Congratulations to Dr. Chris Ekong, a distinguished neurosurgeon in Regina, for being named CTV Regina’s 2024 Citizen of the Year.
Regina is fortunate to have had Dr. Ekong caring for patients in our community from 1982 until his retirement in 2019. He continues to impact health care in Saskatchewan and the value of his contributions cannot be overstated.
Dr. Ekong has been a leader in neurosurgery, lending his expertise to medical students, residents and other neurosurgeons at home and around the world. His philanthropy vaulted Saskatchewan neurosurgery to greater recognition in Canada and abroad.
His advocacy for clinical training and practicing in Regina will enable Saskatchewan to become a desirable location to train for medical sub-specialities, and will help retain highly skilled physicians in the province to provide the best care possible to our community.
Thank you, Dr. Ekong, for all you have done for our community as well as your incredible dedication to the medical profession here in Regina and worldwide.
Here is an in-depth look at his incredible career and contributions:
Neurosurgery and clinical leadership
Dr. Ekong joined the medical practitioner staff in Regina in 1982 after completing his medical degree at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria in 1972, and training in neurosurgery in both Saskatoon and Toronto. He completed his Specialist Certification in Neurosurgery in Toronto in 1981, and did a post-residency Fellowship in Neurotrauma at Sunnybrook Hospital. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, the International College of Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and is a Canadian Certified Physician Executive.
Dr. Ekong taught medical students and residents in addition to treating patients. His initial role in Regina was a cross academic position at the University of Saskatchewan.
He subsequently served as Lead, Division of Neurosurgery in Regina for over 10 years until July 2019. He has also served as Clinical Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery) at the University of Saskatchewan, Clinical Professor of Surgery, St. George’s University School of Medicine, and Adjunct Clinical Professor, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.
He has published papers and abstracts and made presentations at local and international neurosurgical meetings more than 100 times is his career.
Philanthropist and volunteer
Dr. Ekong brought together neurosurgeons from all across Canada and the United States to discuss complex cases, challenges, and ideas through the Medi-Fax Neurosurgical Internet Rounds series he established in 1996. This vaulted Saskatchewan neurosurgery to greater recognition as the initiative expanded into a Global Live Outreach Program (with Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, and Nigeria).
He worked with neurosurgery groups in developing countries, establishing a philanthropic trust to improve neurosurgical collaboration and technological advancements through exchange of site visits and joint clinical research and publications. This was partly possible through a Regina-Yogyakarta neurosurgery twinning agreement between the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and the Gadjah Mada University, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Dr. Ekong also established a private charitable foundation which helps fund the technological needs of religious organizations, schools, and health institutions in Canada and abroad.
He has been recognized by The Canadian Red Cross with a “Power of Humanity” award in 2012, Canadian Medical Association with an “Honorary Member” award in 2014as well as the University of Uyo, in Nigeria with an “Excellence in Global Medical Education” award.
As a volunteer, Dr. Ekong has participated in numerous local and national committees dedicated to his profession, including the Canadian Neurosurgical Society, the Saskatchewan Neurosurgical Society, the Saskatchewan Spine Pathway Working Group and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Examination Committee. He also served as a board member of the Regina Regional Medical Association and the Saskatchewan Medical Association.
Advocate for clinical training
Most recently, in 2023, through his contribution to Hospitals of Regina Foundation, the Dr. Chris Ekong Neuro Spine Fellowship was established.
This ten-year, $500,000 clinical fellowship program will offer ten one-year intensive clinical fellowships within the Division of Neurosurgery at the Regina General Hospital, and in partnership with the College of Medicine, at the University of Saskatchewan.
Through this new fellowship program, Regina’s Neurosurgery Division will accept one surgeon annually to be trained to become a neuro-spine surgical specialist. Faculty support for this program, and the attending fellows, will be provided by Regina’s four neurosurgeons and two orthopedic spine surgeons.
During their training, the Fellow will be responsible for emergency and inpatient care, as well as consultation and follow-up on post-surgical patients at the Regina General Hospital. In addition, the Fellow will teach and mentor medical students and residents, supporting the efforts of the College of Medicine Regina Campus to enhance student educational experiences.
Once a Fellow has completed the program, he or she will have developed expertise in diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of spinal conditions, including degenerative spine disease, spinal deformities, spinal cord injuries, spinal tumours, and spinal trauma.
Advocate for practicing in Regina
Dr. Ekong retired in 2019, but continues to believe in and support the Division of Neurosurgery in Regina’s General Hospital.
While the College of Medicine implements strategies to increase the numbers of doctors it will train through its MD program, it is also essential to attract, train and retain talented sub-specialists to our province.
New clinical Fellowship programs, like the Dr. Chris Ekong Neuro Spine Fellowship, will enable Saskatchewan to become a desirable location to train for medical sub-specialities, and will help retain those highly skilled physicians in the province to provide the best care possible to our community.