UNews - Rebecca Schiff

Admissions now open for Southern Alberta Medical Program

trevor.kenney — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:17:35 +0000

A new chapter in Alberta’s medical education system has begun. Admissions are now open for the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) — a three-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program designed for students ready to build their future in rural and regional health care.

SAMP’s first cohort of students begins learning in July 2026.

Delivered through an innovative partnership between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, SAMP offers students the opportunity to earn a UCalgary medical degree while completing their training in southern Alberta.

“We’ve been building this program with students in mind from the very beginning,” says Dr. Richard Buck, Associate Dean of SAMP. “From curriculum design to clinical placements, every element is centred around preparing future physicians for the realities of rural and regional care.”

Funded by the Government of Alberta, Rural Medical Education Program Training Centres use a distributed education model that emphasizes continuity of care, community connection, and clinical readiness — all while contributing to a more resilient health-care system for the region.

“Training physicians in southern Alberta requires trust, relationships, and long-term commitment,” says Dr. Rebecca Schiff, Deputy Provost at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. “Through this partnership, we’re helping students form ties to the people and places they’ll serve, beginning in medical school and continuing throughout their careers.”

SAMP’s first cohort of students begins learning in July 2026. Students will complete their degrees through an intensive, community-integrated curriculum that responds to the growing need for sustainable, locally grounded approaches to medical education — particularly in areas where physician access remains essential.

“The launch of admissions marks a significant milestone in our quest to deliver education and training solutions for the health workforce in rural areas and Indigenous communities,” says CSM Dean Dr. Todd Anderson, MD. “This innovative distributed medical education program offers an exceptional opportunity for students, especially those with strong roots in rural and regional communities, to begin their medical journey closer to home.”

Applications are now open through the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary’s admissions portal. Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply.

To learn more or begin your application, visit: https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/mdprogram/future-students/admissions

Lethbridge doctor named Regional Lead of new Southern Alberta Medical Program

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:43:11 +0000

The Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) has reached another significant milestone as it prepares for its first cohort of undergraduate medical students, naming Dr. Richard M. Buck, MD, as the program’s Regional Lead.

Buck practices in Lethbridge within the Emergency Department of Chinook Regional Hospital and is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. As Regional Lead, he is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to develop and implement SAMP, supporting medical education training in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Indigenous and rural communities throughout southern Alberta.

Dr. Richard M. Buck, who practices in the Emergency Department of Chinook Regional Hospital, is excited to assume his new role and help build the program.

“Dr. Buck is uniquely qualified for this very important role given his strong teaching background and familiarity with the specific challenges of finding physicians to work in rural communities,” says Dr. Rebecca Schiff, PhD, ULethbridge’s deputy provost. “His role will be key in developing partnerships for medical education in southern Alberta and helping to promote interprofessional learning, teaching and research to support rural generalist practice and team-based care.”

Buck has extensive training and experience in medical education, first earning a Bachelor of Education (mathematics and French) and Bachelor of Science from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Winnipeg before completing his medical degree at the UManitoba in 2001.

“It’s exciting and I’m really looking forward to it,” says Buck. “It’s also a little bit intimidating because this is such a big project and it’s going to be challenging, but the chance to grow our own talent here is massive. I worked an ER shift recently and to see so many people who have difficulty getting access to a family doctor — it’ll be wonderful to be part of this project.”

Buck has long been a proponent of preparing the next generation of physicians. He’s participated in doctor training from the time he completed his own residency, working as a site director and in an administrative capacity. He takes pride in helping young physicians find their way.

“When you see them have their ‘aha’ moments, that feels the best. You see them make a connection with a patient or they use that clinical tidbit that they’d only read about in medical school and now they’ve used it to make a diagnosis — it’s exciting to see,” he says.

Dr. Todd Anderson, MD, dean of UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, is delighted to welcome the respected physician and teacher to this new leadership role.

“I’m very confident that Dr. Buck will strengthen this valuable partnership between our universities as we work together to train new physicians and enhance health care access across southern Alberta.

“Dr. Buck has been deeply committed to our medical school for well over a decade. He is a dedicated teacher to students and residents who also has played a vital role in preceptor development. We’re very fortunate to have someone of his caliber in this position.”

The SAMP program will see an increase in the training of rural physicians immediately with undergraduate medical students beginning at ULethbridge in 18 months, as it aims to improve the availability of physicians in rural areas.

Buck says it’s important to look at what SAMP means to health care in Alberta long term. It’s why the medical community has been talking about its potential for so long.

“I think what it means long term is a stable supply of physicians,” says Buck. “We’re not just trying to fill gaps, we’re also looking at it like so many other careers — doctors change professions, they retire — so you need people to fill those roles. Also, I hope what it says to people is that if you’re planning on moving to southern Alberta, we have a strong and stable health-care system you can rely on. That may be a little pollyannaish, but having a medical school here is a big, big part of that and can be very impactful.”

Ending homelessness the first topic of engaging 2024-2025 PUBlic Professor Series

trevor.kenney — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:33:05 +0000

Six topics, six issues and six opportunities to engage with the experts who are at the forefront of research and fostering understanding — the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge presents the lineup for the 2024-25 PUBlic Professor Series.

Dr. Rebecca Schiff says hope is not lost in the struggle to end homelessness.

