On April 3, our colleague, Dr. Syed Sibte Raza Abidi was awarded the “Take The Lead” Award by Discover Halifax at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Dinner at the Halifax Convention Centre.
Dr. Abidi is a professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University and the Director of NICHE Research Group. His research is focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications in the global healthcare sector. Dr. Abidi is currently working on two research projects with Atlantic PATH, including a digital health and AI based platform for early chronic disease risk assessment and prediction, and arsenic species, metallome profiles and cancer using toxicological and machine learning methods.
The Take The Lead Award recognizes that Dr. Abidi “secured the bid to host the 2022 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIME) in Halifax, a testament to his leadership and commitment to advancing AI research initiatives. Supported by a diligent local organizing committee, the event was executed seamlessly. This marked the second major conference Dr. Abidi has successfully brought to Halifax within the past decade.
Dr. Abidi has been focused on AI and its applications in the health sector for more than 20 years. Being on the Board of AIME and having attended their conference for many years in Europe, Raza saw no reason he couldn’t bring the event to Canada, specifically Halifax, and showcase the research being done here.
“The three-day AIME Conference brought 150 AI researchers and industry experts to Halifax from across the globe. “We had people bringing their families as well,” said Dr Abidi. The event contributed more than $310,000 in economic impact for our city.”
When we invite researchers from all over the world, not only are we bringing them to Halifax and showing Halifax as a wonderful city, but also we can demonstrate the research that is going on here and thereby establish new collaborations.”
Dr. SSR Abidi and Dr. S Abidi (middle)
Billboard on Barrington Street in Halifax