Faculty of Medicine professor earns 2009 Distinguished Teacher Award

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Posted July 29, 2009

By Kyle Glennie

Dr. Israel Belenkie: photo suppliedLongtime UCalgary Faculty of Medicine professor Dr. Israel Belenkie has been chosen as the Canadian Cardiovascular Society's 2009 Distinguished Teacher Award recipient.

Belenkie, or Sonny as he is known to those close to him, first joined the Faculty of Medicine in 1973, and was the University of Calgary's first full-time cardiologist.  His involvement with training has been virtually continuous since that time and has always been seen as exemplary by those who've had the privilege of being his students.

"I feel honoured to be given this award but at the same time I'm surprised," Belenkie says. "I never saw myself as more than someone who loved to teach and felt committed to it."

The Distinguished Teacher Award was created in 1997 as acknowledgement of an individual's excellence in teaching over the long term in any of the cardiovascular fields. Recipients of this award are applauded for their dedication to teach in this scientific specialty.

"Teaching is something I love because it allows me to interact with very smart people who want to learn and who never cease to challenge me.  That in turn gives me the opportunity to learn along the way."

Belenkie will be presented the award on October 25 as part of this year's Canadian Cardiovascular Congress to be held in Edmonton.  While receiving such a prestigious accolade will no doubt represent a career highlight for Belenkie, it's the work he put in to earn the award that he will always remember.

"When I look back, I am so impressed at how all those trainees have matured into such fine physicians who I truly enjoy working with."