Celebrating 31 years of research excellence by Dr. Scott Patten

The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute together with colleagues, staff, residents and trainees celebrate 31 years of research excellence by Dr. Scott Patten. Scott’s academic career began when he joined the Department of Psychiatry in 1994 after completing his PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Calgary. Prior to coming to Calgary, he graduated with distinction from the MD program at the University of Alberta. 

For over 3 decades, Scott built a remarkable research legacy at the University of Calgary as an expert in epidemiology. He trained dozens of trainees from around the world, built strong community connections, and led research collaborations locally, across Canada, and internationally. 

Scott’s reputation as an expert in epidemiology established him as an award-winning researcher of international standing. In 2018, Clarivate recognized him as one of the world’s most cited researchers, placing him among the top 1% in his field. Over the course of his career, he received numerous awards of distinction, including a World Psychiatric Association Fellowship, the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) Award, and the Alumnus of Distinction Research Award from the Cumming School of Medicine. He was also named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a UCalgary Peak Scholar. From 2017 until his retirement, Scott held the Cuthbertson and Fischer Chair in Pediatric Mental Health. 

As an educator, Scott excelled in mentoring trainees under his supervision, receiving rnumerous recognition awards from the Graduate Students Association and the Medical Sciences Graduate Students’ Association for his dedication to mentorship. Two of his trainees noted the impact working with Scott had on their educational journey: 

Anees Bhaji, MD 

"Working with Scott during my PhD was one of the most quietly transformative experiences of my academic life. He has this incredible way of making things make sense—not by simplifying them, but by cutting through the noise with clarity, calm, and a kind of understated brilliance. His mentorship shaped how I think, how I write, and how I approach uncertainty—not just in research, but in life. 

Scott’s style as a researcher is elegant in the truest sense: rigorous without being rigid, generous without calling attention to itself. Even his emails—often just a few lines—somehow managed to be grounding and wise. He has this rare ability to be deeply thoughtful without ever being performative. It’s been an honour to be one of his students."

Dan Devoe, PhD 

"Dr. Patten's unwavering mentorship and belief in my potential profoundly shaped my journey as a mental health researcher. He inspired in me a commitment to excellence and curiosity that continues to guide my career. I am deeply grateful to have been mentored by the finest scholar and teacher I have known."

According to his colleague, epidemiologist Dr. Andrew Bulloch, Dr. Patten is an academic par excellence. With his ingenuity and collaborative spirit, Scott brought valuable epidemiological perspectives to numerous research projects at UCalgary, particularly in the areas of mental health and community health. He has served as an expert reviewer on over 100 journals including The Lancet, Biological Psychiatry, World Journal of Psychiatry and the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 

Scott served as the research director for the Department of Psychiatry for many years. In this role, he led the organization of the annual Sebastian Littmann Research Days (renamed the Mathison-Littmann Research Day) for 25 years from 1998 until 2023. Scott has also been an active member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre since their inception, and served on numerous committees for both the institute and the centre. 

Scott’s retirement is a bittersweet one for many of his colleagues and trainees. While his stellar contributions in real-time will be missed, he is leaving behind mentees he has helped train over the years to continue making impactful contributions to the field. Scott also expects to continue to collaborate with colleagues on a few projects. 

The Mathison Centre, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Psychiatry say, “Thank you Scott, for your ardent research contributions, training of students and residents and community work”.