The University of Calgary is announcing an upcoming leadership transition in its research portfolio. Dr. William Ghali, MD’90, Vice-President (Research) has decided that he will conclude his term on June 30, 2027, as part of a planned transition in the portfolio.
Ghali will continue to lead the Office of the Vice-President (Research) until that point, providing nearly a year of transition and continuity. After that time, he will remain a valued member of the UCalgary community in his capacities as a clinician and researcher.
President Ed McCauley says Ghali’s transition comes at a time of strength, when the university is experiencing record-setting levels of success.
“Bill has given extraordinary service to the University of Calgary and to our research enterprise,” says McCauley. “Bill has tirelessly championed scholarly excellence in his role as VPR, reflecting his own leadership in research and impact on the global stage. He has helped position UCalgary among Canada’s top research universities and has supported major initiatives that will continue to strengthen our impact for years to come. This is a personal decision, and one I fully support. The momentum of the University of Calgary will continue at pace, and this planned transition gives us the time and continuity to move forward with confidence.”
Says Ghali: “Those who know me know I love a sports metaphor: It’s the beginning of the third period of my life, and it feels like the right time for me to make a change toward new pursuits, both personal and professional.
“I’m not leaving the university; I will be transitioning my role. I look forward to continuing to contribute as a member of this community.”
Ghali highlights his pride and confidence in the strategic path of the University of Calgary.
“President McCauley is driving an exciting agenda of growth for the University of Calgary through the Ahead of Tomorrow strategy. Serving alongside him as Vice-President (Research) has been one of the greatest honours of my career,” says Ghali. “I am proud of what our community has accomplished together, and of the university’s trajectory of excellence. I am fully supportive of the goals of our strategy, and confident in the leadership team delivering on them. I’ll be here cheering on the outcome.”
Since his appointment as Vice-President (Research) in 2020, Ghali has helped guide UCalgary through a period of substantial research growth and momentum. Under his leadership, the university has been named a top five research institution in Canada, as well as the nation’s top startup-creating university. It has advanced major initiatives including the Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship, the UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs program and the UCalgary Visiting Scholars Program, and secured the largest research grant in UCalgary history to launch the One Child Every Child initiative.
Ghali is also a globally respected physician and researcher, a professor in the departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Canada, and director of the University of Calgary World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Disease Classifications and Health Information.
President Ed McCauley and the University of Calgary will soon begin a fulsome international search, including striking a search committee according to university processes, to select the next Vice-President (Research) for the university.
Further updates and details on this process will be featured on the search area of the President’s website shortly.