Three UCalgary scholars named Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Three Cumming School of Medicine researchers – Dr. Mary Brindle, MD, Dr. Robert Quinn, MD, PhD, and Dr. Valerie Taylor, MD, PhD – have been elected as Fellows to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS). 

The CAHS fellowship honours individuals who represent excellence in health sciences, demonstrating a strong commitment to their field of expertise.

“Drs. Brindle, Quinn, and Taylor have each earned the distinction of being named CAHS Fellows in recognition of their transformative research and steadfast dedication to advancing health sciences in Canada,” says Dr. William Ghali, vice-president (research). “Their work is improving lives and shaping a healthier future for all Canadians. The University of Calgary is proud to support such exceptional scholars, whose innovation and impact exemplify the values that define our research community.”

Meet UCalgary’s new CAHS Fellows

Dr. Mary Brindle, MD
Professor, departments of Surgery, and Community Health Services, Cumming School of Medicine
MacNeill Chair in Pediatric Surgery
Member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and O’Brien Institute for Public Health

Dr. Mary Brindle is an internationally recognized leader in pediatric surgery, surgical safety, and health systems innovation. Her work has transformed surgical care by integrating evidence-based practices, quality improvement, and system-wide change in Canada and beyond. She has been instrumental in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) movement, developing the first neonatal guideline and global ERAS standards. As Scientific Director of Alberta’s Surgical Strategic Clinical Network, she co-led initiatives to improve surgical wait times, access, and safety. Dr. Brindle’s research is supported by organizations including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (NIH/AHRQ). As Academic Chair of Ward of the 21^st Century, she leads the $22 million Health Everywhere Digital Hub, which advances Canada’s digital health infrastructure. Dr. Brindle has received numerous awards for innovation, education, and research, along with repeated recognition as a Compassion Moment Champion by patients and families at Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Robert Quinn, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine
Member of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health and Libin Cardiovascular Institute

Dr. Robert Quinn is a nephrologist, clinical epidemiologist, and health systems innovator whose research has transformed kidney care practice and policy across Canada and internationally. He is dedicated to improving care for patients with kidney disease by identifying barriers and developing strategies to enhance patient experiences and health outcomes. Dr. Quinn co-developed the Dialysis Measurement Analysis and Reporting (DMAR) System, a patented digital platform used to monitor and improve dialysis care. His leadership of Alberta’s START program increased home dialysis adoption and earned the President’s Excellence Award in Quality Improvement from Alberta Health Services. As the Medical Director of Information Technology and Chronic Kidney Disease for Alberta Kidney Care, Dr. Quinn has advanced changes to clinic organization and flow through strategic quality improvement efforts. He serves on the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Executive Research Council and is past-President of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis North American Chapter.

Dr. Valerie Taylor, MD, PhD
Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine
Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases.

Dr. Taylor is a clinician scientist and academic leader who has made transformative contributions to psychiatry in Canada and internationally. Her research has investigated the links between mental illness and obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This work has informed national education programs, policy papers, and public health strategies for obesity treatment. As a leader in gut-brain axis research, she studies the role of the gut microbiome in mental health and has developed clinical trials on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a novel treatment for depression. Dr. Taylor has been widely recognized for her leadership and scientific contributions, including being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in STEM and receiving the C.A. Roberts Award for Clinical Leadership from the Canadian Psychiatric Association. She also serves as a Departmental Science Advisor for Health Canada, where she helps shape national mental health policy through her research expertise.