Dr. Eldon Smith, Calgary, Member
OC, MD, FRCPC, FCAHS, FAHA, FIACS
Term to March 31, 2014. Dr. Eldon Smith is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
He was born and educated in Nova Scotia, receiving his medical degree cum laude (gold medalist) from Dalhousie University in 1967. Following Internal Medicine and Cardiology training in Canada, UK, and the USA, Dr. Smith joined the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie in 1973. In 1980, he moved to Calgary to become Professor and Head of the Cardiology Division at Foothills Hospital and the University of Calgary. He became Head of the Department of Medicine in 1985 and Associate Dean (Clinical Affairs) in 1990. From 1992 to 1997, Dr. Smith was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary during which time he served on the Board of two general hospitals and one Pediatric Hospital. Subsequent to regionalization, he also served on the Board of the Calgary Regional Health Authority. From 1997 until 2010, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. Currently he serves as Chair of the Strategic Advisory Board for the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, a position he has held since 2004.
Dr. Smith’s research interests include circulatory mechanics, exercise physiology and echocardiography. He has published more than 250 papers and book chapters and has been a contributor to many national and international organizations; he has been President of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges and Vice President of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology. He has served on a number of public boards including the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, the Alberta Health Professions Advisory Board, and the Premier’s Advisory Council on Health in Alberta. He founded and served as President and Director of the Peter Lougheed Medical Research Foundation, a national initiative to support excellence in health research in Canada. In 2006 he was appointed by the Canadian Federal Government to chair the development of a National Strategy for Cardiovascular Health and Disease.
Dr. Smith has received a number of honors and awards including the Young Investigator’s Award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the Keon Achievement Award of the University of Ottawa, 125th Anniversary of Canada Commemorative Medal for Contributions to the Citizens of Canada, The Achievement Award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Alumnus of the Year, Dalhousie University, Dedicated Service Award of the Heart and Stroke Foundations of Canada, Certificate of Meritorious Service of the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, Beamish Award for Leadership in Cardiovascular Science and Education from the University of Manitoba, Certificate of Recognition from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Order of the University of Calgary, a citation from the Senate of the Philippines for aid in developing medical education in that country, the Centennial Medal from the Province of Alberta and the 2005 Medal of Service from the Canadian Medical Association. In 2005, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was the 2007 recipient of the Graham Medal from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and an AsTECH award from the province of Alberta for outstanding contribution to the research and development community. He also has been awarded Life Membership in the Alberta and Canadian Medical Association.
In addition to Public Boards, Dr. Smith currently serves as a Director of a number of publicly traded companies including Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Intellipharmaceutics International Inc, Aston Hill Financial and Resverlogix Corp and previously has served on the Boards of a number of biotechnology and emerging technology companies.
