Recipients

The John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in the early stages of their academic career.  This prestigious award was established by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill, whose leadership helped distinguish the Faculty as one of Canada’s best graduate programs and research environments, paving the way for future excellence in research and research capacity in health at UBC.

The 2024 recipient is Dr. Brett Finlay, Professor with the Michael Smith Laboratories and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Faculty of Science, and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. Working across disciplines on how microbes interact with humans in both health and disease, Dr. Finlay's research has contributed to major advances in the development of new vaccines, targeting the microbiome to reduce the effects of allergies, asthma and malnutrition, and exploring changes to promote healthy microbiomes for children. Dr. Finlay is praised as an exceptional mentor who fosters a collaborative and positive environment that encourages trainees to build their confidence and scientific prowess to pursue excellence in health research. Having mentored over 128 trainees, many of whom have successfully pursued careers in academia, medicine, and research, Dr. Finlay's mentorship philosophy has had lasting impact on trainees.

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Teaching and Learning recognizes two outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence in facilitating interprofessional groups of learners at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan. The awards are presented to two educators who have facilitated interprofessional learning activities for UBC Health and have demonstrated exemplary facilitation skills.

Two exceptional educators are recognized as the 2024 recipients of this award for their significant contributions to interprofessional education at UBC.

Larry Leung is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Larry has facilitated 25 Integrated Curriculum workshops, covering essential topics such as Professionalism, Ethical Decision-Making, and Indigenous Cultural Safety. His facilitation emphasizes the real-world application of teamwork, professionalism, and ethical decision-making. He has created a learning environment that fosters critical thinking and collaboration, helping students from different healthcare disciplines understand each other's roles and responsibilties in a team. Larry’s scholarly work in interprofessional education goes beyond facilitation. As an IPE Scholar, his innovative ideas continue to challenge and improve IPE delivery, and his research on the future of online IPE will shape the interprofessional education landscape at UBC.

Jason Min is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Jason has facilitated 22 Integrated Curriculum workshops, addressing vital topics such as Foundations of Ethical Practice, Interprofessional Ethical Decision-Making, and Indigenous Cultural Safety. His facilitation has helped bridge knowledge and skills across disciplines, fostering essential collaborative competencies in students. His commitment to creating a dynamic, interactive learning environment has allowed students from diverse health professions to engage and develop professional abilities in a team-based setting. Jason has been a driving force behind the aEHR (Academic Electronic Health Record) pilot, a groundbreaking project that incorporates artificial intelligence into case-based learning and has the potential to revolutionize the way students engage with complex healthcare situations.

The R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award was named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning in health and human service programs at UBC.

Two outstanding patient partners are recognized as the 2024 recipients of the Kerston Award.

Vikram Bubber is a patient partner and community educator who has been supporting the development of health professions students at UBC since 2020. As a UBC Health Mentor, Vikran has mentored 18 students from 7 health professional programs, sharing his experiences with the healthcare system. He also co-facilitated the first-ever interprofessional activity for 47 students across 4 health disciplines at the UBC Surrey site. He has created educational videos and co-authored a scholarly publication about how patient stories can cultivate deeper understandings of patient experiences. Vikram's life story and mentorship has impacted students to strive for patient-centred care through shared decision-making as future clinicians.

John Dub has made significant contributions as a community educator by bringing the patient’s voice to health educational programs at UBC. As a Health Mentor since 2020, John has mentored 16 students from 7 different disciplines. He has also been a co-facilitator for an interprofessional collaborative decision-making workshop, an educator involved in Phamacy courses, and a patient panelist in Medicine. John's involvement in these activities have enriched students' learning by offering patient experiences in health education and helping shape the perspectives of future healthcare professionals. John presented the outcomes of some of his teachings in pharmacy at the UBC Celebration of Scholarship Day in 2024.

The ImpactBC Scholarships in Health Care Research and Development recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education. The scholarships were established through an endowment by ImpactBC.

2024 Recipients

Morgan Grey is a second-year student in the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Morgan's research project aimed to improve healthcare education and enhance patient engagement by integrating patient voices and experiences into training. Morgan played a significant role in the “Building Resources and Accessibility in Neurology” (BRAIN) project by leading the development of patient-focused curricula related to major depressive disorders, dementia, and Parkinson's Disease. Morgan's compassion and collaborative skills encouraged a safe environment for patients to share their health journeys to create moving and powerful materials. Morgan has taken a student leadership role in the Parkinson Wellness Projects, a nonprofit organization that provides free and accessible resources, by facilitating online medication support groups and in-person learning sessions for patients with Parkinson's.

Renee Lim is a second-year student in the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Renee served as a co-lead for the “Building Resources and Accessibility in Neurology” (BRAIN) project, which involved direct engagement with patients to advance health care improvement and program curriculum. Renee led the development of program objectives, including facilitating online medication support groups for patients with Parkinson's Disease, creating curriculum integrating patient voices in areas such as Parkinson's Disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and bipolar disorder, and collaborating with the Parkinson Wellness Projects to design and deliver an in-person educational event for patients with Parkinson's. Renee's passion for advancing patient-centred care and respect for patient perspectives allowed her to meaningfullly engage with over 15 patients for this project and integrate their voices in the curriculum.

The John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in the early stages of their academic career.  This prestigious award was established by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill, whose leadership helped distinguish the Faculty as one of Canada’s best graduate programs and research environments, paving the way for future excellence in research and research capacity in health at UBC.  

The 2023 recipient is Dr. Victoria Bungay, Professor in the School of Nursing, Faculty of Applied Science at the UBC Vancouver campus, and Canada Research Chair in Gender Equity and Community Engagement funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Since joining the UBC School of Nursing as a faculty member in 2009, Dr. Bungay has established the interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral Capacity Research Unit, which focuses on building trainee, faculty, and health service partners for effective community-based, intervention health research. Dr. Bungay's research achievements and mentoring approach foster a rich training environment where emerging scholars are inspired to conduct research that benefits socially-excluded communities. Advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity is a prominent characteristic of Dr. Bungay's research and mentorship philosophy.

The John F. McCreary Prize for Interprofessional Teamwork recognizes and promotes interprofessional teamwork in the health and human service professions. The award is named after Dr. John F. McCreary, the first coordinator of health sciences at UBC, and is intended to draw attention to Dr. McCreary’s vision of interprofessional collaboration in clinical work and education and the value of a team approach in meeting the health care needs of British Columbians.  

