CAGS congratulates Dr. Rebecca Auer on her appointment as the Ottawa Hospital’s new leader of research and innovation

April 4, 2024, traditional unceded Algonquin Territory/Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) is delighted that Dr. Rebecca Auer has been appointed to the role of Executive Vice-President of Research and Innovation at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and as the CEO and Scientific Director of the esteemed Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), as of July 1, 2024. Given her exceptional leadership in undertaking and advocating for world-class cancer research and clinical trials in Canada, CAGS is not surprised to learn that Dr. Auer’s selection by a distinguished committee following an extensive global search has been unanimously endorsed.

Dr. Auer has been inspirational to CAGS’ Board and community through her dedication to advancing the field of general surgery and promotion of research.  Dr. Auer has been Chair of the CAGS Research Committee since 2019 and has led an outstanding group of surgeons by providing guidance to our organization’s research related initiatives and issues.  Dr. Auer also sits on the Board of the Canadian General Surgery Foundation, maintaining alignment of both CAGS and the Foundation on research granting and best practices.  In her role as Chair of the Research Committee, Dr. Auer has been instrumental in the promotion of research and educational activities within the Canadian general surgical community, including supporting research training for medical students, residents and attending surgeons, and supporting research excellence within Canadian Surgery Forum (CSF) and in the larger Canadian general surgery community.

Dr. Auer’s exceptional leadership also extends to her current role within the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine, where she holds full professor appointments in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology and as a Tier 1 Research Chair in Perioperative Cancer Therapeutics. Before she was recruited to Ottawa, Dr. Auer was Chief Fellow in the Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. Other leadership positions at a national and international level include being an executive member of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group and the Perioperative Care Network. She is the Canadian representative for the Global Forum for Cancer Surgeons and a Special Expert on the Gastrointestinal Steering Committee of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Auer’s appointments within TOH and the OHRI are truly well-deserved. We believe her expertise and vision will undoubtedly drive transformative advancements in healthcare and research, benefiting patients and communities locally and globally. We eagerly anticipate the remarkable contributions she will make in her new prestigious roles and will cheer her on as she continues her important work.

Congratulations Dr. Auer on this exciting journey of leadership and innovation!

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About CAGS
The Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) is Canada’s only national organization representing the interests of General Surgeons.  Our Mission is to empower general surgeons to improve patients’ lives through continued advocacy, education, and research. We advocate on behalf of academic, community, rural and remote General Surgeons on issues related health human resources, transition of practice, pay equity, and the required access to resources to provide care for patients, and for quality of care for surgical patients.

CAGS manages the planning and delivery of the Canadian Surgery Forum – the largest scientific and networking event for General Surgeons in Canada.  In addition, through our General Surgery Learning & Resource Centre, we provide educational opportunities to ensure general surgeons can upgrade their skills as part of their Continuing Medical Education and assurance of optimal patient care.  To learn more about or join CAGS visit our website, connect with us on LinkedIn or donate to the Canadian General Surgery Foundation (CGSF) to help further surgical research in Canada.

 

For more information, contact:

Jennifer Scott
Manager, Membership & Communications
jennifer@cags-accg.ca
613-518-0556 x 2