Celebrating Collaboration and Excellence at the 2024 UBC Health Awards and Scholarships
On June 9, 2025, members of the UBC Health community gathered at Sage Bistro on UBC’s Point Grey campus to honor the recipients of the 2024 UBC Health Awards and Scholarships.
This year’s celebration opened on a special note, as we recognized the leadership of Dr. Dermot Kelleher, who is concluding his tenure as UBC’s inaugural Vice-President, Health and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. Under his leadership since 2018, UBC Health has advanced a vision of Better Health Together, strengthened interdisciplinary partnerships, and championed innovation in team-based, patient-centered care, work that will continue to evolve and drive positive change across health education and systems in the years ahead.
The awards and scholarships presented, reflected the values that underpin UBC Health’s mission: collaboration across disciplines, patient and community engagement, mentorship, and educational excellence.
The event honored faculty, students, and patient partners whose contributions are shaping the future of health and social care:
- John H.V. Gilbert Interprofessional Scholarship
Awarded to Irene Luong, a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate, for her leadership in advancing interprofessional education through the Academic Electronic Health Record project. - ImpactBC Scholarships in Health Care Research and Development
Presented to Morgan Grey and Renee Lim, both Doctor of Pharmacy students, for their work in integrating patient voices and experiences into healthcare education through the BRAIN project. - Awards for Excellence in Interprofessional Teaching and Learning
Dr. Larry Leung and Dr. Jason Min, both Associate Professors of Teaching in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, were recognized for their innovative teaching and leadership in interprofessional education and for advancing the use of digital tools and artificial intelligence in collaborative learning. - R. Paul Kerston Community Educator Awards
Vikram Bubber and John Dub, dedicated patient partners and educators, were honored for their invaluable contributions to student learning and for fostering empathy and patient-centered care among future health professionals. - John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award
Dr. Brett Finlay, Professor in the Michael Smith Laboratories and the Faculties of Science and Medicine, was recognized for his exceptional mentorship and leadership in health research. The event also marked the 10th anniversary of this prestigious award, with past recipients in attendance to celebrate the milestone.
Throughout the evening, speakers highlighted how collaboration, innovation, and lived experience enrich health education and research at UBC. The event underscored the importance of integrating patient voices in education, an area that UBC Health continues to champion through initiatives such as the upcoming Where’s the Patient’s Voice in Health Professional Education? international conference this November.
Closing the celebration, Dr. Christie Newton, Associate Vice-President, Health, reflected on the community spirit that makes the awards possible:
“Whether exploring improvements in health education, providing invaluable patient perspectives, conducting innovative health research, or teaching and mentoring trainees, each award and scholarship recipient today embodies the spirit of collaboration and dedication to revolutionize health education, practice, and research.”
The event was made possible through the dedication of the UBC Health Awards Committee and the UBC Health team, who continue to foster a culture of excellence and collaboration.
View the Photo Album (link tbd)
Congratulations to all 2024 award and scholarship recipients and thank you for your ongoing contributions to a healthier, more equitable
