17 May 2006 Meeting details

The Edmonton Chapter of the Canadian Club will meet at 12:00 noon at the Chateau Lacombe 17 MAy 2006. Cost $25.00 .





Our feature speaker is:



Ruth Collins-Nakai, MD, MBA, FRCPC, MACC



The title of her speech is "A Canadian Medical Association Perspective".



Biography of speaker.



Ruth Collins-Nakai, MD, MBA, FRCPC, MACC

PRESIDENT

20052006

A healthy population and a vibrant medical profession

Une population en sant et une profession mdicale dynamique

Pediatric and adult congenital cardiologist Ruth Collins-Nakai known as

Dr. Ruth by her patients was born in southern Alberta. She graduated

from the University of Alberta medical school in 1972, and after interning at

McGill, returned to Alberta to pursue pediatric training. She did her cardiology

fellowship at Harvard University, and completed an MBA in 1998.

In 1977 Dr. Collins-Nakai joined the faculty of the University of Alberta,

serving in various academic positions, including Professor of Pediatrics and

Associate Dean of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. She was

highly regarded as a mentor and professor, earning the honour of Teacher of the

Year (Pediatrics) in 1988 and 1997.

In addition to establishing the Heritage Pediatric Cardiology Program, precursor

of the current Western Canadian Congenital Heart Program, Dr. Collins-

Nakai introduced ultrasound of the heart, helped establish an infant heart

surgery program, and was the first to perform many innovative interventional

catheterization procedures in Western Canada. Her research interests include

cardiac metabolism, epidemiology, preventive cardiology and congestive heart failure. In 2001 she

left her academic position at the University of Alberta to divide her time between clinical practice

and health care consulting.

Dr. Collins-Nakai has fulfilled numerous leadership positions in the health care and volunteer fields

including president of The Muttart Foundation and member of the Premiers Commission on

Future Health Care for Alberta. In 1987 she became the first woman elected president of the Alberta

Medical Association. She was also both the first woman and first Canadian to chair the Board of

Governors of the American College of Cardiology, and most recently served as the first woman president

of both the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and InterAmerican Society of Cardiology. In

addition to being a founding member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Governing

Council, she also reviewed grants for institutions such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation and

the National Institutes of Health. In 2001 the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences

awarded her its Distinguished Achievement Award for promoting cardiovascular education and

research throughout the world. She also volunteers extensively in the community.

Dr. Collins-Nakai has a long history of involvement with the CMA and has represented Alberta as

a delegate to CMA General Council and served a term on the CMA Board. She has been a member

of the Physician Resources Committee, various task forces, the Committee of Affiliates, and the

CMAJ Oversight Committee. Most recently, she was selected by her peers to be the national

spokesperson for the Wait Time Alliance of Canada (WTA), which is comprised of the Canadian

Medical Association and six national specialty societies. In September 2005, Dr. Collins-Nakai was

chosen as one of Albertas 100 Physicians of the Century in recognition of her achievements and

contributions to her community.

Dr. Collins-Nakais personal interests include the outdoors, golfing, skiing, reading and travelling.

Her husband, Dr. S.S. (Nick) Nakai, retired from cardiovascularthoracic surgery practice in 2001.

They have two grown children, Natasha and Sunil.