Photo by Akemi Matsubuchi
From varsity athletics and sports medicine, to vision rehabilitation and pediatric orthopedic surgery-the five exceptional FoMD alumni receiving UAlberta 2016 Alumni Awards have excelled and contributed outstanding achievements in a diverse range of fields. What unites them all is a shared commitment to improve the lives of others.
We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the following award recipients:
Norgrove Penny, '71 BSc(Med), '73 MD, will be honoured with a Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his contributions to sports medicine and pediatric orthopedic surgery. He has helped change the lives of countless children with disabilities in Canada and in Uganda, where he partnered with fellow surgeon, Dr. Shafique Pirani, to develop the Uganda Clubfoot Project.
Donald C. Fletcher, '80 BMedSc, '82 MD, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions as a clinician and researcher to the field of retinal disease and the provision of low vision care in underserved communities across North America and worldwide in China, the Philippines, Chile, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the U of A Alumni Association's most prestigious award, recognizing living graduates whose outstanding achievements have earned them national or international prominence, and we couldn't be more proud to have two of our alumni receive the prize in 2016.
Two FoMD alumni will be inducted into the U of A's Sports Hall of Fame: Carlo Panaro, '99 BSc, '03 MD, will be recognized for his contributions as a student wrestler and former Edmonton Eskimo offensive lineman, and Jeffrey Zorn, '08 BMedSc, '09 M, for his contributions on defense as Golden Bear hockey player from 2000 to 2005.
Andrea Johnson, '16 BMedSc, is the recipient of The Honourable Dr. Lois E. Hole Student Spirit Award, which recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate a spirit of caring and community service.
Johnson is a medical student set to graduate in 2017. She is a strong supporter of inclusivity and mentorship. As a leader on the Orientation Committee, she ensured her fellow students felt welcomed upon entering medical school. She also engages in several youth mentorship and preventative health programs, such as a week-long summer camp teaching and encouraging science
Outside of class, you are likely to find Johnson out on the dance floor, helping to grow the University Swing Dance Club as president. She co-founded the Medical Students' Association Dance Club as a way for her fellow students to network, relieve stress and promote well-rounded healthy living.
The award winners will be officially conferred at a formal ceremony on Thursday, September 22 at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, with Global News Health Reporter Su Ling-Goh, '95 BSc, as emcee. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the ceremony commencing at 7 p.m. and a dessert reception from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend this free public event. Reserve your tickets at uab.ca/aw2016.