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Articles by Verna Yiu
Statement on the Court Ruling following the Disposition of the Hunka Endowment Fund
On Aug. 7, 2026, the Court of King’s Bench issued a decision allowing the termination of the $30,000 Yaroslav and Margaret Hunka Ukrainian Research Endowment Fund, and authorizing the return of the donation to the Hunka family. We acknowledge and respect the Court's decision. While this concludes the legal process, we remain mindful of the varied and deeply felt impacts this decision can have on individuals and the community.
Ensuring compliance for research funding
The University of Alberta remains in compliance with all research funding requirements, supporting the eligibility of the university’s world-class researchers.
Four (More) Ways for Women to Take the Lead
In 2024 I wrote about Four Ways for Women — or Anyone — to Take the Lead, based on my International Women's Day article for Times Higher Education. I was touched by the feedback I received that my words about leadership resonated with so many women. Women in leadership face unique challenges, and their journeys are often shaped by resilience, strategic thinking and the ability to rise above adversity.
Thanking our outgoing deans
Barbara Billingsley, Law As the first woman to be appointed dean of the Faculty of Law, Barb Billingsley brought incredible leadership to the faculty and made numerous contributions during her tenure. As dean, she led the faculty through the transition to online learning during COVID-19 and through the university’s reorganization under the University of Alberta for Tomorrow initiative.
From the Provosts Desk: Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Awards for Teaching Excellence
Submitted by University of A... on Sun, 05/12/2024 - 08:03 Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Verna Yiu extends her gratitude to these faculty members for their exceptional contributions as teachers, researchers and community builders. Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Verna Yiu extends her gratitude to these faculty members for their exceptional contributions as teachers, researchers and community builders.
From the Provost's Desk: Alberta History mural project update
Primary tabs View(active tab) Track Submitted by University of A... on Sun, 05/12/2024 - 08:05 I want to update the University of Alberta community on the ongoing Alberta History mural project , which first began in January 2021. The community is invited to a final virtual engagement session about the Alberta History mural. May 09, 2024 By Verna Yiu I want to update the University of Alberta community on the ongoing Alberta History mural project , which first began in January 2021.
From the Provost’s Desk: Announcing the dean of Augustana Faculty and executive officer of Augustana Campus
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John Parkins as dean of Augustana Faculty and executive officer of Augustana Campus, effective July 1, 2024. John is currently serving as chair of the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology with the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. As chair, John has built strong relationships through his collaborative approach with colleagues and the community and is an exemplary, forward-thinking leader.
From the Provost’s Desk: Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Provost's Award for Early Achievement of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
On behalf of the University Teaching Awards Committee, I’m thrilled to announce the incredible recipients of the 2023 Provost's Award for Early Achievement of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. These two faculty members are recognized for their outstanding early-career achievements in teaching and research, and service to students, the university and the community at large.
Verna Yiu: Alberta's health care is reacting quickly to patient needs during COVID
Teams in a crowded Calgary intensive care unit tend to a COVID-19 patient on a ventilator in 2021. Photo by Supplied by Alberta Health Services Article content Re. “Omicron’s transmissibility makes lockdowns seem absurd,” David Staples, Jan. 12 Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Dr. Verna Yiu addresses protests outside AHS facilities
We are also aware of some patients and families who were obstructed as they entered facilities to receive care. That is uncalled for and extremely unsettling. Our healthcare workers are doing all they can to care for Albertans, and they deserve the utmost respect and support. If you oppose masking, vaccinations, or any other measures taken to prevent COVID-19 transmission, that is your right. But to target healthcare workers with anger and vitriol is not acceptable, particularly now.
Verna Yiu: Despite bed closures, Alberta's health-care system is there for those who need it
Advertisement This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Author of the article: Verna Yiu Dr. Verna Yiu, president and CEO of Alberta Health Services. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia Article content Every day, our health-care teams carefully manage hospital beds to ensure Albertans get the care they need. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
AHS: Facilities open and ready to provide care to Albertans
AHS is currently dealing with some temporary, short-term bed reductions at some of our hospitals. This was not unexpected, as we emerge from an unprecedented pandemic that tested our healthcare system’s capacity and pushed our frontline teams to their limits. We will be dealing with the impacts of the pandemic for some time. This is a challenge being experienced across the country.