The 2023 recipient is the UBC Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation—Centre d ’Innovation Cardiovasculaire (CCI-CIC) team. The CCI-CIC team is a diverse group of individuals responsible for the oversight and execution of a wide range of translational and clinical research studies. Created in 2019, CCI-CIC is recognized by the interprofessional collaboration between team members of varied backgrounds and expertise, including physician scientists, clinical research professionals, data managers, programmers, and biostatisticians. CCI-CIC’s emerging position at the forefront of cardiovascular research and clinical trial administration is supported by a philosophy of collaboration and cross-pollination among team members. This interdisciplinary approach facilitates CCI-CIC’s leadership in cardiovascular research innovation and patient care improvement in British Columbia.

Team members include David Wood (team lead), Vishaldeep Sidhu, Nicole Carbert, Brady Robinson, Defen Peng, Kevin Lam, Frank Fan, Pavneet Grewal, Eoin McMahon, Caitlyn Vas, Nadia Tarazi, Kelly Sandhu, Eden Viveiros, Pamela Tuazon, and Chrislena Tang.

The R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award was named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning in health and human service programs at UBC.

Two outstanding patient partners are recognized as the 2023 recipients of the Kerston Award.

Eve Sheftel has been a passionate community educator involved in health education activities at UBC for ten years. As a UBC Health Mentor since 2014 and as a patient educator in seminars, focus groups, and panel discussions, Eve brings the patient’s voice to health education at UBC to enhance the development of students and practicing health professionals. Eve has shared a wealth of lived experience, as a health professional, patient, and caregiver, with the many students she has mentored over the years. Her energy, warmth, care for students, and ongoing involvement in health education are a true testament of exemplary mentorship and healthy aging.

Karen Firus is an energetic community educator deeply committed to advancing health professional education at UBC since 2017. Through her involvement in the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program and the UBC Health Integrated Curriculum, Karen has brought unique perspectives as a patient educator, facilitator, and co-creator in numerous initiatives to support the development of health profession students. She is an engaging and inspiring speaker who has advocated for team-based collaborative practice and the many benefits of involving patients in health professional education.

The Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest, and leadership in the field of community health. The scholarship was established through an endowment in memory of Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of health sciences at UBC.

The 2023 recipient is Manpreet Alisha Buttar, a second-year student in the Master of Science in Human Nutrition program in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Alisha is recognized for her excellence and interest in the field of community and population health as evidenced by her leadership skills improving communities in and outside the classroom. As a graduate student researcher and dietitian, Alisha advocates for equitable nutrition policy and healthier food environments for all. She spearheaded the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference, an initiative committed to understanding population health issues related to food insecurity in remote Indigenous populations. She also co-founded the Athletic and Wellness Collective at UBC, a graduate student-run organization aimed to promote physical fitness, mental wellbeing, and a healthy lifestyle through community-building events that are inclusive of people with disabilities and diverse health goals.

The John H.V. Gilbert Interprofessional Scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of any health or human services degree program who best combines academic excellence and demonstrated student leadership in interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centred practice.

The 2023 recipient is Jing Xuan Leslie Guo, a student in the final year of the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Leslie is recognized for her active involvement and achievements in advancing interprofessional education (IPE) as a student leader. She played a key role in the integration of the Academic Electronic Health Record (aEHR) into medical and allied health professional programs across Canada and transitioned over 30 case-based learning and IPE activities from traditional paper cases to this platform. She also adapted a series of complex geriatric case studies into aEHR learning modules that aimed to train primary care health teams in goal-setting and prioritization of treatment timelines. Her passion and interest in improving the learning experience of other students are evident in her interprofessional programming work, which has been disseminated at the Canadian Pharmacy Education and Research Conference and through open educational resources for preceptors to support IPE in practicum rotations.

The ImpactBC Scholarships in Health Care Research and Development recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education. The scholarships were established through an endowment by ImpactBC.

2023 Recipients

Sanjit Kaur Bains is a third-year student in the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Sanjit's research project involved a comprehesive qualitative evaluation of the current state of medical cannabis resources available for chronic pain patients and the development of a directory of resources. Sanjit's commitment and dedication to this research have impacted the project's goal of improving patient access to information about medical cannabis. Her work addresses critical gaps in care and guides patients and health care providers towards comprehensive, safe, and effective medical cannabis care. Sanjit is commended for her collaborative approach to research, curiosity in the complex field of medical cannabis, and determination to driving change towards patient-centred care.

Carissa Sum Yin Chan is a second-year student in the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Carissa's research project focused on Vancouver Coastal Health's launch of the first-ever Hospital at Home (HAH) program, which will serve as an alternative mode of care for patients from diverse populations, including rural communities and patients who prefer home care or with physical limitations inhibiting transportation. Her research assessed the current literature with existing HAH programs nationally and internationally to gauge patient and healthcare provider perspectives, and applied these findings to better inform the implementation of HAH at VCH. Carissa's research informs current and future work towards an effective, tailored, and patient-centred model of care for local communities.

Pavneet Kalsi is a third-year student in the Doctor of Dental Medicine program in the Faculty of Dentistry. Pavneet's research project aimed to improve dentistry teaching methods and bring new research to practical situations that can be applied to professional education systems. Her reseach showed that the best practices were integrative application and reinforcement of difficult clinical examples, and highlighted the need for teaching methods that provide more confident and efficient care to diverse populations, particularly underserved families that face neglect or cannot access vital oral health information. Her commitment to health promotion and her increasing understanding that dental care can be a challenge for marginalized populations have led her to be involved in professional education that supports a more holistic and patient-centred approach to care.

Karen Lok Yi Wong is a third-year student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work program in the Faculty of Arts. Karen led a research study that explored the applicability of the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale to people with dementia living in long-term care homes. The study aimed to educate health professionals from the perspectives of patients and their families on the limitations of using the loneliness scale with people with dementia and to offer recommendations on how to better use the scale with this population. Karen's work highlighted the importance of bringing the voices of people with dementia and family partners in educating health professionals to think critically about the limitations of the scale and the implications on clinical care. Karen's dedication and drive to promote an inclusive, human-rights approach for working with older adults have been recognized through a number of academic achievements and journal publications.

The John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in the early stages of their academic career.  This prestigious award was established by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill, whose leadership helped distinguish the Faculty as one of Canada’s best graduate programs and research environments, paving the way for future excellence in research and research capacity in health at UBC.  

