Dean's Advisory Board
The Dean’s Advisory Board (the board) for the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry provides the Dean advice, guidance, and direction on major issues of strategic importance. The board helps build strong and engaging relationships with stakeholder groups across our community, and fosters opportunities for innovation and commercialization. The board supports an entrepreneurial focus within the Faculty and the achievement of academic excellence in research and education, ultimately resulting in positive health impacts and outcomes for 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµns.
Specific board responsibilities
- advise the Faculty on major strategic issues
- advocate for the Faculty’s programs and program needs
- provide guidance regarding innovation and commercialization
- suggest strategies for and facilitate relationship-building with the community
- assist in the celebration and promotion of Faculty successes
Composition of the board
The board is comprised of eight to 10 people, with two co-chairs appointed by the Dean. The Dean and co-chairs will nominate other members, who serve a three-year renewable term. Members are community leaders with an interest in medicine, health care, biomedical science and public service, as well as innovation and commercialization. The board meets quarterly, or as required.
Current board members
Dr. Hemmelgarn joined the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry on Jan. 1, 2020. Previously, she was a professor in the Department of Medicine and head of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. She has more than 35 years of experience in health care, including as a practising nurse, physician, researcher, academic and administrator. Dr. Hemmelgarn is the past board vice-chair of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Health Services. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Mr. Brown graduated from the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ in 1971 with a bachelor’s in civil engineering. Mr. Brown is the founder of Sherrick Management (est. 1976), developer and project manager for numerous land-development projects primarily in Edmonton and Calgary. Mr. Brown is past chair and current trustee with the University Hospital Foundation, and co-chair of the Brain Centre Campaign. He is a director of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Trust, the Galleria Foundation and member of the Urban Development Institute (UDI), Urban Land Institute (ULI), and APEGA.
Following graduation from the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ in 1977 with a bachelor of commerce degree, Ms. Roozen worked with the North West Trust Company until 1981 in branch operations and as vice-president of investments. In 1981, Ms. Roozen joined Cathton Investments Ltd, a private investment company with interests in banking, broadcasting, ranching and real estate development. Currently, Ms. Roozen is a director and secretary of the Allard Foundation Ltd., chair and director of Cathton Investments Ltd. and a director of Melcor Developments Ltd and EPCOR Utilities. She holds the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Centennial Medal. She has been honoured with the MacEwan University Distinguished Citizen Award and recognized as a Global Television Edmonton Woman of Vision, and received an honorary doctor of law degree from the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ. In 2013 Ms. Roozen was awarded the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Order of Excellence and in 2015 the Order of Canada.
Former president and CEO of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Health Services and board chair of Calgary Health Trust, Dr. Eagle is an advocate for health-care change. Dr. Eagle was trained as a cardiac anesthesiologist, and served as professor and head of the Department of Anaesthesia at the University of Calgary, and chief examiner and chair of the Specialty Committee in Anesthesia at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Amrhein was appointed Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Aga Khan University, in 2017, retiring from this role as of July 2024. Previously, Dr. Amrhein was Deputy Minister of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Health from 2015 to 2017, and was the Official Administrator of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Health Services from 2014 to 2015.
Dr. Amrhein served as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ from 2003 to 2014, after 17 years at the University of Toronto. In 2012, he also served as a Visiting Professor at Zhejiang University, as well as in the Graduate School of Education at Peking University. In 2016 he served as a Visiting Professor at Fudan University.
In honour of his contributions in advancing the role of Traditional Knowledge of First Nations in university programming, Dr. Amrhein was awarded the prestigious Eagle Feather. Additionally, Dr. Amrhein was inducted into the Bethel Park Secondary School (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Hall of Fame in 2017, awarded the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2014, and is the 2011 recipient of the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Dr. Amrhein holds a bachelor of science degree in geography from Pennsylvania State University (1978) and a PhD in geography from State University of New York at Buffalo (1984).
Nicole Janssen is an established entrepreneur and recognized leader in artificial intelligence (AI). As the co-founder and coo-CEO of AltaML, she plays a crucial role in the company's success, driving AltaML's growth through her extensive experiences in public sector, agriculture, financial services, health and energy.
Nicole has earned recognition from the Responsible AI Institute towards her dedication to promoting global education around AI. Additionally, her expertise on AI is sought by provincial and federal governments seeking input on AI innovation initiatives across Canada.
In 2023, she received the and was named one of .
Nicole also co-founded Janalta Interactive Inc. and Stratus Holdings Inc., and serves as a member of the Future of AI Council.
She completed her bachelor of commerce from the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ School of Business in 2002.
Connect with Nicole on .
Ms. Riopel has deep roots in our community and considerable experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. Through a diverse career path, she honed her skills and experience in the land development industry, with other adventures including working with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s Governor General, CAREERS, EPCOR and Port 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ. Janet is a director on the boards of Melcor Developments, Nearctic Property Group and Invest 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Corporation. Past service includes the boards of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Compassion House, MacEwan University, NAIT and United Way. She was honoured with both the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and Golden Jubilee Medals, has twice been named one of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ’s 50 Most Influential People and was a Global TV Woman of Vision. Ms. Riopel has received UDI’s Merit Award and the City of Edmonton’s Outstanding Service Award. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and the Institute of Corporate Directors. Janet is a lifelong Edmontonian with two children and four amazing grandchildren.
Mr. Vaasjo possesses over 40 years of industry experience including past-president and CEO of Capital Power. He was executive vice-president of EPCOR and president of EPCOR's Energy Division. At EPCOR, he was responsible for regional power generation, water operations, and the growth of EPCOR’s competitive power and water businesses across North America, as well as corporate development and acquisitions. He spent 19 years with the Enbridge Group of Companies, where he played a substantial role in acquisitions, corporate development, and public offerings. Mr. Vaasjo was president of Capital Power Income LP from September 2005 until July 2009 and chairman of the board of its general partner from July 2009 to November 2011. Mr. Vaasjo is currently a board member for Hydro One Corporation and he served on the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ School of Business Advisory Council and is serving on the Board of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Health Services. He was chairman of the board of the United Way 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Capital Region, and the 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS). He served on the boards of the Financial Executives Institute of Canada, 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ Society of Management Accountants and the Citadel Theatre. He is a fellow of the Society of Management Accountants.
Past board members
Chief Billy Morin Nahtokitopi (Sacred Rider), elected as the youngest Chief in Enoch Cree Nation's modern history in 2015, served three consecutive terms leading one of 91ÒùĸÊÓÆµ's most progressive Indigenous Communities. He helped to champion a resurgence in Nehiyaw Cree language, culture and identity in Enoch; symbolized by his nation reclaiming its traditional Cree name Maskekosihk (Land of Medicines); as the land of Enoch has many traditional indigenous medicines. As Chief, he worked to close gaps in community health by building a relationship with the provincial health system. In 2019 a MOU was signed, setting the foundation for a new relationship in culmination with Enoch success in the RFP to build the first orthopedic surgical center owned by a First Nation in Canada on First Nation land, a project rooted in the 'Land of Medicines' name. Chief Billy's tenure was defined by true Reconcili-Action inside and outside his home First Nation. Billy's time as Chief culminated with his appointment as Grand Chief of the 17 First Nations of the Confederacy of Treaty Six in 2020; a position responsible to be the voice for a population of nearly 80,000 First Nations people in the region.