Libin Institute director recognized for ‘outstanding contributions to the province of Alberta’

Dr. Paul Fedak, MD, PhD, is the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. The commemorative medal was created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession the throne and recognizes the significant contributions of recipients.

“I am honoured to be recipient of the Platinum Jubilee Medal,” says Fedak, the director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. “It’s humbling to be recognized amongst so many deserving Albertans.”

Fedak, a professor in the Department of Cardiac Sciences at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), is an internationally recognized cardiac surgeon and researcher who is known for his commitment to new surgical therapies for advanced heart disease.

In addition to his busy surgical schedule, he holds the Merck Chair in Cardiovascular Research, and directs the Marlene and Don Campbell Family Cardiac Research Laboratory, both at the CSM.

Fedak’s research program is diverse. He co-leads an international study with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment of people with a dangerous heart defect known as bicuspid aortic valve. The study aims to cut down on the number of unnecessary open-heart surgeries while identifying and targeting patients who are at highest risk of developing complications like heart failure.

Fedak pioneered novel sternal closure techniques following open heart surgery. His research team is developing new approaches to tissue engineering to treat heart failure.

Fedak also co-led a study that identified a previously unknown immune cell with healing properties in the pericardial fluid surrounding the heart. His work continues in this area, with the goal of discovering new therapies and treatments for injured hearts.

He graduated from medical school at the University of Toronto and completed further training in cardiac surgery and biomedical science in Toronto and Chicago. He also completed leadership training through Harvard University.

Fedak has published more than 200 peer-reviewed original manuscripts and numerous book chapters. His research has been cited over 17,000 times. His research has been funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the National Institutes of Health.

He is the recipient of numerous national and international research awards including the C. Walton Lillehei Award (American Association for Thoracic Surgery), Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award (American Heart Association), Paul Cartier Award (Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons) and Watanabe Distinguished Achievement Award (CSM). He was also named to Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 (Avenue Magazine).

Dr. Todd Anderson, MD, dean of the Cumming School of Medicine, says the Platinum Jubilee is a well-deserved recognition for Fedak.

“The Cumming School of Medicine is very proud of Dr. Fedak,” says Anderson. “He is an international renowned surgeon scientist and his leadership at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute is advancing our discovery and training in the field of cardiovascular science.”

Fedak is an internationally respected presenter. View his TEDx talk here.