The 2022 recipient is Dr. Christopher Overall, Full Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair Emeritus (2000-2022) in the Centre for Blood Research, Department of Oral Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, UBC. Dr. Overall has developed an unparalleled research program in biochemistry and molecular immunology and drug target validation. He has developed a diverse, interdisciplinary, supportive training environment and mentored numerous junior faculty members, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students and fostered their educational, professional, and personal development. His mentorship is characterized by integrity, creativity, and fairness, which has led his 40 trainees to achieve successful scientific careers, with 20 of them holding academic appointments across the world, presenting at international conferences, earning authorships, and holding joint patents. Dr. Overall inspires his students to become distinctive and skilled scientists who pursue ingenious projects and strive to be leaders in their fields.

The John F. McCreary Prize for Interprofessional Teamwork recognizes and promotes interprofessional teamwork in the health and human service professions. The award is named after Dr. John F. McCreary, the first coordinator of health sciences at UBC, and is intended to draw attention to Dr. McCreary’s vision of interprofessional collaboration in clinical work and education and the value of a team approach in meeting the health care needs of British Columbians.  

The 2022 recipient is The Independence Model at St. Paul’s Hospital at Providence Health Care. The Independence Model (TIM) is a pilot designed to address functional deterioration in hospital. An interdisciplinary team of a lead rehabilitation therapist, rehabilitation assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and nurses work collaboratively to deliver care focusing on mobilization, communication, swallowing, cognition, and overall function to help patients maintain independence, stay safe, build confidence, and return home sooner. TIM has shown exemplary interprofessional teamwork by using communication and education strategies to target specific disciplines and increase patient referrals, identifying gaps in training, strengthening areas for supervision, and encouraging interdisciplinary relationships to ensure the focus is early holistic reactivation and prevention.

Team members are Indershini Pillay (team lead), Sandra Squire, Parvin Asgari Kachalami, Emily Power, Eduardo Naranjo, Michelle Brosnan, Sarah Murphy, Milynne Borason, Juhyeong (Ruse) Park, and Larissa James.

The R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award was named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning in health and human service programs at UBC. 

The 2022 recipient is Jory Mitchell. Jory has been a passionate community educator with UBC Health for eight years through his involvement with the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program, Patient and Community Voices Workshop, Living Library, and Integrated Curriculum. He imparts his knowledge and wisdom as a caregiver with humility, kindness, compassion, and humour. He talks to students about the challenges as well as positive encounters within the health system, recognizing the value for students to hear both perspectives. Jory consistently engages with students, asks thought-provoking questions, and encourages the future health professionals to advocate for improved care. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing autonomy and individuality in patient care and the need for interprofessional collaboration. Jory inspires students to develop new ways to collaborate using each other’s strengths and across practice areas and to consider how to be better practitioners, with the goal to improve healthcare on both individual and systems levels.

The Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship recognizes a student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest, and leadership in the field of community health. The scholarship was established through an endowment in memory of Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of health sciences at UBC.

The 2022 recipient is Danielle Busayong, a second-year student in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program in the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine. Danielle was recognized for her leadership in community health through her contributions to equity, diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. She developed a guide for speech language pathologists to utilize FirstVoices, an online resource for Indigenous languages. She established a summer language program for underserved populations at Strathcona Community Centre in Vancouver that addressed inclusivity in a language-rich environment in the community. In addition, Danielle runs a social media account that focuses on sharing knowledge in the field of speech-language pathology through equity, diversity, inclusivity and social justice lenses. Among her accomplishments, Danielle also serves on the board of directors for Speech-Language & Audiology Canada.

The ImpactBC Scholarships in Health Care Research and Development recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education. The scholarships were established through an endowment by ImpactBC.

2022 Recipients

Amninder Dhatt is a third-year student in the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Amninder was involved in a health advocacy project to assess the integration of a novel health advocacy workshop into the pharmacy curriculum. She assisted with evaluating the impact of the workshop on student conceptualization and enactment of health advocacy in practice. The project intended to ensure health professional students received educational material that was effective in instilling professional knowledge and core healthcare competencies. The research project helped advance healthcare improvement by evaluating new material to address a perceived gap in health education and enabling students to better understand and recognize health advocacy opportunities to promote and improve patient-directed care.

Simroop Ladhar is a third-year student in the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Simroop was involved in a research project that evaluated the quality and readability of online written heart failure medication resources available to people living with heart failure. She assisted with research protocol design, data collection and analysis, and manuscript development. Results found that most resources were of acceptable educational quality but could be improved, including reading grade level to reduce limitations in utility for people with low literacy. The project highlighted the importance of patient engagement and the need to develop more patient-friendly heart failure medication resources. The research could also be used as a guideline for creating patient-friendly resources for other chronic conditions.

Leora Pearl-Dowler is a second-year student in Doctor of Medicine program in the Faculty of Medicine. Leora was part of a research project that engaged families of children across the developmental spectrum in the co-development of a platform for in-home data collection, which offers researchers an opportunity to collect longitudinal data that is more representative of how patients function in their daily lives. Leora helped conduct, transcribe, and analyze patient and family interviews, collaboratively developed recommendations for future phases of research, and contributed to manuscript preparation. The new platform will enable underrepresented populations to participate in research, facilitate the integration of research and clinical care, and enable patients to take an active role in their health.

The John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in the early stages of their academic career.  This prestigious award was established by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill, whose leadership helped distinguish the Faculty as one of Canada’s best graduate programs and research environments, paving the way for future excellence in research and research capacity in health at UBC.  

The 2021 recipient is Dr. Larry Lynd, Associate Dean – Research, Professor, and Director of Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr. Lynd has made significant contributions to the mentorship of numerous graduate, post-graduate, and clinical trainees, and his demonstrated abilities in leadership and mentorship of junior faculty have contributed to the success of CORE. A testament to the superb training and mentorship environment that he fosters, Dr. Lynd’s trainees have been recipients of prestigious scholarship awards, published in peer-reviewed journals, and presented in national and international conferences. With the well-rounded experiences facilitated by Dr. Lynd, trainees are poised for success in their future careers—many now hold positions in academia, research, and industry. Dr. Lynd embodies excellence in mentorship, encouraging and inspiring individuals to reach their full potential.

The John F. McCreary Prize for Interprofessional Teamwork was created to recognize and promote interprofessional teamwork in the health and human service professions. The award is named after Dr. John F. McCreary, the first coordinator of health sciences at UBC, and is intended to draw attention to Dr. McCreary’s vision of interprofessional collaboration in clinical work and education and the value of a team approach in meeting the health care needs of British Columbians.  

