Age: 30
Job title: Adult Cardiologist, Alberta Health Services; Clinical Fellow, Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria Heart Institute Foundation.
Why he’s a 2019 Top 40 Under 40: He raises Edmonton’s profile in advanced healthcare techniques and research in cardiology.
Good thing rejection doesn’t phase Dr. Debraj Das or he might not be the accomplished cardiologist and clinician-scientist he is today.
Just out of high school, with a mind for science and a fascination with research, Das went into the research building on the University of Alberta campus, résumé in hand, looking for a summer job. From the first floor up to the sixth, no luck. With one lab left to visit, Das found Dr. Lorne Tyrell, who hired him on the spot and became one of his first mentors.
“A lot of people gave me experiences early on that shaped my interests… I think strong mentorship is the reason I am where I am today,” says Das.
To date, Das has more than 40 awards, 26 research presentations ―to local, national and international audiences ―and has 10 published academic papers to his credit. No matter how demanding his career in medicine has been, ―including time as chief resident of adult cardiology at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, ―Das has always remained actively involved in clinical research.
“I’ve always been passionate about the research I’m doing… You’re always trying to push the boundaries and improve care, and never really settling for current standards.”
Today, Das splits his time between Edmonton and Victoria, where he’s completing specialty training in interventional cardiology. However, his heart is still in his hometown.
“I find it inspiring to see how much people in our city do. People are always pushing the boundaries…If you keep pushing and keep striving to be the best version of yourself, there’s no limit to what’s possible.”
This article appears in the November 2019 issue of Avenue Edmonton