Key to successful supply chain management: Predictive analytics
Gaining Actionable Insight into Financial Systems and Areas Impacting the Revenue Cycle Hospital systems across the country are looking to streamline their billing and collection processes to become more efficient and better compete in their markets. The challenge many face is how to turn the data ...
Designing an Integrated Value-Based Healthcare Sy
HealthcarePapers 19(1) February 2020 : 59-64.doi:10.12927/hcpap.2020.26154 Value-based healthcare (VBHC) can be interpreted in many ways depending on one's jurisdiction. Often it is used synonymously with cost-effectiveness. In Alberta, VBHC might more appropriately be termed "values-based healthcare." This reflects our belief that a healthcare system should meet the needs and desires of its population and contribute to overall wellness.
Alberta’s Strategic Clinical Networks
KEY POINTS Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) are a key resource for Alberta’s health system, help to get evidence into practice, and improve outcomes and health care sustainability on a provincial scale. The SCNs provide a structure for patients and families, policymakers, clinicians and researchers to collaborate across geographical and institutional boundaries and co-design solutions that address priority health challenges and support transformational change.
Exploring Mentorship as a Strategy to Build Capacity and Optimize the Embedded Scientist Workforce
Abstract Background: Mentorship plays a significant role in career development in academic and applied settings, but little is documented about its role in the experiential learning of academic trainees embedded in health system organizations. The experiences of the first cohort of Canada's Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship program can provide insights into how mentorship in this innovative type of training can work.
Opinion: AHS is bending the health-care cost curve
Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO, Alberta Health Services. Larry Wong / POSTMEDIA NETWORK Re. “Deficit Disorder: Alberta hospitals are overdosing on spending and it’s proving difficult to kick the habit,” Sept.
Integration is the key to success at Alberta Health Service
Saskatchewan recently became the third province in Canada to move towards a single Provincial Health Authority, a move that has naturally put focus on what we do in Alberta. We wish our friends to the east well, and are happy to share our experiences with them. Alberta was the first province in Canada to implement a single, provincewide, fully integrated health system, a move which has benefited patient care to all Albertans.
A single provincial health care system is the best way forward
A single provincewide health care system may be the most patient-friendly and efficient model available. Joe Raedle / Getty Images Recently, Saskatchewan became the third province in Canada to move toward a single provincial health authority. Alberta Health Services (AHS) officially came into being in April 2009, and immediately became the first and largest provincialized health care system in the country.
Are we training too many doctors, or too few? Why no one really knows
Across Canada, governments, medical schools and health providing organizations continue to struggle with one of the most difficult questions in health care: How many doctors in each area of medicine do we train today to meet tomorrow’s health care needs?
Health care system stigmatizes and discriminates against transgender people
When Lucas Silveira – then going by his female name – told his Toronto-based family doctor he identifies as male, the doctor’s discomfort was palpable. She stumbled over her words, and then said, “I don’t really know how to help you,” recalls Silveira, a musician with the rock band The Cliks. The doctor agreed to do some research into hormone therapy or surgery options.
Improving appropriateness of antipsychotic use in long-term care
Date: June 4, 2015 Author: Arij Elmi, Verna Yiu, Mike Tierney & Jeremy Petch When prescribed appropriately – to treat psychosis related to a psychiatric condition like schizophrenia – antipsychotic medications can improve a patient’s quality of life. However, too often it appears antipsychotics are being prescribed to residents of Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH) to control behavioral symptoms of dementia (such as verbal or physical aggression) without a concurrent psychiatric diagnosis.
Safe surgery checklists: the Canadian experience
Each year there are patients who wake up from surgery to find an operation has been done on the wrong part of their body. These wrong-site surgeries are an example of “never events” – incidents that simply should not happen if all safety measures are taken. Nevertheless, these events take place each year in countries with the highest standards of care, from the United States to England, and Canada is no exception.
Provinces divided over mandatory vaccination for school children
The past year has seen confirmed outbreaks of measles across in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Measles is highly contagious, and can lead to serious complications and death for children under the age of five. It is strongly recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada that children are routinely vaccinated against measles through two doses of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.
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