Alberta Medical Association honours 3 UCalgary public health heroes

Bringing care and compassion to Calgary’s most vulnerable, helping to lead one of the country’s most iconic air ambulance services, and a life dedicated to the medical profession in Alberta garnered three members of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health some of the highest honours awarded by the Alberta Medical Association (AMA).

Bonnie Larson

Dr. Bonnie Larson, MD, is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) who dedicates her waking hours in the service of marginalized and vulnerable populations. As well as co-founding Calgary’s Allied Mobile Palliative Program (CAMPP), Larson was the driving force behind Street CCRED (Street Community Capacity in Research, Education and Development), which serves as a hub for community members, front-line workers, social agencies, and scholars working on behalf of those experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations in Calgary. It’s a passionate group of people driven by the principles of health equity, decolonization, the social determinants of health and harm reduction.

“Her work in Street CCRED has been tireless and completely voluntary, born of her deep compassion for the people she serves,” writes the AMA, who bestowed Larson an Award for Compassionate Service at their annual general meeting in September. “That compassion informs all of her work and makes her a richly deserving recipient of this award.”

John Kortbeek

Surgeon, clinician, professor and O’Brien Institute member Dr. John Kortbeek, MD, has made a career out of caring for patients. After earning his medical degree from the University of Alberta, Kortbeek came to UCalgary to complete a surgical residency. He liked it here so much he stayed on to teach. That was 27 years ago and he is still here.

During that time and through his work with the American College of Surgeons, STARS and as president of the Trauma Association of Canada, Kortbeek led a range of initiatives that have advanced trauma care across Canada.

“His influence has been felt across the country — indeed, around the world,” the AMA wrote of Kortbeek, one of three Albertans to be awarded the organization’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

Brent Friesen

Dr. Brent Friesen, MD, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Community Health Services,  served as Calgary’s chief medical officer of health from 1999 to 2008. He is one of a handful of longtime AMA members to receive the distinguished Member Emeritus award, which recognizes significant contributions to the goals and aims of the AMA.

“I have been fortunate to be involved in a number of ways with the AMA,” Friesen writes in a reflection on his service with AMA. “Working with the AMA has enabled me to interact with colleagues across Alberta and enriched my understanding of our health system by sharing the perspectives of colleagues from all specialties and urban, rural, and remote communities. I want to thank the AMA leadership and members, both past and present, for your support over the years. The 'Association' in the AMA’s name has been very important to me professionally and personally.”

The AMA has been representing and advocating for Alberta physicians and their patients for more than 100 years.

“It’s fabulous to see these three deserving colleagues receive these recognitions,” says Dr. William Ghali, MD, scientific director for the O’Brien Institute for Public Health. “They have all done so much in contributing to the health of our patients and communities. The O’Brien Institute team is very proud of these three and the work that they are doing.”

Other 2018 AMA award recipients from the Cumming School of Medicine include:

• Dr. Harvey Rabin, MD, adjunct professor in the departments of medicine and microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases, and member of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases (Medal for Distinguished Service)
• Dr. Peter Grundy, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Medicine (Long Service Award)
• Dr. Michal Kalisiak, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine (Long Service Award)
• Dr. Steven Edworthy, MD, professor emeritus in the Department of Medicine (Member Emeritus)
• Dr. Rowland Nichol, MD, clinical professor in the Department of Medicine (Member Emeritus)

John Kortbeek is a professor in the departments of Surgery, critical care medicine and anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at the CSM.

William Ghali is a professor in the departments of medicine and community health sciences, scientific director of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health, and a member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta at the CSM.