Dr. Robert Rose appointed director, Libin Cardiovascular Institute

The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Robert Rose, PhD’05, MSc’99, BSc’97, as the director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. The appointment took effect July 1, 2026.

Dr. Rose had been acting director for one year leading up to this appointment. He succeeded Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD, who served as director from Aug. 1, 2019, to June 30, 2025. As we welcome Dr. Rose, we’d like to thank Dr. Fedak, who led a transformation of the Libin Institute during his tenure. He strengthened the integration of research and clinical care, and advanced funding models and programming including the expansion of the Libin Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative.

Dr. Rose joined the University of Calgary in 2017, after many years as a faculty member at Dalhousie University. Upon joining the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, he took on the role as director of Science Education and two years later became director of Research. Currently, he is a professor with the CSM’s departments of Cardiac Sciences and Physiology and Pharmacology.

The Rose Lab focuses its research on cardiac electrophysiology and cardiac arrhythmias in heart disease. The lab investigates the mechanistic basis and therapeutic approaches for cardiac arrhythmias that occur due to genetic mutations or in the setting of common forms of heart disease such as hypertension, heart failure and diabetes. Areas of deeper focus include atrial fibrillation and bradycardia (sinoatrial node disease).

Rose completed much of his post-secondary study at UCalgary, beginning with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, followed by a Master of Science in Animal Physiology and a PhD in Cardiovascular Physiology. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship specializing in cardiac electrophysiology and cardiac physiology at the University of Toronto and University Health Network.

He is a recipient of several research honours including the Libin Cardiovascular Institute Researcher of the Year in 2023 and multiple recognitions as a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Outstanding Reviewer. He received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for Community Service in 2025 in a nomination from the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. Heart & Stroke also awarded Dr. Rose the McDonald Scholarship, a new investigator award for top national researchers, in 2014.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rose on his recent appointment.

Sincerely,

Todd Anderson, MD                                                                            Mark Anselmo, MD                
Dean, Cumming School of Medicine                                                 Calgary Zone Medical Director 
University of Calgary                                                                           Alberta Health Services