Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Reappointed

It gives me great pleasure to announce the reappointment of Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell as Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. A duly constituted Dean Review Committee concluded its deliberations, and the Board of Governors approved the committee’s recommendation that Dr. Ferguson-Pell be reappointed for a second five-year term of office, to be effective on July 1, 2013, following his one-year term as Acting Provost (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013).

Dean Ferguson-Pell is an exemplary leader. He has been successful in supporting and promoting the research and clinical activities within the Faculty, in chairing the University Health Sciences Council, and in positively influencing initiatives throughout the University. He secured funding to establish two endowed chairs: the Military and Veterans Chair in Clinical Rehabilitation – a first in Canada – and the Chair in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation.
 
Additionally, it was through the Dean’s efforts that outstanding faculty were recruited. Importantly, Dean Ferguson-Pell guided the development of satellite programs in Camrose, and later this year in Calgary, that employ advanced real-time videoconferencing technologies. This "distributed learning" approach enables the Faculty to teach the whole University of Alberta physical therapy professional entry master's degree program simultaneously at three locations. Education and training for professional practice now occur closer to where rehabilitation professionals are needed across the province.
 
A charismatic speaker, Dr. Ferguson-Pell keenly articulates the vision of the Faculty and led the Faculty in raising its profile within the academy, with hospital and clinical partners, and with the community-at-large. He initiates and develops external relationships, some of which have become resources in support of research, teaching and service programs. As an expert in rehabilitation technical innovation, Dr. Ferguson-Pell has served as a key advisor to many of the Faculty’s partners, bringing the University’s expertise into its communities.

The University of Alberta is very fortunate to have a Dean of such remarkable degree. We wish Dean Ferguson-Pell every success in his next five years.

For more go to the online story.

I hope you will join me in congratulating Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell on his reappointment.

Sincerely,
Carl Amrhein
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)