The 2021 recipient is Genome Canada Transplant Consortium: CanPREV Precision Medicine for Renal Transplantation. The Genome Canada Transplant Consortium (GCTC) links more than 70 scientists and clinicians from 22 international universities to advance the outcomes of organ transplantation by preventing premature organ rejection. GCTC’s interdisciplinary team of partners combines expertise and resources across a broad range of technologies and treatment and applies them to discovery, translational, and delivery research. GCTC has shown exemplary interprofessional teamwork between clinicians, allied health providers, laboratory and computational scientists, epidemiologists, pharmacotherapeutic experts, and qualitative researchers to bring innovation and excellence to a novel paradigm of solutions that will transform the care of organ transplantation in Canada and around the world.

The team is led by Dr. Paul Keown and includes 84 members from UBC and around the world. View the list of team members.

The 2021 honourable mention is the Long-Term Care Interdisciplinary Research Team at Providence Health Care. The research team aims to reduce staff stress and burnout related to resident deaths in long-term care. Team members value diversity in disciplines, culture, gender, and life experience and continuously draw on each other’s individual strengths and differences to be innovative and creative with solutions. The team’s three-phase research project sought to understand interdisciplinary care team stress, identified potential strategies to help alleviate staff burnout, and implemented supporting strategies for staff emotional wellbeing. Through their commitment to research, teaching, and manuscript publications, team members are working to meet the support needs of long-term care staff to reduce burnout and provide residents and their families with the highest level of care at end-of-life.

Team members are Karen Pott (team lead), Chris Bernard, Kit Chan, Anne Leclerc, Joseph Puyat, Paddy Rodney, and Annes Song.

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Teaching and Learning recognizes two outstanding educators that demonstrate excellence in facilitating interprofessional groups of learners at UBC.   

2021 Recipients

​​​​​​Dr. Philip Crowell is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC, Medical and Dental Ethics Leader/Educator for UBC, and Spiritual Health Leader/Educator for Provincial Health Services Authority. Dr. Crowell has been facilitating interprofessional learning at UBC for 10 years, and his contributions have enhanced collaborative health education. Among his many activities, he assisted with the development of healthcare ethics workshops for UBC Health’s Integrated Curriculum and the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry. In addition, he facilitates the workshops, which are attended by interdisciplinary groups of health professional students, and provides training for facilitators from a range of disciplines. As a UBC interprofessional ethics educator, Dr. Crowell approaches ethics as an integrative and collaborative process, which enables students to better understand other healthcare professions and their values, ultimately benefitting future practice.

Dr. Kerry Wilbur is Associate Professor and Executive Director, Entry-to-Practice Education in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC. Dr. Wilbur has been committed to interprofessional education and collaboration for more than 20 years and has been an advocate in pharmacy training programs locally and internationally. She has facilitated UBC Health Integrated Curriculum workshops on professionalism, ethics, collaborative decision-making, and Indigenous cultural safety. She also worked with the Patient and Community Partnership for Education at UBC Health to develop an interprofessional patient-centred health advocacy workshop for delivery in medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacy. Dr. Wilbur ensures protected time in the pharmacy curriculum for interprofessional education activities led by students and created a committee to review new interprofessional learning opportunities and evaluate the outcomes. Dr. Wilbur believes interprofessional exposure will have valuable impacts on team and patient-centred care in practice.

The Practice Education Award honours an individual or healthcare team that provides outstanding interprofessional collaborative patient-centred education in the practice setting for pre-entry to practice-level UBC students   

The 2021 recipient is Rebecca Shook, Physiotherapy Site Lead at Holy Family Hospital with Providence Health Care. She has been a preceptor to UBC physical therapy students for 22 years and supports student participation as a full member of the healthcare team. Holy Family Hospital is a tertiary interdisciplinary centre providing neurological, orthopedic, and amputee rehabilitation to geriatric patients, with a strong focus on patient-centred care delivered by a multidisciplinary team. Rebecca provides students with opportunities to attend patient care rounds, family conferences, and community case conferences and to shadow multidisciplinary team members to enhance understanding of the team member’s role in the rehabilitation setting. In addition, she supports staff members to offer quality placements that facilitate students’ learning needs while maintaining high standards of care.

The R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award was named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning in health and human service programs at UBC. 

2021 Recipients

Anja Lanz has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to student learning and professional development through her involvement with the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program for the past 10 years. She has passionately educated and connected with a diverse range of students from different health disciplines on topics such as patient-centred care and navigating the healthcare system. She is an engaged teacher and strong advocate for better healthcare in BC. Her knowledge, perspectives, and insights are helping to shape the values and decisions of future healthcare professionals. Anja aims to empower students to be strong advocates for change and communicates powerfully about the impact that future healthcare providers can have in supporting patients. Her work through the Health Mentors program has inspired students to be more compassionate, knowledgeable, and optimistic about their patients’ health needs.

Lelainia Lloyd has been a patient educator through the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program for more than 10 years. She was a member of the steering committee that helped shape the direction and scope of the program. Lelainia shares her lived experience as an individual with a rare disease to help students learn about patient-centred care and patient advocacy. She teaches the value of interprofessional practice by talking about her interactions with various health professionals to help students learn about their role in relation to the roles of others. For several years, Lelainia was also a patient educator in the Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicine. She helped first-year pharmacy students develop a foundation of patient-centred care and provided a safe space for physical therapy students to develop their skills and confidence in patient interviewing and assessment.

Bruce Raber is a health mentor with the UBC Interprofessional Health Mentors Program, where he strives to provide thought-provoking learning experiences for students in an open, encouraging, and non-judgmental environment. He has shared his experiences as a patient, posed challenging questions, and taught students about the importance of collaboration, the power of language, and the impact that healthcare providers can have on an individual with a chronic condition. Bruce was also an inaugural patient co-facilitator for the UBC Health Integrated Curriculum workshops on collaborative decision-making, helped shape how patient stories would be incorporated, and selected elements of his healthcare journey to engage interprofessional students in discussions about collaborative approaches to care. Bruce’s passion and enthusiasm has inspired many of his students to seek to improve the healthcare system and create systemic change.

The Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship recognizes a student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest, and leadership in the field of community health. The scholarship was established through an endowment in memory of Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of health sciences at UBC.

The 2021 recipient is Natania Abebe, who is a third-year student in the Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Nursing dual degree program in the School of Population and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine and the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Applied Science. Natania was recognized for her leadership in public health, anti-racism, and equity-based mental healthcare. She has worked with people with lived and living experience, researchers, and policymakers to advocate for healthy public policy that is co-created and driven by community to improve mental health. Among her many accomplishments, Natania is a co-founder of the Coalition of African, Caribbean and Black nurses in British Columbia, which works to address racism and discrimination experienced by African, Caribbean, and Black nurses in the province as well as a co-founder of Stars in a Jar, which promotes the mental wellbeing of pediatric cancer patients through community supports.