The annual lecture series designed to spark thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day brings together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge.

“At its core, PUBlic Professor has always been about community outreach and allowing the broader community the opportunity to engage with our faculty members and tap into their insight and expertise,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge’s vice-president (research). “This year’s lineup of speakers is diverse in subject matter, extremely topical and one I’m really excited about. We have some very difficult issues that will hit close to home for many people and others that are more light and extremely fascinating. I think it shows the breadth of study here at ULethbridge and the opportunities our students enjoy every day.”

The first talk of the series, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge, features Dr. Rebecca Schiff discussing one of the most pressing issues of the day — Ending Homelessness.

The rate of homelessness has exploded across Canada, and Schiff has an important message: hope is not cancelled. For nearly two decades, Schiff has worked with individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as homelessness agencies and organizations across the country on diverse homelessness research and action-research projects to understand how we can move towards a society where everyone is safely housed.

“Unfortunately, over the past two to three years, homelessness has doubled, tripled or more in most communities across our country,” says Schiff. “In my talk, I’ll share ideas, thoughts, solutions and actions that we can take to ensure that we can end homelessness in Canada.”

A transdisciplinary scholar and administrator whose research spans the fields of health sciences, social sciences, humanities and environmental sciences, Schiff began her role as deputy provost in May 2024. Her research work has included funding from a wide array of sources, including the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). She has been a principal or co-applicant on 50-plus research projects totaling over $13 million in grants and has authored/co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications. She has also produced three books, with her most recent — Pandemic preparedness and homelessness: International lessons from COVID-19 — released in September 2024.

Ensuing talks take place in October, November and January, February and March 2025. The series will also be held at some new venues, including the Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre, The Slice Bar and Grill, and Owl Acoustic Lounge.

“Some of the topics lend themselves well to new venues and hopefully we will welcome some new community members and ULethbridge alumni who have never experienced a PUBlic Professor presentation before,” adds McMartin.

The series lineup is as follows:

2024-25 PUBlic Professor Series

Ending Homelessness — Dr. Rebecca Schiff, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Fiat Lux (Or, why honey bees are practically magic) — Dr. Shelley Hoover, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 — Lethbridge & District Exhibition Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre

Will Generative AI Change the World? — Dr. Sidney Shapiro, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 — The Slice Bar and Grill

Political and Policy Innovation in Alberta: The More Things Change . . . ? — Dr. Lars Hallstrom, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People — Dr. Emily Gale, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 — Owl Acoustic Lounge

Does Reading Even Matter Anymore? — Dr. Robin Bright (BA ’79, BEd ’82, MEd ’88), Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ welcomes Dr. Rebecca Schiff as new Deputy Provost

trevor.kenney — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:13:19 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to introduce Dr. Rebecca Schiff, a transdisciplinary scholar and administrator whose research spans the fields of health sciences, social sciences, humanities and environmental sciences, as its new Deputy Provost.

Dr. Rebecca Schiff comes to ULethbridge from an appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

Schiff comes to ULethbridge from an appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). In that role, she led the Schools of Education, Nursing, Social Work and Health Sciences, as well as the Department of Psychology. Prior to her time at UNBC, she held teaching and administrative positions at Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, including Professor of Indigenous, Rural and Remote Health and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.

“Dr. Schiff is a highly respected researcher and administrator whose scholarly work over the course of her career aligns closely with the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge,” says Dr. Michelle Helstein, Provost and Vice-President (Academic). “Her research interests have focused on the public good and specifically on rural and northern health and health care, while her administrative work champions themes of equity, inclusivity and collaboration. We see her as an excellent addition to our senior leadership team who will offer a valuable perspective to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.”

Schiff is a graduate of McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, first earning a Bachelor of Music and then earning a Diploma of Environment with a graduate thesis from the McGill School of Environment. She completed her doctorate at the Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy at Murdoch ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Australia.

She describes her disciplinary expertise as broad and embracing a liberal education approach to learning.

“My doctoral program was interdisciplinary, with intersections across numerous disciplines,” says Schiff. “Upon returning from Australia, I was based in Western Canada, where I worked extensively with diverse urban, rural and Indigenous communities around issues related to poverty, homelessness, food security, women’s health and social service systems.”

Schiff would go on to work as a faculty member at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina, with positions in the Department of Geography and Department of Justice studies. Her career would then take her to Memorial ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ where she worked in Indigenous Health with the Faculty of Medicine, based out of Memorial’s Labrador Institute. In 2014, she began her term at Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. She has been at UNBC since 2022.

Schiff’s research work has included funding from a wide array of sources, including the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). She has been a principal or co-applicant on 50-plus research projects totaling over $12.5 million in grants and has authored/co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications. She has also produced two books, with her most recent — Health and Healthcare in Northern Canada — considered a major contribution to scholarship in this field.

“Her inter- and transdisciplinary approach to scholarship in the field of public health, coupled with a strong record of leadership success in a variety of administrative roles is a great addition to our team,” adds Helstein.

The Deputy Provost supports the Provost in establishing innovative initiatives to further the goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and to provide assistance to the team of vice-presidents, deans and other direct reports to support programming and activities that further strengthen the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s student-first culture. Schiff’s five-year term begins May 1, 2024.

UNews - Rebecca Schiff

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