DMAA announces 2025 award recipients

Engagement Award

This award recognizes those who build meaningful ties across the medical alumni community and support DMAA and Faculty of Medicine activities.

From Dr. Dan Reid’s (MD’70) early days as a young family physician in rural Nova Scotia to his decades-long role as class president for Dalhousie’s MD Class of 1970, he has built his life around connection, care, and commitment to others.

After graduating, he and three classmates settled in Pictou, N.S, together building a model of community-based healthcare that became a benchmark for rural medicine in Nova Scotia.

We did everything, from delivering babies to setting fractures. Our emergency department never closed, not for one day in 25 years. —Dr. Dan Reid

Even in retirement, Dr. Reid continues to bring people together, from organizing class reunions to mentoring young physicians and celebrating his peers' accomplishments.

Family Physician of the Year Award

This award recognizes a family physician who excels in patient care, community impact, teaching and advocacy.

When Dr. Howard Conter (BSc’80, MD’85, PGM’86) reflects on four decades in family medicine, one word rises above the rest: gratitude. Gratitude for the patients he’s served, the communities he’s built, and the meaningful connections that have defined every chapter of his career. A proud Dalhousie alum and lifelong Haligonian, Dr. Conter has been at the heart of family medicine in Nova Scotia since 1986. He has provided comprehensive care at his Gladstone Professional Centre practice, the same office he established nearly four decades ago, now known as Richmond Family Practice. 

I always loved the variety. It kept the job fun and never stale. — Dr. Howard Conter

Young Alum of the Year Award

This award celebrates early-career Dal Med alumni whose work meaningfully impacts their medical school or community.

When Dr. Leah Jones (BSc’13, MD’18) returned home to Nova Scotia after completing her residency at McMaster and working in Ontario for a few years, she brought with her more than a medical degree: she carried a vision for a more inclusive, compassionate, and community-driven approach to healthcare. Today, as Dalhousie’s first Academic Director of Black Health at Dalhousie and the physician lead for the Nova Scotia Sisterhood, Dr. Jones has become a catalyst for change, shaping both medical education and primary care in ways that honour the lived experiences and health needs of Black communities across the province.

Both my parents cared for people in different ways. That sense of community care was always part of me.
—Dr. Leah Jones

Resident Leadership Award - Royal College

This award honours residents in Royal College programs who show outstanding leadership in areas such as advocacy, research, mentorship, or community engagement.

As a graduate of Dalhousie’s Radiation Oncology residency program, Dr. Alexandre Riopel (PGM’25) continues to advance his career in academic medicine and patient-centred care. Known among peers for his calm leadership and collaborative spirit, Dr. Riopel served as chief resident and helped enhance the residency experience at Dalhousie. His initiatives included creating a case-based simulation workshop in sarcoma care and developing learning opportunities for medical students interested in radiation oncology. He also facilitated national quality-improvement sessions. 

Leadership to me means leaving things better than you found them. It’s about making sure the next generation of residents feels supported. —Dr. Alexandre Riopel 

Resident Leadership Award - Family Medicine

These awards recognize a Dalhousie family medicine resident who demonstrates exceptional leadership through advocacy, research, mentorship, community engagement, or administrative contributions.

Now completing his family medicine residency, Dr. Brett Ells (MD’23) has become a leader known for advocacy, integrity, and collaboration. During his time at Dalhousie Medical School, Dr. Ells served as both class president and president of the Dalhousie Medical Students’ Society (DMSS), leading through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I saw an opportunity to bring people together: students, faculty, and staff, at a time when connection was needed most. —Dr. Brett Ells

His efforts helped maintain a sense of community and continuity for learners during one of the most disruptive periods in modern education. 

Resident Leadership Award - Family Medicine

A deep sense of connection led Dr. Ryan Densmore (MD’21) to take on leadership roles early in his training. During the COVID years, he served as a community clerkship representative for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, advocating for learners across both provinces. Four years later, when he began training in Inverness, he continued this commitment to advocacy by taking on both the informal role of site representative and a formal leadership position on the MarDocs board of directors as a Family Medicine Member at Large. 

His placement in Inverness, Cape Breton, turned out to be transformative.

It was the best experience I could’ve asked for. The community, the mentorship, the sense of purpose, it all came together there. — Dr. Ryan Densmore