Dr. Kaylynn Purdy is a critical care medicine fellow at the University of Calgary. They previously served on the board of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students as an Ontario regional director then director of education from 2016 to 2018, on the board of the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) from 2018 to 2021 and the Professional Association of Residents of Alberta from 2019 to 2020. They have served as the learner board director at the Association of Faculties of Medicine in Canada since 2021.
Dr. Purdy graduated from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University and completed a residency in adult neurology at the University of Alberta. During residency they also completed a master's of health policy at Stanford University with a concentration in empiric methods and implementation science.
Dr. Purdy is originally from Sparwood, British Columbia, where they grew up with respect for the mountains and the importance of community. Their journey in medicine was profoundly shaped by their brother's journey with schizophrenia and ultimately his death from a drug poisoning in 2021. In addition, their own personal health struggles including living with a physical disability have made them a fierce advocate for people, especially those who are marginalized in their community.