Women Empowering Women: Dr. Régine Mydlarski – A life filled with service

By Regan Lipes

(AJNews) – “‘I consider it a true privilege to care for patients with complex skin diseases, advance research in skin cancer, and train the next generation of dermatologists,” expressed Dr. Régine Mydlarski, Associate Professor, Section Chief, and Academic Head of dermatology at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. Becoming a doctor is a dream for so many young girls and women – a dream that demands perseverance and dedication to become a reality. That is not where the challenges end though, and it is hardly as glamorous as TV shows and movies might suggest. The responsibilities and pressures of being a physician are immense and can be overwhelming. Total strangers put trust and faith in doctors with the most valuable things they have: their health, and the health of their loved ones. Then, to become a leader in this already competitive elite field is an even more monumental achievement. “Everything I’ve built – at work, at home, and in my heart – comes from knowing where I come from and who I come home to.”

“When people ask who I am, I say I’m the daughter of a courageous Holocaust survivor, the wife of a resilient political refugee, the mother of two incredible boys, and a physician determined to make a difference,” shared Dr. Mydlarski. As a second-generation survivor, the preservation of human life and dignity during care is something that resonates with the accomplished clinician and academic.  To be raised by a Holocaust survivor almost endows a person’s nature with a unique kind of courage and resilience.

Dr. Mydlarski is Calgary-born, to, as she puts it: “extraordinary parents, Henri and Donna.” Her father, following immigration, built his own impressive career at the U of C as a professor of French literature. “My father – one of Calgary’s few remaining Holocaust survivors – left France after the war in search of the ‘all-Canadian dream’. As a child, he witnessed the horrors of Nazi occupation and endured unimaginable trauma, yet he never let those years define him.”  The value of education and trailblazing was also modeled for Dr Mydlarski by her mother who is a Professor Emerita at the University of Calgary, an expert in computer-assisted language learning, and a pioneer in her field.

Dr. Mydlarski was a pioneer in her own right, graduating from medical school at the astoundingly young age of only 22. “It’s no surprise that my older brother, Laurent, and I followed in our parents’ footsteps. […] I was beyond blessed to grow up in a home filled with love, tradition, and purpose. Though we weren’t religious in a formal sense, we were proudly Jewish in culture and values. The principles of family, education, hard work, and resilience were deeply ingrained in us. Lively family dinners shaped my childhood; my father always said, ‘A family that eats together stays together’ – and our walls were lined with books.” With a daughter improving the quality of life for so many patients, and a son who built a professorial career in engineering at McGill University, the Mydlarski family breathed light and life into a new Jewish generation.

“When people ask why I chose dermatology, I often credit my mentor, Dr. Marvin Fritzler, who underscored the need for medical dermatologists. My brother likes to joke that I chose it because it was the most competitive specialty.” Regardless of why Dr. Mydlarski first chose dermatology as her specialty, her selection has benefitted the Canadian medical community, her students, and decades of thankful patients.  During her residency at the University of Toronto, she immersed herself in everything there is to know about the human body’s largest organ, and how best to treat its ailments. “After completing my residency, I undertook a four-year postdoctoral fellowship immunodermatology and medical genetics, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.” Ambitious and determined to innovate the field of dermatology, Dr. Mydlarski needed to ascertain how best to affect this change. “Though I was on a promising academic trajectory in Toronto, I soon found myself at a crossroads: stay and continue to advance in a thriving educational environment or return home to Calgary – a city with no established academic dermatology program […] In the end, family brought me home.”

Dr. Mydlarski has never been one to shy away from challenge. Perhaps Calgary did not have an academic dermatology presence at the time – but why not?  “During interviews, I met several supportive colleagues – but also a powerful group who told me, quite bluntly, that there was no room for me in Calgary. What they didn’t realize was that their doubt only strengthened my resolve.”  She was adamant that U of C needed an academic dermatology stream to better train its medical students. “In 2004, I joined the University of Calgary as its first academic dermatologist. Within five years, I established the University’s Dermatology Residency Program – now one of the largest and most sought-after programs in Canada.”

The forward-gazing vision and determination Dr. Mydlarski embodied in establishing this competitive program exemplifies the courage that her parents instilled in her. “In 2018, I was appointed Section Chief and Academic Head of Dermatology for Alberta Health Services (Calgary Zone) and the University of Calgary. Soon after, I became Chair of Dermatology for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, where I led the national implementation of Competence by Design (a medical education system) and conducted a comprehensive review of the specialty.”

For this work, she was honoured to receive the Canadian Dermatology Association’s Award of Merit. Accolades aside, Dr. Mydlarski feels humbled by the ability to do so much good for those around her, whether it be her colleagues, students, or patients. “Mentors in our community, like Gordon Hoffman and Alvin Libin, have shown me the power of generosity and service. I’ve tried to lead by example, grounding my work in giving back – with compassion, respect, fairness, and integrity.”

Yes, she has built the kind of ‘Girl Boss’ career that should remind all women that the glass ceiling need not hold them back, but Dr. Mydlarski has achieved all this while building a happy Jewish home, full of Sholom Bayit and love. “My time in Toronto shaped more than just my academic path – it’s also where I met my husband, Stefan Mustata, a political refugee from Romania whose resilience and determination helped him become a respected nephrologist in Canada.”

Together, they have raised two wonderful sons and pass along their courage and values of social responsibility to another generation. “While I’m deeply committed to my work, my most meaningful role will always be at home. As the proud mother of Aaron and Adrian – my raison d’être – I’ve done my best to balance the joy and responsibility of family life with the demands of a fulfilling career. I made a conscious decision early on: my children would always come first.”

Dr, Mydlarski models the very best of Jewish values: family, health, and education. With a career filled with service to her colleagues, her students, her patients, and the larger community, she takes the greatest satisfaction from being able to nurture her family. “I hope my boys think of their mom as someone who leads with love, shows up with unwavering commitment, and is always there for them – whether for a doctor’s appointment, a tennis match, or a late-night conversation when they need me most. I hope they draw strength from our entire family – from their grandparents, and perhaps even from me and their father, too. More than anything, I hope we’ve passed on more than words: the strength to lead with kindness, the courage to do what’s right, the discipline to work hard, and the faith to keep going, even when the path is uncertain.”

Her family, the one that raised her, and the one she built, are the greatest inspiration that Dr. Mydlarski has as she continues to trailblaze innovations in research while helping to train an exceptional batch of up-and-coming Canadian dermatologists. Her accomplishments are considerable, but she attributes all the good she does, her efforts for Tikkun Olam, to a firm grounding in a heritage she holds dear and embraces with pride.

Regan Lipes is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter