Basketball standout receives C.B. Stewart Gold Medal in Medicine

- June 3, 2014

Alex Legge with parents Cathy and Jim at her recent convocation. (Provided photo)
Alex Legge with parents Cathy and Jim at her recent convocation. (Provided photo)

A shining star since she joined the Tigers in the fall of 2006, Alex Legge made an immediate impact upon her arrival. She played five years with Tigers women’s basketball team, providing leadership both on and off the court and recently graduated from Dalhousie’s School of Medicine with Distinction and the C.B. Stewart Gold Medal in Medicine for the highest academic standing in her graduating class. Here’s a look at all she has accomplished since coming to Dalhousie.

She was an AUS rookie of the year, a first team all-star, a Community Service Award and James Bayer Memorial Scholarship recipient. A Tiger team captain, she was a five-time Academic All-Canadian and a CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian. She also received a Dalhousie’s President and Governor’s awards. Legge also managed to find the time to volunteer with the IWK, the QEII and to coach girls basketball.

After completing a degree in Science with a major in Neuroscience, Alex joined Dalhousie’s Medical School and the accolades continued. At her recent graduation ceremony, Legge was cited as having received the following:

  • C.B. Stewart Gold Medal in Medicine for the highest academic standing in her graduating class.
  • Dr. John F. Black Prize for the highest standing in surgery.
  • Andrew James Cowie MD Memorial Medal for the highest standing in obstetrics.
  • Dr. Robert C. Dickson Prize in Medicine for highest standing in medicine in all four years.
  • Dr. Juan A. Embil Award for Excellence in Infectious Disease Research for the best research project in Infectious Diseases during her four years of study at Dalhousie University.
  • Dr. Mabel E. Goudge Prize for outstanding achievement among female medical students.
  • Dr. J. Donald Hatcher Award for Medical Research for most meritorious and significant research project during the undergraduate program.
  • Dr. R. O. Jones Prize in Psychiatry for highest aggregate grade in psychiatry during the entire medical program.
  • Dr. Clara Olding Prize for highest standing in the clinical years.
  • Poulenc Prize for the highest standing in psychiatry.

An impressive list of awards to say the least. Not everyone would be able to manage to find a balance, but Legge attributes a lot of the success she’s had academically to her time with the Tigers.

“Obviously my involvement with the women's basketball team has been a huge part of my experience here at Dal,” says Legge. “Competing as a student-athlete at the university level requires one to develop great work ethic and discipline, which has served me well both on the court and in the classroom. I also believe that my time as a varsity athlete at Dal taught me the teamwork, communication, and leadership skills that have helped me to be successful in my medical training thus far.”

Current women’s basketball coach Anna Stammberger echoes Legge’s comments.

“Even though it’s obvious she is very bright and has a tremendous work ethic, the thing about Alex’s leadership that impressed me the most was her desire and ability to make others around her better. She never strived for the centre stage, but was always in the trenches doing the ‘hard work’ jobs like rebounding and defense. She gave an incredible amount of positive energy, always putting the team first, during practices and games. What a privilege it was to work with her and we wish her continued health, happiness and success as she starts her interesting career as a skilled and compassionate medical doctor.”

A native of Mahone Bay, NS, Legge will start her residency in Internal Medicine here at Dalhousie in July.

“During my time as a varsity student-athlete, I always felt well supported by the athletic department, and in particular by my coaches, Dr. Carolyn Savoy and Anna Stammberger,” adds Legge. “I feel that Dalhousie takes special pride in the ability of their student-athletes to excel both academically, as well as in their sport, and that emphasis on academics was very important to me as a student-athlete. I'm extremely grateful to have had the privilege to compete as a varsity student-athlete at Dalhousie and I'm very proud to have been a Dal Tiger!”

She is definitely one of Dalhousie’s brightest stars.


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