The ImpactBC Scholarships in Health Care Research and Development recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education. The scholarships were established through an endowment by ImpactBC.

2021 Recipients

Ria Garg is a student in the final year of the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. As chair of the faculty’s suicide prevention working group, Ria successfully advocated for the provision of novel pharmacy-specific suicide prevention training as part of the Entry-to-Practice PharmD curriculum. She collaborated with faculty members to create a development, implementation, and evaluation plan to enable safe provision of suicide prevention training that was inclusive and addressed the mental healthcare needs of students. The training project will support students in their attainment of the knowledge and skills required to engage effectively with patients who present with suicide warning signs and refer them to appropriate community resources. The project is intended to improve patient access to mental healthcare services and ultimately reduce the number of lives lost to suicide.

Jennifer Murray is a PhD candidate in her third year of the Doctor of Philosophy program in the School of Population and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine. Jennifer is engaged in a research project on preterm birth among First Nations women in BC, developed in response to a First Nations community’s concern about a high rate of preterm birth. She has a strong commitment to community-led Indigenous health research and, as a part of the community research team, helped develop extensive partnerships and collaborations with this First Nations community to co-create a project based in the local territory, grounded in cultural teachings, and led by the community. The research is looking at factors impacting pregnancy health, clinical, policy, and health service delivery issues, and predictors of preterm birth. Study results will enable the development of a model of preterm birth experiences in community, with the intention of offering insights into how to prevent preterm birth and reduce its effect in this and other Indigenous communities. Jennifer is a settler of mixed European ancestry and resides on traditional, ancestral, and unceded Coast Salish territories.

This prestigious award, in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill who joined the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1971, recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in the early stages of their academic career.    

Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose is the recipient of the 2020 John McNeil Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award for her outstanding achievements as a health research mentor and the impact her mentorship has had on her trainees. Dr. Liu-Ambrose is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Co-Director of the UBC Centre for Hip Health, both in the Faculty of Medicine. Her research in healthy aging has made significant contributions to improving the health of older adults by shaping practice and advancing knowledge in the areas of brain health and mobility in aging. Dr. Liu-Ambrose has mentored numerous undergraduates, research graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, clinicians in training, research associates, and faculty members—many of whom garnered funding and continued in their careers to become successful and recognized experts in health research and clinical communities at multiple levels. She encourages and inspires colleagues and students to reach their full potential through tailored mentorship that fosters critical thinking, scholarly rigor, outstanding communication skills, and academic integrity.

Named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston, this annual award was established in 2014 to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning in health and human service programs at UBC. 

Mandy Young received the 2020 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award for making an outstanding contribution to student learning. As a UBC Health Mentor for six years, Mandy provides students with a unique opportunity to learn through her lived experience as a caregiver of a child with a rare genetic disorder and autism and instills in them the importance of patient-centred care. She has mentored seven cohorts of students from eight programs, including Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Genetic Counselling, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, and Speech-Language Pathology. Mandy also co-developed an interprofessional workshop about caregiver experiences as well as workshops about health advocacy, attended by more than 400 students in a range of health disciplines. Her passion and work with students have been vital to their growth as members of the health field.

Established through an endowment in memory of the late Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of the Health Sciences at UBC, this scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest, and leadership in the field of community health.    

Navjit Moore, fourth year student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is the recipient of the 2020 Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship. Navjit has established and led support groups for people living with chronic conditions, provided emotional support and facilitated communication for hospital patients, and helped long-term care residents maintain their cognitive capabilities by engaging them in mental and social activities. Navjit works towards ensuring the most vulnerable groups are well-supported and have access to appropriate resources. Navjit’s commitment to early advocacy for healthy habits and proactive approaches to disease and illness is commendable.

Established in 2016 through an endowment by ImpactBC, these scholarships recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education.

2020 Recipients

​​​​​​​Gabriel Dix, second year student in the Master of Science in Health and Exercise Sciences program in the Faculty of Health and Social Development at UBC Okanagan, was recognized for research on the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on various health-related outcomes in individuals with a spinal cord injury. Gabriel’s project uses an integrated knowledge translation approach, which includes patient engagement throughout the research process, from inception to dissemination. This research on the link between non-pharmacological strategies and immune function aims to enhance the quality of life for people with spinal cord injury and may have significant physiological, psychological, and financial implications. 

Emily Giroux, first year student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology program in the Faculty of Health and Social Development at UBC Okanagan, was recognized for a development project aimed at ensuring people with spinal cord injury were meaningfully engaged in decisions regarding their healthcare needs. Conducted for a spinal cord injury organization, Emily’s project assessed client agreement with the organization’s proposed strategies for addressing specific healthcare areas. Using the findings, the organization adjusted its plans for research, implementation, and service provision in ways that reflected the perspectives and priorities of clients and best supported their needs.

Deana Kanagasingam, fourth year student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology program in the Faculty of Education, was recognized for research on the impact of social justice practices on patients’ quality of care. Deana’s project explores obesity treatment and how social justice is understood, enacted, and experienced in clinical interventions related to weight. Seeking to raise awareness about equitable and fair healthcare from the perspectives of both patients and practitioners, Deana will use research findings to conduct a capacity-building workshop for health students. The workshop will equip them with clinical skills consistent with a social justice and patient-centred paradigm, which will ultimately enhance patient-clinician communication and health outcomes.

Arwa Nemir, second year student in the Master of Science program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was recognized for research on patient participation in the workplace-based assessment of pharmacy learners. Arwa’s study is the first of its kind in Canada that provides patients with a space to voice their perceptions of pharmacy trainees, with the intent of improving care delivery as well as learner training as a holistic healthcare practitioner. The results of this research will contribute to the enhancement of existing competency-based assessment modalities that will better train future health professionals and prepare them for the evolving landscape of healthcare. 

Nevena Rebic, first year student in the Doctor of Philosophy program in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was recognized for research exploring how female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) form decisions about having children, pregnancy, and medication use. Nevena developed a dynamic, multidimensional women-centered framework and demonstrated that a patient-centred approach to care supports female patients with RA in making informed reproductive and medication choices that align with their individual desires, needs, and values. The research has implications for advancing patient care improvement and engagement through the creation of a standard of perinatal rheumatology care for supporting planned pregnancies among female patients with RA and other rheumatic diseases.

This prestigious award, in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill who joined the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1971, recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in the early stages of their academic career.    

