A message from the dean

Dear alumni and friends,

It is a real pleasure to write to you today — my first message as the new interim dean of the Faculty of Medicine. I want to begin by saying how honoured I am to step into this role. As the first woman to serve as dean of our Faculty, I am both proud and humbled. This is a place that shaped me as a student, a physician, a researcher, an educator — and now, I have the privilege of helping lead it into its next chapter. I want to take a moment to thank Dr. Bernard Jasmin for his exceptional leadership over the past eight years. He has left a lasting legacy, and I am grateful for the wisdom and support he has shared with me during this transition.

Many of you may know me as someone who has “grown up” at the Faculty. I earned my MD right here at uOttawa, and I have never really left. I completed all my specializations and my master's here. Over the years, I have worked in many different roles at the faculty— from Student Affairs, to Vice Dean, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education, and most recently, as Senior Vice-Dean and Vice President of Medical Education at The Ottawa Hospital. My clinical work focuses on thromboembolic diseases, but I have been teaching at the Faculty since I was a resident, well before I completed my fellowships. 

What you might not know is that my love for medicine started early. While other kids were reading storybooks, I was reading my father’s medical journals! Growing up in Europe, I learned French and chose to continue my school in French. Growing up in different countries eventually brought me to Canada, and I have called Ottawa home ever since. Outside of work, I spend time with my wonderful family, and yes — I still read a lot!

One of the best parts of this new role is the chance to meet more of you — our alumni and donors. You are the lifeblood of this Faculty. You make it possible for us to train the next generation of health professionals, lead world-class research, and care deeply for our communities. Thank you for being part of our story — as supporters, partners, and champions of medicine.

I look forward to getting to know you, hearing your stories, and learning about your hopes for the future of our faculty. Together, we can build something even greater.

With warmest thanks,

Dr. Melissa Forgie
Interim Dean, Faculty of Medicine
University of Ottawa