Dr. John Hanly (left) and Dr. Alexandra Legge pictured in the QEII’s Rheumatology Clinic.
Dr. Alexandra Legge named inaugural Quigley Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology
For the six million Canadians living with arthritis, including more than one in five Nova Scotians, the condition is far more than occasional aches and pains. It’s a chronic disease with life-altering impacts, from debilitating symptoms and mobility issues to reduced quality of life.
But now, in a historic first for the region, a new endowed research chair is taking aim at arthritis and related diseases — with a goal of bringing fresh momentum, new discoveries and hope to patients and families.
The QEII Health Sciences Centre is officially home to the Quigley Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology, a donor-powered position focused on advancing research and transforming care. Dr. Alexandra Legge — a rheumatologist, clinician-scientist and assistant professor at Dalhousie University — has been named its inaugural chairholder.
“The opportunity with this new role has been made possible because of the longstanding generosity of the Quigley family and the many donors who have supported this initiative through the QEII Foundation,” says Dr. Legge.
“The support of donors and research funding is critical to the advancement of rheumatology research and care and I’m incredibly honoured to be a part of that.”
This marks the first research chair dedicated to rheumatology in Nova Scotia, made possible through the collective giving of 600 QEII Foundation donors. This includes the Quigley family who’ve donated more than $3 million to date fueling arthritis research, the late Peter Oleschuk, countless patients and families impacted by rheumatology care, and a powerful show of support from within. The QEII’s own Division of Rheumatology, whose team cares for hundreds of patients living with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases each year, contributed more than $130,000 toward the chair.
This inspiring collaboration sends a clear message: arthritis research is not only vital, but personal.
BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF IMPACT
The chair builds on more than 20 years of extraordinary support from the Quigley family. Over the past two decades, Ross and Patricia Quigley have generously funded and accelerated critical arthritis research and care at the QEII — impacting patients from across Atlantic Canada and beyond.
Few know the long-term ripple effects of that investment better than Dr. John Hanly, a rheumatologist and clinician-scientist, professor emeritus at Dalhousie University and former head of the QEII’s Division of Rheumatology. Over the course of his career, Dr. Hanly has published extensively in the field of rheumatology and mentored many of today’s leading researchers — including Dr. Legge.
“The Quigley family has already had a very significant impact on rheumatology research in Nova Scotia,” says Dr. Hanly. “The endowed chair provides the platform to take that impact to an even higher level.”
As he explains, “research is the only way we will be able to continue to improve the lives of people living with arthritis, which is why the support of donors is so exemplary.”
RESEARCH ROOTED IN CARE
Dr. Legge’s interest in rheumatology was sparked early on as a teenager, when her mother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. That experience left a lasting impression — one that continues to shape her work and drive her commitment to advancing care.
Originally from Nova Scotia, Dr. Legge trained at the QEII and developed a passion for clinical research during medical school and her residency training.
That early foundation led her to pursue a career in both medicine and research. Thanks, in part, to the generosity of donors, her expertise and leadership remain right here in the province where it all began.
Today, as the inaugural Quigley Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology, Dr. Legge is focused on continuing to build and strengthen a robust research program that helps address the needs of patients and families.
Two areas of promising research that excite her include efforts aimed at preventing arthritis before it starts and new therapies that aim to permanently reset the immune system — potentially offering a cure for autoimmune forms of arthritis.
"We're looking towards the possibility of patients entering into drug-free disease remission where they don't require chronic medications, and these are conditions that are not currently thought of as curable," she says.
While the potential of novel research and clinical advances inspires her every day, it’s the people behind the science who fuel her passion most. In addition to her dedicated research time as endowed chair, Dr. Legge continues to care for patients each week through the QEII’s Division of Rheumatology and as director of the Lupus Clinic — ensuring that her work remains rooted in the real-life experiences of those living with these complex, chronic conditions.
A RESEARCH CHAIR THAT LASTS AND LEADS
As Atlantic Canada’s largest and most specialized hospital, the QEII is the perfect home for this pioneering chair. The QEII is a hub for best-in-class research, medical training and clinical innovation where research breakthroughs are directly translated into better patient care.
Supported by many generous donors and gifts of all sizes, endowed chairs are designed for lasting impact. The funds are invested permanently, with only the interest used to support the chairholder’s research — sustaining their work, year after year, for generations to come.
What makes this chair so extraordinary is not only its mission, but the community of people behind it. From one family’s vision to a department’s generosity to the belief of donors from across the region and beyond — the Quigley Family Endowed Chair in Rheumatology is a prime example of what’s possible when a community rallies for a cause that touches nearly every family.