Dr. Lara Boyd, Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy with the UBC Faculty of Medicine won the 2019 John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award for her outstanding achievements as a health research mentor and the impact her mentorship has had on her trainees. She is a world leader in multimodal brain imaging, with expertise in the use of non-invasive brain stimulation and magnetic resonance imaging. Highly regarded as a scientist and a mentor, Dr. Boyd has been sought out for her mentorship by individuals within and outside her home department. She has mentored a large number of trainees and faculty who subsequently continued in their careers to become successful and respected leaders in the health research and clinical communities they serve. Throughout her career, Dr. Boyd has shown a strong interest in graduate education and the training of future researchers. She runs her lab as a collaboration among all members and integrates graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds, including occupational and physical therapy, neuroscience, neurology, epidemiology, psychology, kinesiology, education, cellular and physiological sciences, physics, engineering, and music. The individuals, structure, and innovative mission of Dr. Boyd’s lab combine to create a professionally nurturing and stimulating environment for trainees at all levels. Dr. Boyd is an inspiring role model for trainees, encouraging and supporting the academic research, professional development, and personal growth of her trainees. Her extraordinary mentorship, guidance, and collaborative philosophy are credited for the success of many of her trainees.

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education Teaching honours an outstanding educator or teaching team that demonstrates effective teaching of interprofessional competencies to health profession students in the classroom setting that support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.    

Diana Lin, Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry received the 2019 Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education Teaching for her long-standing dedication and accomplishments in spearheading interprofessional education opportunities. She is a strong advocate of interprofessional education in building effective collaborative leadership teams to strengthen and improve health outcomes. She uses engaging, creative, and innovative teaching approaches to facilitate a better understanding of how members of a healthcare team can each uniquely contribute to quality patient care. When planning curriculum, initiatives, and student placements, Professor Lin is led by her passion for building, integrating, and furthering students’ interprofessional knowledge and interest. She creates meaningful, authentic learning opportunities, nurtures and strengthens collaborative relationships, and encourages students to explore strategies that promote interprofessional education and collaboration. Professor Lin’s work and the impact of her innovative teaching philosophy on the many students she has taught are inspiring.

Named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston, this annual award was established in 2014 to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning at UBC.

Jon Collins received a 2019 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award for his commitment to health advocacy and education and his accomplishments through the UBC Health Mentors program to advance health education from a patient’s perspective. By sharing his lived experience with students from different health disciplines, Jon has provided a rich learning environment. He facilitated candid discussions about healthcare and interdisciplinary teams, provided support and advice, and challenged students to think outside of their own disciplinary paradigms. Through his efforts, John has helped and prepared many students to be more effective healthcare professionals with an improved understanding of a patient’s journey.

Stephen Reid received a 2019 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award for his involvement and dedication to advance health education from a patient’s perspective through his volunteer work as a mentor with the UBC Health Mentors program and a volunteer patient with the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Through his openness in discussing his chronic illness, he has provided valuable contributions to the education and training of future generations of health professionals. He encourages curiosity and diversity of thought among students to help them understand the importance of patient-centred care. Stephen uplifts those around him and is admired by the students he has taught. 

Justice for Girls received a 2019 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award for the organization’s commitment and outreach to social justice advocacy and education. Justice for Girls promotes equality, freedom from violence, and the health and wellness of teenage girls who live in poverty. The organization has developed extensive partnerships with UBC programs to provide community-based experiential learning opportunities for hundreds of students spanning a multitude of disciplines in the health sciences, law, and education. The training program developed by Justice for Girls for health professional students provides valuable education that enables these future healthcare providers to better serve a vulnerable population and improve the healthcare experiences of young women.

Established through an endowment by family, friends and colleagues of Dr. John H.V. Gilbert, this scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of a UBC health or human services degree program who combines academic excellence and demonstrated student leadership in interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centred practice.

Adelia Jacobs, in the final year of earning her Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health with the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems received the 2019 John H.V. Gilbert Interprofessional Scholarship for her demonstrated passion, commitment to interprofessional education, and outstanding leadership in the dietetics program.

Established through an endowment in memory of the late Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of the Health Sciences at UBC, this scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest, and leadership in the field of community health.    

Joanna Paterson, second year student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program with the UBC Faculty of Applied Science, received the 2019 Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship for her unwavering commitment to and leadership in community health, including her work in harm reduction and primary care in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where residents face challenges related to poverty, homelessness, substance use, and mental illness.

Established in 2016 through an endowment by ImpactBC, these scholarships recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education.

Matthew Boroditsky, third year student in the Doctor of Medicine program with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, received the 2019 ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for his research project on the complex and multidisciplinary scope of care needed by pediatric patients with a rare genetic disorder called 22q11.2DS.

Elizabeth Burden, second year student in the Doctor of Medicine program with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, received the 2019 ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research on perioperative anxiety in patient supporters and her work with PatientLink, an innovative online platform to improve communication and reduce anxiety in patient supporters.

Bonnie He, third year student in the Doctor of Medicine program with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, received the 2019 ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research on the impact of poverty, adverse childhood experiences, and other social determinants of health on the health outcomes of pediatric surgical patients.

Celia Kwan, third year student in the Doctor of Medicine program with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, received the 2019 ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her community-based knowledge translation project to enhance community physical activity programs for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Shawna Narayan, second year student in the Master of Science in Experimental Medicine program with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, received the 2019 ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research on the use of digital mental health services and information among Canada’s culturally diverse population for anxiety and depressive disorders.

Kate Wahl, first year PhD student in the Reproductive and Developmental Sciences program with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, received the 2019 ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her development of an evidence-based Canadian patient decision aid to help individuals make informed decisions about their choice of abortion method.

Established in 2016 through an endowment by ImpactBC, these scholarships recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in healthcare decision-making or in health professional education.

2018 Recipients

Natasha Benson, third year student in the MD undergraduate program (UBC Faculty of Medicine) receives the ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research on the evaluation of sickle cell disease education for mothers in the indigenous Tharu population of Nepal.

Kuljinder (Keesha) Khehra, second year student in the MD undergraduate program (UBC Faculty of Medicine) receives the ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research on kidney transplant donors and recipients at the Department of Urologic Sciences at the Vancouver General Hospital.

Shahrzad Salmasi, first year student in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmacy program (UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences) receives the ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research and development project focused on improving the educational components of atrial fibrillation decision aids.

Vivian Tsang, second year student in the MD undergraduate program (UBC Faculty of Medicine) receives the ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research involving the KidsCan development project at the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Enav Zusman, second year student in the Entry-to-Practice PharmD program (UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences) receives the ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for her research involving the EmPhAsIS (Empowering Pharmacists in Asthma Management through Interactive SMS) research study.

