February 2, 2018
A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan (Distinction), John Conly is medically trained in internal medicine and infectious diseases and is Board certified in both Canada and the United States. He is the past Chairman of the Department of Medicine, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Past-President of the Canadian Infectious Diseases Society, past Board Chairman of the Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance, the inaugural Vice-Chair of the Canadian Expert Drug Advisory Committee and founding Co-Chair of the Canadian Hospital Epidemiology Committee which in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada established the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program. He is currently a Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at the University of Calgary; the Medical Director for the W21C (a research and innovation initiative within Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary); and a member of the WHO Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance.
He has published over 300 papers and has received multiple career honours in teaching, research, mentorship, innovation, and service. He was the recipient of the Ronald Christie Award in 2012 from the Canadian Association of Professors of Medicine, which is awarded to a former Chair of a Canadian Department of Medicine who has made outstanding contributions to academic medicine in Canada. He also received the Distinguished Service Medal from the Alberta Medical Association in 2016 which is awarded for outstanding personal contributions to the medical profession and raising the standards of medical practice. He continues as an active consultant in clinical infectious diseases and his current interests focus on antimicrobial resistance, patient safety, and innovations in healthcare.