Researchers from the UBC Department of Medicine continue to shape the future of healthcare through innovative, high-impact research supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In the latest CIHR Project Grant competition, Department members were recognized as principal investigators and co-principal investigators on a broad range of nationally funded projects addressing some of […] Read More
The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Rajiv Reebye as Head, UBC Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, for a five-year term effective July 1, 2026. Read More
Congratulations to the following Faculty Of Medicine Award recipients within the Department of Medicine in recognition of their contributions to excellence in teaching, research, innovation and public service:
Bill and Marilyn Webber Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Peter Paré
Career Excellence in Clinical Teaching, Dr. Ian MacDonald
Excellence in Community Practice Teaching:
– Island Medical Program, Dr. Laura Farrell
– Southern Medical Program, Dr. Scot Mountain
Excellence in Service to the University and Community, Dr. Evan Wood
Overall Excellence – Early Career, Dr. Winson Cheung
The Department’s annual faculty and staff recognition event was held on May 29th, 2014, in the Medical Student and Alumni Centre.
In addition to the awards presentation, Dr. Teresa Tsang gave an update on the exciting work underway in the DOM Research Office, and Drs. Andrea Townson and Anita Palepu spoke to the audience about the departmental Equity Committee’s activities.
Dr. John Cairns, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, has been selected to receive the Order of British Columbia. The Order of British Columbia recognizes those who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in their field, benefiting the people of BC or elsewhere. The Order is the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its citizens, and is only bestowed on the most outstanding British Columbians.
As one of Canada’s most distinguished health researchers, Dr. Cairns has made outstanding contributions to the medical and academic communities in BC and in Canada. His research focuses on improving the lives of people with heart disease by studying the causes and prevention of heart attacks, as well as the optimal management of patients who have experienced heart attacks. He proved through a multi-centre clinical trial that aspirin can reduce by more than half the incidence of heart attacks and death among patients with unstable angina. This finding revolutionized treatment of these at-risk patients, shifting the focus toward limiting the growth of clots in coronary arteries.
As Dean of Medicine at UBC from 1996 to 2003, he led substantial expansion of facilities, including the UBC Life Sciences Centre and the Diamond Centre at the Vancouver General Hospital. By 2002, the UBC Faculty of Medicine was in second place among its Canadian counterparts in total research funding. Dr. Cairns also led efforts to double the enrolment of medical students and residents. BC is now educating its own physicians to provide more doctors for the people of BC, rather than depending on other provinces to provide physicians. Much-needed opportunities for rural health training are also being provided.
Dr. Cairns is dedicated to educating, training and mentoring the next generation of physicians in BC. He continues to teach undergraduate medical students, postgraduate trainees and practicing cardiologists. He has served on many national health bodies, and is President of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the most prestigious organization for health sciences academics in Canada.