Established through an endowment in memory of the late Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of the Health Sciences at UBC, this scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest and leadership in the field of community health.

Ashley Vicente, fourth year student in the Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) program in the UBC Faculty of Dentistry, receives the 2018 Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship for her outstanding commitment and leadership in community projects assisting the elderly and people with disabilities, including providing clinical dental hygiene care and education to elders living in a long-term care facility and for adults living with mental illness in a community-based organization.

This prestigious award, in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill who joined the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1971, recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows, in the early stages of their academic career.

Dr. Marcel Bally, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the UBC Faculty of Medicine, is the proud winner of the 2018 John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award for his stellar accomplishments in health research mentorship and the influential impact on his mentees. Dr. Bally is a prolific scientist whose academic interests in translational research have led to a number of patents and the formation of several biotechnology companies. His research ideas have translated into a number of clinical products that are improving the care of patients with cancer. Over the years, Dr. Bally has demonstrated outstanding mentorship as judged by the successes and achievements of his more than 50 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Dr. Bally’s mentorship skills were recognized in 2003 when he was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston, this annual award was established in 2014 to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning at UBC.

Marge Johnson and Eric Johnson jointly receive the 2018 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award for their extensive involvement and dedication to advancing health education from a caregiver-and-patient’s perspective. Their openness about their personal experiences and passion for promoting student learning regarding mental health have made Marge and Eric an inspiration to the many students they have jointly mentored in the UBC Health Mentors program.

Ramon Montecillo receives the 2018 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award for his outstanding efforts and passion in helping new generations of healthcare providers through his mentorship of students in the UBC Health Mentors program. As an active volunteer in the community, Ramon uses his own lived experiences in the healthcare system to foster a better understanding of the patient's perspective and promote dialogues of interprofessional collaboration amongst his student mentees.

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

The G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre Speech-Language Pathology Practice Group receives the 2018 Award for Outstanding Leadership in Advancing Interprofessional Professional Development for the team's development and implementation of the Communication Access Training Program, an innovative method of collaborative learning for all staff and students at G.F. Strong. This program provides an avenue for the exchange of education and expertise amongst all group members regardless of their professional or vocational position, and helps enhance knowledge translation and opportunities to practice communication strategies in a safe environment.

Established through an endowment by family, friends and colleagues of Dr. John H.V. Gilbert, this scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of a UBC health or human services degree program who combines academic excellence and demonstrated student leadership in interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centred practice.

Anna Balsevich, fourth year student in the Bachelor of Social Work program (UBC Faculty of Arts), receives the 2017 John H.V. Gilbert Interprofessional Scholarship for her exemplary commitment and leadership in interprofessional activities involving vulnerable populations.

Established through an endowment in memory of the late Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, long-term contributor to the development of the Health Sciences at UBC, this scholarship recognizes an outstanding student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest and leadership in the field of community health.

Minnie Yu-Ching Teng, second year student in the Master of Occupational Therapy program (UBC Faculty of Medicine), receives the 2017 Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship for her outstanding commitment and leadership in community projects assisting the elderly and people with disabilities.

Established in 2016 through an endowment by ImpactBC, these scholarships recognize outstanding students in a UBC health discipline who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education.

2017 Recipients

​​​​​​​Ian Yu Yang Miao, fourth year student in the MD undergraduate program (UBC Faculty of Medicine) receives the ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for his summer research project at BC Children’s Hospital focused on the usability and feasibility testing of a smartphone health application designed to aid parents in the management of children’s post-operative pain.

Team members Daphne Lu, Marina Parapini, Karla Rebullar and Jeffery Tong, all fourth year students in the MD undergraduate program (UBC Faculty of Medicine), each receive the ImpactBC Scholarship in Health Care Research and Development for their team project on evaluating the refugee experience with using interpretation services in the primary care setting in British Columbia.

In honour of Dr. John McCreary, the first Coordinator of Health Sciences at UBC, the McCreary Prize was established to recognize and promote interprofessional teamwork in the health and human service professions. The award is intended to draw attention to Dr. McCreary’s vision of interprofessional collaboration in clinical work and education and the value of a team approach in meeting the health needs of British Columbians. The first McCreary Prize was awarded in 1994.

The RICHER (Responsive, Intersectoral-Interdisciplinary, Child-Community, Health, Education and Research) Social Pediatrics Initiative of BC Children’s Hospital is the recipient of the 2017 John F. McCreary Prize for Interprofessional Teamwork. Led by Dr. Judith Lynam, Professor in the UBC School of Nursing, and Dr. Christine Loock, Associate Professor in the UBC Department of Pediatrics, RICHER is an interprofessional and intersectoral clinical practice initiative introduced to complement, enrich and extend existing clinical services along the continuum, from prevention to specialized supports for children in Vancouver’s inner city. Comprised of various interdisciplinary health care providers, researchers, and community partners (including UBC, the Provincial Health Services Authority, BC regional health authorities, nurses, family physicians, specialists, among others), the program has built evidence-based services for the socially and economically marginalized individuals and families in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Clinicians and community partners are guided by a commitment to fostering equitable access to a range of care in order to achieve equitable outcomes for some of the province’s most disadvantaged children.

This prestigious award, in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill who joined the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1971, recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows, in the early stages of their academic career.

Dr. Colleen Varcoe, Professor in the UBC School of Nursing, is the recipient of the 2017 John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award for her remarkable accomplishments in health research mentorship and the impact on her mentees. Dr. Varcoe’s track record of support for graduate and post-doctoral trainees, active consultations with health authorities and international health organizations, and educational leadership in innovative program development illustrate her invaluable achievements in mentorship. Read more about Dr. Varcoe.

Named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston, this annual award was established in 2014 to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning at UBC.

Chris Hofley, community educator, receives the 2017 R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Award for his invaluable contributions to health education and learning at UBC. A long-time partner of several important initiatives to bring the patient’s voice into health professional education, Chris has had many roles at UBC – as a Health Mentor, panelist, co-author and steering committee member. Chris is an exceptional mentor, expanding student learning beyond traditional professional boundaries, and giving students new insights about disability, accessibility and social inclusion.

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

Dr. Leandra Best, Clinical Professor and Senior Associate Dean in the UBC Faculty of Dentistry, receives the 2017 Award for Outstanding Leadership in Advancing Interprofessional Professional Development for her long-standing commitment to and accomplishments in interprofessional development. A champion in advancing interprofessional collaborations, Dr. Best’s unique and innovative contributions have had significant impact on interprofessional education in the Faculty of Dentistry and beyond.

