Oct. 27, 2023
Dr. Kirsten Fiest, PhD, named scientific director, O’Brien Institute for Public Health
The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) are pleased to announce the joint appointment of Dr. Kirsten Fiest, PhD, as the new scientific director of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health. The appointment takes effect Nov. 1, 2023.
Dr. Fiest, an epidemiologist and associate professor in the departments of Critical Care Medicine, Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the CSM, takes over the role previously held by Dr. Tom Stelfox, MD, PhD, who served for three years.
Dr. Fiest will step away from her role as the associate scientific director, Health Systems, of the O'Brien Institute which she has held since early 2022. She has also served as the director of research and innovation in the Department of Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Fiest received her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Calgary and completed postdoctoral training in neuro and psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Manitoba. Her research program focuses on advancing the science of patient and family-centered critical care research. As a health services researcher she is focused on investigating care for critically ill patients with special interest in delirium and transitions in care.
Dr. Fiest is the recipient of multiple awards recognizing her as an emerging research leader, mentor and scholar. This includes induction into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in 2023, the Killam Emerging Research Leader Award from the University of Calgary in 2021, the Research Mentor Award from the CSM’s Department of Critical Care Medicine in 2020 and the CSM’s 2019 Peak Scholar Award, Engaging Patients as Partners in Critical Care Medicine Research.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Fiest on her new appointment.
Todd Anderson, MD Mark Anselmo, MD
Dean, Cumming School of Medicine Calgary Zone Medical Director
University of Calgary Alberta Health Services