WCHRI welcomes Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum as director
Renowned autism researcher will succeed Dr. Sandra Davidge, who concludes her transformative 15-year tenure at the end of 2026.
The College of Health Sciences has announced the appointment of Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum as director of the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, for a five-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2027. He will succeed Dr. Sandra Davidge, who concludes her 15-year tenure on Dec. 31, 2026.
Dr. Zwaigenbaum, a developmental pediatrician and clinician-scientist, currently holds the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Autism and serves as WCHRI’s associate director and academic lead of children’s health research. He is a professor and director of strategic partnerships in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry’s Department of Pediatrics.
His career has focused on improving the assessment, diagnosis and care of autistic children, bridging the gap between research, clinical practice and health policy. His national leadership experience includes chairing the Canadian Paediatric Society Task Force on autism diagnosis and leading the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences oversight panel for autism assessment — work that has directly informed Canada’s National Autism Strategy.
In his new role, Dr. Zwaigenbaum is expected to build on WCHRI’s existing foundation of interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together researchers, clinicians, trainees, health-system partners and community members to drive advancements in women’s, children’s and perinatal health. In the appointment announcement, the College of Health Sciences said he will support WCHRI’s continued growth as an internationally recognized institute committed to research excellence, innovation and meaningful impact.
Under Dr. Davidge’s guidance, the institute expanded to more than 400 members across 13 faculties at the University of Alberta. Her tenure was characterized by a focus on training the next generation of researchers and fostering a collaborative environment to tackle critical health challenges. Most recently, she played a key role in securing the largest philanthropic gift in the U of A’s history, a landmark $93.5-million commitment designed to accelerate research and improve care for families for decades to come.
The appointment of Dr. Zwaigenbaum follows an extensive search process, supported by feedback from faculty, staff, learners and partners throughout the university.
