A sincere thank you to Dr. Ron Bridges

It is bittersweet to share today that Dr. Ron Bridges, MD, will be leaving the role of senior associate dean, Faculty Affairs, later this year. A talented gastroenterologist, strong leader and dear friend, Ron has held his current leadership role since 2007.

An internal competition to fill the senior associate dean, Faculty Affairs, will take place this month.

Ron’s contribution to the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) over the years is immeasurable. Ron has been instrumental in strategically growing our partnership with Alberta Health Services to the mutual benefit of each organization. His future plans include a sabbatical starting in September before returning as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Medicine next year.

 

Ron has been a tremendously effective advocate for academic medicine within the Academic Medicine Health Services Program that evolved from Academic Alternative Relationship Plans. His efforts strengthened the CSM’s ability to attract top physicians to teach, research, lead and do clinical work.

Ron played a key role in the development of CSM’s new strategic plan that places a high priority on engaging with our community. He guided the integration of the alumni affairs, communications, fund development, marketing and community engagement portfolios and oversaw the formation of the Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships portfolio.

He led the teams and people responsible for growing the University of Calgary Medical Group (UCMG), leading to service improvements, enhanced privacy and reduced costs. He championed new UCMG award and grant opportunities, a new platform for transcription and billing services and the relocation of transcription services to the Health Sciences Centre.

Ron held several significant national and provincial leadership positions including president of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, president of the Alberta Society of Gastroenterology and chair of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Canada) Gastroenterology Examination Committee.

Throughout his career, Ron worked tirelessly to bring philanthropic gifts to the CSM and support charitable causes such as the United Way. In 2007, he travelled to South America to donate desperately needed endoscopic equipment to two medical facilities, an experience he later recounted in UCalgary Medicine Magazine.

Ron completed undergraduate training in Biology at the University of Calgary (1978) and is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary (1981). He completed postgraduate Family Medicine training at McMaster University (1983) and specialty training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at the University of Calgary (1989). He is a professor in the Department of Medicine and member of Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases.

Ron has received many honours throughout his career, including an award for distinguished service from both the Alberta Society of Gastroenterology and another for distinguished clinical teaching from the University of Calgary. He was designated a fellow of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology earlier this year for his distinguished service to the national organization.

Sincerely,

Jon Meddings, MD
Dean, Cumming School of Medicine
University of Calgary