Training the Next Generation
As a learning organization, one of the CVC’s central tenets is to engage the next generation of health professionals in a research culture that embraces curiosity, welcomes new ideas, and seeks to address key unanswered questions that are likely to alter the minds and actions of all those involved in health care delivery.
The CVC recognizes that a research experience can be life changing, whether during a summer studentship, an elective experience in clinical medicine, or through dedicated graduate or postdoctoral training. Irrespective of an individual trainee’s career plans, exposure to research galvanizes the development of a more critical mind that can then be applied to the unending search for better health solutions.
Please visit the Scholar Program page to learn more about current training opportunities. If you have any questions about training or research experiences with the CVC, you can also reach out to cvcschlr@ualberta.ca.
Explore reflections from our recent trainees as they share research highlights and their experiences collaborating with the CVC team:
“Working with Dr. Padma Kaul was very inspiring. I was amazed by her ability to balance multiple research projects while still offering thoughtful, specific feedback, and I hope to apply those same leadership skills in my own career one day. Dr. Douglas Dover also helped enrich my understanding of how public health research works in practice, especially the role of statistics in creating meaningful findings. As a medical student, I really valued having this dedicated time to see how public health research directly impacts disease prevention and patient care.”
– Arbnora Beka, BSc,
Medical Student
“My experience at the CVC has been nothing short of fun and rewarding. Working on the AURORA Study under Dr. Padma Kaul’s leadership allowed me, as someone living with type 1 diabetes, to see firsthand how patient voices can shape research and improve care. I was given the room to grow into my role and take leadership in ethics creation, protocol making, outreach and enrollment with the guidance of the best team in Canada. The entire CVC team has been so welcoming and supportive, in an environment that truly values collaboration, mentorship, and impact. This experience has strengthened my passion for diabetes research and will guide my academic journey as I continue to pursue my PharmD with a focus on patient-centred therapeutics and clinical outcomes.”
– Hala El-Assadi, BSc
PharmD Student
“At the CVC, I had the privilege of joining an international team enriched by expertise from a wide range of fields. The combination of these diverse perspectives truly highlighted the added value of global collaboration. Working in such an innovative environment expanded my outlook toward the future of research, especially the vast potential of artificial intelligence (AI). Reflecting on how AI can transform everyday clinical practice for physicians, and understanding its underlying mechanisms to wisely turn our collective expectations into reality, is the first step toward meeting the major global challenges of our time through the unprecedented potential of this tool.”
– Marco Paganuzzi, MD
Research Fellow
“My research at the CVC has allowed me to learn from some of the brightest and most accomplished researchers in the field of cardiovascular medicine. This process has prepared me for the future transition to independent research with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.”
– Haran Yogasundaram, MD, MSc
Cardiology Fellow
