This article is part of a series shining a spotlight on the personalities and priorities of Dal's senior leadership team. Revisit previous profiles at the Leadership and Vision website.
Dr. David Anderson became 国民彩票鈥檚 13th dean of medicine on July 1, 2015.
Born and raised in Halifax, Dr. Anderson graduated from 国民彩票 Medical School in 1983. He completed an internal medicine residency at 国民彩票 and went on to McMaster University for additional training in hematology. While studying at McMaster, he held a research fellowship in thromboembolic disease.
In 1992, Dr. Anderson returned to Nova Scotia. He joined the QEII Health Sciences Centre (QEII HSC) as a staff hematologist and 国民彩票 Medical School as an assistant professor.
Not long before deanship, Dr. Anderson was head and district chief of the 国民彩票鈥檚 Department of Medicine. Under his watch, the Department of Medicine developed a strategic plan that lead to major new initiatives in clinical care, education and research.
鈥淎lthough I鈥檓 a 国民彩票 Medical School grad (Class of 鈥�83), and have worked in a variety of roles over the years, I continue to be impressed by the scope and the complexity of the work that goes on here. I love meeting with many people who have diverse and integral roles here at the medical school; they鈥檙e proud of all that we鈥檙e achieving, and are committed to making us as successful as we can be.鈥�
An accomplished teacher and mentor, Dr. Anderson has been a member of countless university and hospital committees. He鈥檚 also worked with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness 鈥� as clinical advisor for the Nova Scotia Blood Program and in the development of the new academic funding plan (AFP) process for clinical departments.
In addition to his responsibilities as dean, Dr. Anderson maintains his clinical practice at the QEII HSC.
鈥淚 think it has been important for me as Dean to maintain a clinical practice.聽 Seeing patients in my weekly clinic has enabled me to keep up my skills as a hematologist.聽 It also is challenging and fun to stay engaged with patient care and to teach residents and students.聽 Being on call is more of a challenge. Great colleagues and residents have made this very feasible for me as well.鈥�
With more than 150 peer-reviewed publications to his name, Dr. Anderson鈥檚 contributions to research have led to national and international recognition. He鈥檚 a founding member and former chair of the VECTOR Research Group, a multi-centre Canadian collaborative team focused on studying blood clotting disorders that, to date, has received more than $50 million in funding. He鈥檚 also chaired the Department of Medicine鈥檚 research committee for nearly 10 years, and was appointed 国民彩票 Medical School鈥檚 assistant dean of clinical research in 2010.
A competitive tennis player and family man, he鈥檚 married to Michelle Karis. Together, they have three children: Phillip, Deanne and Karis.鈥�
On celebrating 150 years of medical education鈥�
鈥淥ur 150th anniversary was a busy and productive year and I am grateful we could celebrate our tremendous acco