Dr. Jenn Brenner, MD, appointed as Assistant Dean, Global Health at the Cumming School of Medicine

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jenn Brenner, MD, as assistant dean, Global Health within the Indigenous, Local and Global Health Office for a three-year term effective June 2022.

The Assistant Dean will lead efforts that align with the University of Calgary’s Global Engagement Plan; sustain and strengthen longitudinal partnerships and community relationships; develop and showcase best practices for collaboration with internal and external partners and communities; facilitate equity-centered education, research, innovation, and service; innovate policies, products, and programs for health equity that address the social determinants of health; and advocate for health systems and policy change.

Dr. Brenner has held successful leadership roles in several Cumming School of Medicine global health initiatives such as Healthy Child Uganda (Uganda), Healthy Adolescents and Young People (Uganda) and Mama na Mtoto (Tanzania). She advocates for collaborative, bidirectional partnerships centred around equity and respect, and incorporates community-oriented implementation, research and trainee and faculty learning. Her work has led to substantiative change through health system strengthening and capacity building.

Her approach to global health has fostered strong longstanding partnerships with Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Uganda) and the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (Tanzania). She has mentored many emerging global health leaders and champions to carry on this approach in their work both in Canada and abroad.

Recent awards acknowledging her leadership, skill and work ethic include University of Calgary Internationalization Achievement International Program Award (2021), University of Calgary Internationalization Career Achievement Award (2019) and Canadian Women in Global Health List of Canadian Leaders (2018).

The experience, dedication and leadership brought by Dr. Brenner will be essential in advancing equity-oriented approaches to global health and supporting relevant and responsible trainee and faculty learning both in Canada and abroad. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Brenner on her appointment.