

• We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Swain as the Head for the Division of Gastroenterology, University of Calgary (U of C) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) - Calgary Zone effective January 1, 2012. Previous to this he was the Acting Head of Gastroenterology from January 17, 2011 - December 31, 2011.

  Dr. Mark Swain is currently a Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterologist and Clinician-Scientist at the U of C. He has basic bench research programs funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in 2 areas, namely: i) Mechanisms underlying the development of fatigue in liver disease, and ii) the innate immune response in the regulation of hepatic inflammation. Dr. Swain's clinical research is focused in the areas of viral hepatitis and autoimmune liver disease. He is currently the Cal Wenzel Family Foundation Chair in Hepatology, and the Head of the Translational Research Core for the Snyder Institute, at the U of C.

  
  

• We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. James Silvius as the new Medical Director of Pharmacy Services for Alberta Health Services. His appointment will be effective January 1, 2012.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Dr. Alun Edwards has accepted the position of Clinical Co-Director for the Obesity, Diabetes and Nutrition Clinical Network. Prior to this,
  Dr. Edwards was the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine Division Head / Calgary Zone Clinical Section Chief of Endocrinology. He will continue his role as the provincial Medical Director for Diabetes in the Chronic Disease Prevention and Management area of Strategy and Performance.

  
  
  

• We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Greg Kline as the Acting Section Chief of Endocrinology, University of Calgary (U of C) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) – Calgary Zone, effective January 1, 2012.

  Dr. Kline received his Medical Degree from the University of Western Ontario. He completed his Internal Medicine and Endocrinology training at the University of Calgary. He is an award winning teacher and is also the Associate Medical Director for the Foothills Osteoporosis Centre.

  
  
  

• Congratulations to Dr. Brenda Hemmelgarn for her appointment as the Roy and Vi Baay Chair in Kidney Research. Her vision, mission, and objectives for this position are:

  Vision:
  Improving the lives of people affected by kidney disease.
  Mission:
  To develop a world-class clinical research and academic program housed within the Division of Nephrology, University of Calgary, that focuses on the evaluation and improvement of health care delivery for patients with or at risk of kidney disease.
  Objectives:

  • To recruit a PhD level Health Services Researcher / Epidemiologist to a Primary Faculty Appointment (Assistant Professor) with a mandate to undertake research in kidney disease and to support and enhance research activities within the Division
  • To support and foster existing academic research activities within the Division of Nephrology, through the creation of a "Core Support Unit". The Core Support Unit will be comprised of a part-time Research Director and Admin Support Staff
  • To support clinical trainees and clinical scholars and Junior Faculty in their research and academic activities , including support for their research activities (clinical trainees) and/or attendance at relevant research conferences or attendance at workshops (clinical scholars, junior faculty)
  • To invite and host accomplished academic researchers to Calgary for an academic visit (i.e. lectures, meetings with faculty over 2-3 days), where they will present "Roy and Vi Baay Lectures" and meet with local faculty members.
  • To attract world-calibre students, Research Associates and Faculty with an interest in kidney disease research to the Division of Nephrology, University of Calgary.
  
  
  

• We are pleased to announce the appointment of Rhianna Hibberd as our Interim Associate Regional Manager. Prior to this, Rhianna was the Project Coordinator for the Department of Medicine. Rhianna has a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Calgary. Please join us in welcoming Rhianna to her new role.

  She can be reached at:
  Phone: 403-944-5035
  Email:

  
  
  

• We are pleased to announce the appointment of Shannon Martin to the role of Interim Administrative Assistant for Dr. C. Maria Bacchus and Rhianna Hibberd. Previously, Shannon was the Contract Coordinator within the Transportation Marketing department at ATCO Pipelines. She also graduated this past summer from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors Degree in English.

  She can be reached at:
  Phone: 403-944-3324
  Email: