Dr. Lara Cooke appointed associate dean, Health Education Research and Innovation

The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lara Cooke, MD’99, MSc'07, as the new associate dean, Health Education Research and Innovation. The appointment takes effect Jan. 1, 2025. 

Dr. Cooke is a neurologist and professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences who focuses on advancing medical education, program evaluation, and physician learning and wellness. She has held multiple leadership positions beginning early in her career.

As the CSM’s first assistant dean of Faculty Development, Dr. Cooke established the Teaching Scholars in Medical Education Program (now known as TEP) and the Office of Faculty Development. She was the director of the Neurology Residency Training Program from 2009 until 2012, around the time she was appointed associate dean, Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development. She served as director of the Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program for four years and recently held the position as section head of Neurology in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, leading that group through the development of a new strategic plan and through the COVID-19 pandemic.

After completing graduate studies in neurophysiology at the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Cooke completed a Doctor of Medicine, neurology residency, a fellowship in Headache Medicine and a Master of Science in Medical Education at UCalgary. She has received several awards for excellence in medical education including seven Gold Star Teaching Awards, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada award for Distinguished Contribution to Faculty Development in Canada, the Medical Council of Canada award for Innovation in the Assessment of Physician Competence, and this year received the Foothills Medical Centre Medical Staff Association Physician of the Year award.

In this new CSM leadership position, Dr. Cooke plans to work with CSM educators and education researchers to launch a new Centre for Health Education Research and Innovation. The goal will be to bring together education research scientists, clinician educators, and aspiring health educators and researchers to create a thriving academic hub. Members will be focused on asking and answering critical questions about how they are educating health professionals, how best to meet the needs of learners and communities through educational paradigms, and how to train the health professionals of tomorrow. The centre will provide a community and home base for people whose work focuses on medical education and whose academic interests will drive new approaches to understanding and enhancing learning in health education.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Cooke on her new appointment with the CSM.

Sincerely,

Todd Anderson, MD
Dean, Cumming School of Medicine