Dr. Todd Anderson appointed dean, Cumming School of Medicine

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Todd Anderson has been appointed dean, Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) for a renewable term of five years, effective July 1, 2022.     

Currently, Dr. Anderson is a full professor of medicine in the department of cardiac sciences and the vice-dean for the Cumming School of Medicine. He has held progressive roles at the University of Calgary since 1994 including department head of cardiac sciences and director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. Following the completion of his medical doctorate (1985), and postgraduate education including his residency in internal medicine (1985-88), a clinical fellowship in cardiology (1988-90) and an interventional fellowship in cardiology (1990-91) at the University of Calgary, he undertook a research fellowship (1991-94) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston where he also became an instructor of medicine. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, specialist in cardiology in 1990. As an academic clinician with more than 25 years of practice, he brings a valuable patient-centred perspective and a deep understanding of our important relationships with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Alberta Health.  

With his undergraduate and most of his postgraduate education taken at the University of Calgary, he has deep roots here and will surely work diligently to ensure that everyone who is part of CSM can be proud of the work and contributions the school is making in education, research, and in the community. He will continue the strong trajectory CSM has had in the past decade and will help ensure the school reaches its full potential in its next chapter. He will also ensure the school effectively works and collaborates with the university as a whole, along with the key units and faculties it partners with. Additionally, a significant part of Dr. Anderson’s mandate as dean will be to focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and wellness and our commitments under ii' taa'poh'to'p, our Indigenous strategy.    

As a health-care provider, leader, teacher, and scientist, he is passionate about ensuring a respectful, collaborative environment that strives for impact and recognizing the impact and value of all members in the CSM community.  He will strive to ensure CSM generates knowledge with impact, that it creates innovative educational opportunities that are class-leading, informs optimal care delivery with AHS to provide the best care in the country, is socially accountable to the communities served, is an engine for a diversified economy, is proud of its diversity, equity and inclusion and wellness culture, and is a place where people want to work with a sense of belonging.    

A robust search was conducted to surface the best possible candidate to serve as the next dean, Cumming School of Medicine. I would like to extend my appreciation to the members of the advisory selection committee that I chaired for the time they dedicated to this important search since the search launched last September. They are: Michael Hart (vice-president research representative), Tara Beattie (tenured academic staff representative), Susa Benseler (tenured academic staff representative), Richard Leigh (tenured academic staff representative), Gerald Zamponi (tenured academic staff representative), Sandra Davidson (decanal representative), David Stewart (faculty association representative), Peter Romeo (MaPS representative), Cristina Rai (AUPE representative), Rafael Sanguinetti (SU representative), Brandon Craig (GSA representative), Susan Graham (GFC representative), Nancy Moules (GFC representative), Saifa Koonar (community representative), and Mark Anselmo (community representative).   

I would also like to thank Dr. Jon Meddings for his leadership of the Cumming School of Medicine during his two terms as dean and his contributions prior to his current role including as vice-dean. Through the significant leadership roles he has held during his career here at the University of Calgary he has made a lasting impact including increasing the health research capacity, providing top-tier medical education, and ensuring strong connections to our communities. The naming of the Cumming School of Medicine in honour of the extraordinary philanthropic gift was a highlight during his deanship. I know he will ensure a smooth leadership transition and I look forward to celebrating Jon’s contributions before he commences his administrative leave on July 1, 2022.   

Please join me in congratulating Todd on his new role.  

Teri Balser  
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)