This award honours an individual or health care team that provides outstanding interprofessional collaborative patient-centred education in the practice setting for pre-entry to practice-level students.

The PRISM (Prince Rupert Interprofessional Student-Led Model) Clinic Team receives the 2017 Practice Education Award for its creative and innovative model of delivery of service in an interprofessional setting. In partnership with Northern Health and the UBC Department of Physical Therapy, the PRISM Clinic was established in a rural remote setting in northern BC. The clinic accepts students from Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences from BC and across Canada, and implements strategies to provide creative and innovative learning to students who learn with and from other disciplines while delivering care in an under-serviced region.

Established in 2016 through an endowment by ImpactBC, these scholarships are for outstanding students enrolled in a UBC Health program who have completed a research or development project focusing on patient/client involvement in heath care decision-making or in health professional education. Two students received the ImpactBC Scholarship in its inaugural year, each for their excellent work on their respective research projects.

2016 Recipients

Yun-Hsuan Iris Feng, 4th year student, Bachelor of Dental Sciences, Dental Hygiene Entry-to-Practice program, Faculty of Dentistry, UBC

Luke Spooner, Master of Science student, Health Outcomes program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC

This scholarship has been endowed by family, friends and colleagues of Dr. John H. V. Gilbert for an outstanding student in the final year of any health or human services degree program, who combines academic excellence and demonstrated student leadership in interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centred practice.

2016 Recipient: Harriet Ho, Master of Science student, Population and Public Health program, Faculty of Medicine, UBC

This scholarship has been endowed by family, friends and colleagues of the late Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, who for ten years contributed through teaching, administration and research, to the development of the Health Sciences at UBC. The award is made to an outstanding student in the final year of any pre-licensure health science program, who best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest and leadership in the field of community health.

2016 Recipient: Emily Thong, 4th year student in the Doctor of Dental Medicine program, Faculty of Dentistry, UBC

Dr. John McCreary was the first Coordinator of Health Sciences at UBC. The McCreary Prize was established to recognize and promote interprofessional teamwork in the health and human service professions. The award is intended to draw attention to Dr. McCreary’s vision of interprofessional collaboration in clinical work and education and the value of a team approach in meeting the health needs of British Columbians. The first McCreary Prize was awarded in 1994.

2016 Recipient: The Acute Rehabilitation Program at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children for their project, Creating One Interprofessional Discharge Report in Partnership with Patients, Families, and Community Providers

Honourable Mentions:

• The Adolescent Complex Concussion Clinic at the G. F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre
• The Fraser Street Medical Chronic Disease Management Team

This prestigious award, in honour of Dean Emeritus John McNeill who joined the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1971, recognizes faculty members at any stage in their academic career, in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines, who have formally been identified as mentors and who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows, in the early stages of their academic career.

2016 Recipient: Dr. Peter C. K. Leung, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, UBC

Named after long-time community educator, R. Paul Kerston, this annual award was established in 2014 to honour outstanding community educators who have made a difference to student learning at UBC. Two remarkable community members received this honour in 2016.

2016 Recipients

Darren Lauscher, Community Educator

Gerald (Gerry) Oleman, Community Educator

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2016 Recipient: UBC Interprofessional Continuing Education, Faculty of Dentistry

This award honours an outstanding healthcare team that demonstrates interprofessional education and collaborative practice that is evident to students.

2016 Recipient Team:

• Dr. Gail Hammond, Instructor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC
• Dr. Leeann Donnelly, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, UBC
• Dr. Greg Chang, creator and founder of SuperChefs Cookery for Kids

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2015 Recipient: The Comfort Plan Team at the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction

This award honours an outstanding healthcare team that demonstrates interprofessional education and collaborative practice that is evident to students.

2015 Recipient: Royal Jubilee Hospital Pain Clinic

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education Teaching honours an outstanding educator or teaching team that demonstrates effective teaching of interprofessional competencies to health profession students in the classroom setting that support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care. 

2014 Recipient: Barbara Casson and Marcia Choi, Co-Instructors of IHHS 400 Course on Healthcare Team Development

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2014 Recipient: Dr. Laura Duggan, Royal Columbian Hospital

This award honours an outstanding healthcare team that demonstrates interprofessional education and collaborative practice that is evident to students.

2014 Recipient: Hyman Gee and Joy Wang, Clinical Supervisors, Student Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic, Royal Columbian Hospital

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education Teaching honours an outstanding educator or teaching team that demonstrates effective teaching of interprofessional competencies to health profession students in the classroom setting that support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care. 

2013 Recipient: IHHS 402 Course Teaching Team, UBC College of Health Disciplines

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2013 Recipient: Royal Jubilee Hospital – 8th Floor Interprofessional Team

This award honours an outstanding healthcare team that demonstrates interprofessional education and collaborative practice that is evident to students.

2013 Recipient: Psychiatric Day Hospital Team, Royal Jubilee Hospital

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education Teaching honours an outstanding educator or teaching team that demonstrates effective teaching of interprofessional competencies to health profession students in the classroom setting that support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care. 

2012 Recipient: Residential Orientation Re-design Project Team, Providence Health Care

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2012 Recipient: Residential Orientation Re-design Project Team, Providence Health Care

This award honours an outstanding healthcare team that demonstrates interprofessional education and collaborative practice that is evident to students.

2012 Recipient: Providence Health Care – Elder Care Program

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2011 Recipient: Fraser Health Authority – Beth Davis, Tracey Schott, Angela Wolff (for delivery of Interprofessional Collaborative Learning Series)

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education Teaching honours an outstanding educator or teaching team that demonstrates effective teaching of interprofessional competencies to health profession students in the classroom setting that support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care. 

2010 Recipient: Interprofessional Rheumatology Teaching Team, UBC Dept. of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2010 Recipient: Heart Matters Program – Parksville, Port Alberni, and Campbell River

This award honours an outstanding healthcare team that demonstrates interprofessional education and collaborative practice that is evident to students.

2010 Recipient: Joint Replacement Clinic, Victoria

The Award for Excellence in Interprofessional Education Teaching honours an outstanding educator or teaching team that demonstrates effective teaching of interprofessional competencies to health profession students in the classroom setting that support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care. 

2009 Recipient: Collaboration for Maternal & Newborn Health

This award honours an outstanding individual or healthcare team that promotes professional development in the areas of collaborative teaching among different healthcare professionals and/or collaborative patient-centred practice to support excellence in the delivery of patient-centred care.

2009 Recipient: Early Intervention Program at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health

This award honours an outstanding healthcare team that demonstrates interprofessional education and collaborative practice that is evident to students.

2009 Recipient: Victoria Arthritis Centre