Mini-Medical School 2025-2026

Dr. Kathy McCoy

Dr. Kathy McCoy, PhD, obtained her PhD in Immunology from the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Otago University, Wellington, New Zealand. She performed her postdoctoral studies and was a junior group leader at the Institute of Experimental Immunology in Zürich, Switzerland. In 2006 she joined McMaster University as an Assistant Professor where she held a Canada Research Chair in Mucosal Immunology. From 2010 – 2016 Kathy McCoy was an Assistant Professor in Mucosal Immunology in the Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern in Switzerland. In September 2016 she returned to Canada and is now a Professor in the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary where she continues her research on host-microbial interactions with a focus on early life.

Dr. Braedon McDonald

Dr. Braedon McDonald, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine and Department of Medicine in the Cumming School of Medicine.  Originally from Crossfield, AB, Dr. McDonald trained in microbiology and immunology at McGill University in Montreal, followed by MD as well as PhD training in immunology at the University of Calgary.  He completed Internal Medicine residency at the University of British Columbia, followed by a fellowship in adult Critical Care Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. McDonald completed a CIHR- and AIHS-funded postdoctoral fellowship in microbiome research at the University of Calgary’s International Microbiome Centre.  Dr. McDonald is a clinician-scientist in the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases and International Microbiome Centre, where he leads a translational and basic science research program on microbiome-immune interactions in infection and critical illness. Dr. McDonald’s clinical practice focuses on multi-systems intensive care, and he is an attending intensivist in the ICU at FMC, RGH, and SHC.

Dr. Cora Constantinescu

Dr. Cora Constantinescu, MD, is a pediatrician, infectious disease specialist, and Clinical Associate Professor with the Cumming School of Medicine. With firsthand experience addressing vaccine hesitancy in the clinic at Alberta Children’s Hospital, she is deeply committed to advancing vaccine research and education. Her academic work focuses on vaccine acceptance and surveillance, and she holds a Master’s degree in Medical Education.

Cora specializes in developing and evaluating educational interventions grounded in behavioral change theory, applying these approaches to both healthcare worker and public vaccine education. In addition to her clinical and academic roles, Cora serves as Co-Chair of Immunize Canada, is a member of the Alberta Advisory Committee on Immunization, and holds the position of Pediatric Chair for AMMI Canada. She is a passionate and steadfast advocate for vaccination initiatives at both the local and national levels.

Dr. Craig Jenne

Dr. Craig Jenne, PhD, is the Deputy Director of the Snyder Institute s. He has a faculty appointment within the departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Calgary. He also holds the Jessie Boden Lloyd Professorship in Immunlogy Research. Dr. Jenne is continuing his work using intravital microscopy to study the early innate immune response to viral and bacterial infections, the impact of vaccines on infectious diseases, and the interface between inflammation and coagulation.

Dr. Yasmin Nasser

Dr. Yasmin Nasser, MD, PhD, FRCPC, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and a clinician-scientist in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She is a member of the Gastrointestinal Research Group and of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. She completed her MD/PhD (Enteric Neurobiology) in 2008, medical residency at the University of British Columbia and gastroenterology fellowship training at the University of Calgary. Thereafter, she went on to complete both an advanced fellowship in Clinical GI Motility, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Vanner at Queen’s University where she studied basic mechanisms of visceral pain and hypersensitivity. She has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including a Crohn’s Colitis Canada Rising Star Award, a CCC/Pfizer Canada Women in IBD outstanding researcher award and a Young Investigator Award from the American Neurogastroenterology & Motility Society.  Dr. Nasser has recognized expertise in visceral pain, functional GI disorders and GI motility. Dr. Nasser’s CIHR funded translational research program is focused on the role of the microbiome in the development of chronic pain.  The overall goal is to develop innovative approaches to the treatment of chronic pain, thus improving quality of life and preventing the use of chronic narcotics

Dr. Christopher Andrews

Dr. Christopher Andrews, MD, MSc, FRCPC, is a clinical gastroenterologist specializing in gut motility disorders. He trained at McMaster, UBC, and University of Calgary; with postgraduate work at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, USA). His research focuses on development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for motility disorders, which include gastroparesis and IBS. Clinically, Dr Andrews has led the Calgary Gut Motility lab, the largest such lab in Canada, performing over 1200 motility tests annually. He maintains a large clinical practice in GI motility and general gastroenterology.