Robert L. Cowie, MB ChB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Respiratory Medicine

Dr. Cowie, a specialist in respiratory medicine, is a professor at the University of Calgary in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences. He is a member of the Division of Respiratory Medicine of the University of Calgary and the Calgary Health Region. In addition, Dr. Cowie is director of Tuberculosis Services of the Calgary Health Region and director of the Calgary COPD and Asthma Program. He has also been a staff physician with the Department of Medicine at Foothills Hospital in Calgary since 1990.

Since 1988, Dr. Cowie has been affiliated with the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians in London, and was honored with its Member of Distinction award. His career as a teacher, writer, and researcher makes him a sought-after speaker addressing clinical and research groups throughout North America, South Africa, and Europe.

Dr. Cowie has written numerous scientific research studies and textbooks focusing on asthma, tuberculosis, and occupational lung epidemiology. In 2002, he received the Alberta Lung Association Award of Excellence, a Lorraine Award.

Healthwise Knowledgebase Topics Reviewed

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Tuberculosis

Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older

Pleurisy

Lung Cancer

Asthma in Children

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Pneumonia

Acute Bronchitis

Education

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MB ChB: University of Cape Town, South Africa, 1962

FCP (SA): College of Medicine of South Africa, 1968

MSc: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, 1987

MD: University of Cape Town, South Africa, 1988

MFOM: Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, London, England, 1988

Academic Appointments

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Professor of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, 1995–present.

Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB 1995–present.

Head, Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, 1997–2003.

Hospital Affiliations

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Foothills Hospital, Calgary, AB

Professional Affiliations

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College of Medicine of South Africa, Fellow of the Faculty of Medicine and Fellow of the Faculty of Community Health

Royal College of Physicians, Member of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine

Canadian Thoracic Society

British Thoracic Society

American Thoracic Society

South African Pulmonology Society

European Respiratory Society

International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Epidemiological Society of South Africa

Canadian Society for International Health

Arctic Institute of North America

Selected Publications

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1. Cowie RL, et al. (2002). Asthma in adolescents: A randomised controlled trial of an asthma program for adolescents and young adults with severe asthma. Canadian Respiratory Journal, 9: 253–259.
2. Cowie RL, et al. (2001). Predicting emergency room utilization in adults with asthma: A cohort study. Journal of Asthma, 38: 179–184.
3. Chan JS, Cowie RL, et al. (2002). Intramuscular betamethasone versus oral prednisone in the prevention of relapse of acute asthma. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, 161: A189.
4. Becklake MR, Cowie RL (2000). Pneumoconioses. In J Murray et al., eds., Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, 3rd ed., pp. 1811–1851. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
5. Cowie RL (2000). Mining. In DJ Hendrick et al., eds., Occupational Disorders of the Lung, pp. 459–465. London: W.B. Saunders.
6. Long R, Cowie RL (1999). Tuberculosis: 4. Pulmonary disease. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 160: 1344–1348.
7. Cowie RL (1998). Tuberculosis: Can it be eradicated? Canadian Journal of Clinical Medicine, 5: 208–212.

Financial Disclosure

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This reviewer reported no financial conflicts.