Message from interim scientific director

Dear Institute members, affiliates and broader community.

It is remarkable to think how our lives have all changed since we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the O’Brien Institute on March 6, 2020. I wanted to send a message to all of you to provide some updates and also to introduce myself as your current interim Scientific Director.

I have been affiliated with the O’Brien Institute since its inception and have been a great supporter and enthusiastic member throughout these past 10 years. During the past couple of years as I have served as the Associate Scientific Director, it has been a great pleasure to be part of an Institute that is so dynamic, engaged and committed to so many important topics in population and public health. I am deeply committed to maintaining the excellence that the Institute is known for during this transition period between Dr. Bill Ghali and the incoming Scientific Director. An announcement on the new Scientific Director will be made in the upcoming month or so and that position will be filled in mid-autumn. 

We are currently facing unprecedented times. As such, we wanted to let you know that if there is anything the Institute can do for you, in terms of research support, networking, funding, advice or ideas – or even documentary–viewing, book–reading suggestions – please just reach out to me or our outstanding core team at the O’Brien Institute.

I have been working with a few senior members of the Cumming School of Medicine and the School of Public Policy on data analytics and interventions that can help inform the response to COVID-19 in Alberta. As part of this work, the O’Brien Institute has launched a new digital forum, a new webpage on our institute website, and a Community of Practice initiative led by Aliya Kassam in response to COVID-19.

We will keep you updated with any and all new developments, and if you need anything from the Institute core team, or from me, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here for you and more than willing to help however we can.

Thank you,

Christine Friedenreich, PhD, FCAHS, FRSC

Interim Scientific Director

April 17, 2020