Tzed Talks

The Tzed Talks are a collaboration between Beth Tzedec Congregation and the University of Calgary Cummings School of Medicine to bring relevant topics of medical interest to the public.  Through this series of lectures, issues of concern to the Jewish community and the wider civic community are explored and information is provided that might enable participants to address and improve their personal health.

Lecture #1

May 17, 2017
“Be Good to Your Gut:  What Science Says About Optimizing Your Digestive Health”
Presented by: Dr. Gil Kaplan

Dr. Kaplan is a gastroenterologist and epidemiologist with a clincal and research interest in the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).  He graduated with a Masters of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health and completed an IBD Fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital.  He is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary with 80% protected time for his research program.  He is a CIHR New Investigator and an Alberta-Innovates Health Solutions Population Health Investigator.  Dr. Kaplan is the Director of the Environmental Health Research Group in the Institute of Public Health at the University of Calgary as well as an executive member of the Alberta IBD Consortium, which is a mulit-disciplinary team that is studying gene-environment-microbial interactions in a province wide cohort of IBD patients.  In 2011, Dr. Kaplan was selected as one of Avenue Magazine’s in Calgary, Top 40 Under 40.

Lecture #2

November 7, 2017

“Ashkenazic Jewish Genetic Diseases”

Dr. Aneal Khan (Head of Metabolism and Genetics) and Gary Frohlich (Genetic Counselor), regarding the possibility of a Gaucher disease Tzed Talk on at your Synagogue. Both speakers feel they can bring value and would modify their presentation to your synagogue’s needs.

Dr. Aneal Khan is currently the head of Metabolism and Genetics at Alberta Children’s Hospital (managing both adult and children Lysosomal Storage Disorder (LSD) disease patients). Himself and Dr. Walla Al-Hertani screen, confirm and follow all LSD patients in southern Alberta – and more specifically Gaucher disease.

Lecture #3

May 23, 2018
“Are You Prepared for the Next Disaster?”
Presented by: Dr. Daniel Kollek, MD, CCFP (EM)

Dr. Daniel Kollek is an award winning Emergency Physician, an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Section of Emergency Medicine at McMaster University, Chair of the CAEP Disaster Committee and the Executive Director of the Centre for Excellence in Emergency Preparedness (CEEP).

His research papers and presentations have spanned many disaster related topics such as terrorism and CBRN readiness. He has chaired the National Scientific Assembly of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians in 2002, was a session chair at the 2nd World Congress on CBR Terrorism the following year and the chair of the Disaster Track at the International Federation of Emergency Medicine conference in Halifax in 2006.

In addition to teaching awards he and his colleagues of CEEP also received a Humanitarian Award from the International Federation of Emergency Medicine in 2006 for their work to improve Canadian disaster preparedness.

Lecture #4

October 16, 2018
“Confused About Cannabis?”

Fiona Clement, PhD studies health services research, health economics and health policy.
Her expertise includes advising on cannabis policy.

Paul Arnold, MD, PhD is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and director of the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education.

Rebecca Haines-Saah, PhD co-leads the O’Brien Institute for Public Health’s Population Health and Prevention Interest Group. Her research focuses on adolescent mental health and substance use.