Some of Ontario’s most outstanding nursing educators and students are being celebrated for their dedication to driving excellence in patient care as they deliver the highest-quality care to the people of Ontario while playing a critical role in strengthening the province’s health-care system.
Faculty members, researchers, students and mentors are among the eight recipients of the 2019 Council of Ontario University Programs in Nursing (COUPN) Awards for excellence in nursing education and scholarship.
This year’s awards, the twelfth annual, honour research into geriatric cancer care, innovation in hands-on nursing education, and commitment to mentoring, among other achievements.
“Behind every one of the nurses who deliver first-class patient care to Ontarians every day is another group of highly dedicated professionals – the instructors, researchers and mentors in our nursing education system,” said David Lindsay, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities. “The recipients of this year’s COUPN Awards demonstrate their passion and commitment to preserving the highest quality of nursing care, now and for future generations.”
“It is a pleasure, through these awards, to be able to shine a light on the outstanding achievements of this year’s recipients in teaching and student excellence, scholarship, and contributions to nursing education,” said Jennifer Medves, COUPN Chair.
More than 10,000 students graduate from health programs at Ontario universities each year, including nearly 4,500 nurses.
See below for a list of this year’s winners.
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Dr. Schroder Sattar’s groundbreaking work to identify risk factors of falls, and how falls impact the treatment of elderly cancer patients, is having a positive effect on patient treatments and is helping to improve their quality of life.
Her thesis, which she defended at the University of Toronto, found that geriatric oncology patients often don’t report their falls to physicians, which can have a negative impact on their assessment and treatment. Her colleagues praised Schroder’s work, saying: “Her success in conducting research, authoring manuscripts and publishing them, and disseminating research findings speaks to her talent, insight, and, most of all, to her dedication and commitment to the older adults with cancer who benefit from her work.”
Elizabeth Dillon is being honoured as an “outstanding role model” who exemplifies how to put nursing theory into practice.
In the four years that Elizabeth has studied in the BScN undergraduate program at the University of Windsor, her supervisors say she has demonstrated “leadership and a passion for nursing far beyond her years.”
She currently serves as Vice-President of the University of Windsor Nursing Society and is involved in organizing, planning and conducting events. These important skills will help Elizabeth transition into a rewarding career after graduation.
Dr. Karyn Taplay leans on her expertise in nursing simulation-based teaching to create memorable hands-on learning experiences for her students. In on recent example, she worked with students to create a thought-provoking scenario to impart the experience of caring for homeless people. After taking part in the exercise – which involved a simulated homeless camp, outside on a cold November night, with students playing the part of homeless patients – one of Karyn’s students called it “the best simulation experience in all my four years.”
Dr. Taplay, Associate Professor in Brock University’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, is admired by her colleagues and students alike for her enthusiasm for education and her attention to student well-being.
According to one of Brianna Jackson’s professors, “I have no doubt that her research, leadership and advocacy will result in game-changing policy to promote equitable health among those with mental health challenges.”
Brianna, who has been working on a research study on youth mental health during her graduate studies at Western, is soon to embark on her PhD at Yale University in the U.S.
Her accomplishments are many. She is a recipient of awards that include the prestigious Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Graduate Scholarship and the Suzanne Hermann Award for Mental Health Nursing; she serves as Executive Director of Western’s Early Outreach Conference, and is the co-founder of VisAbility Kenya, a grassroots mental-health program with a focus on inclusion of people with mental illness in society.
Juggling her work as an ICU nurse with her role as an instructor to McMaster students across numerous courses, Janese Baartman’s teaching methods bridge the gap between theory and practice, engaging and inspiring students in both classroom and clinical settings, and forging collaboration between the university and the hospital staff.
Janese’s empathy, ability to connect with students, and power to calm nervous students while expanding their knowledge are “remarkable,” according to colleagues, who add: “Through her mentorship and role modelling, she inspires her students to grow into confident, empathetic and professional future nurses.”
Laura Sparrow and Jeff Reinhart have earned deep admiration among staff and clients at Sherbourne Health, where they work on the LGBTQ team, giving exemplary care and support to members of the LGBTQ community and marginalized people that include ex-prisoners and patients with mental health and addiction issues.
Their work includes primary care and counselling for some of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents, as well as providing advice and support on gender transition to patients in the trans community.
Students praise Laura and Jeff for their work as preceptors to nursing students from the University of Toronto who come to Sherbourne Health on placements. They mentor and educate students on compassionate treatment and appropriate language in their dealings with patients, and encourage them to be proactive agents of change within nursing.
Laura Sparrow and Jeff Reinhart have earned deep admiration among staff and clients at Sherbourne Health, where they work on the LGBTQ team, giving exemplary care and support to members of the LGBTQ community and marginalized people that include ex-prisoners and patients with mental health and addiction issues.
Their work includes primary care and counselling for some of Toronto’s most vulnerable residents, as well as providing advice and support on gender transition to patients in the trans community.
Students praise Laura and Jeff for their work as preceptors to nursing students from the University of Toronto who come to Sherbourne Health on placements. They mentor and educate students on compassionate treatment and appropriate language in their dealings with patients, and encourage them to be proactive agents of change within nursing.
Dr. Martine Puts is dedicated to research that improves the treatment and quality of life of seniors with cancer. Her much-recognized body of work focuses on comprehensive geriatric assessment, an intervention that helps patients, physicians and caregivers make better decisions about cancer treatment.
Her research, designed to have a practical impact on nursing practice, demonstrates that nurses can grow and strengthen their role in their care of cancer patients, manage the complex health issues these patients face, and ensure that cancer treatment can progress in the most effective way possible.
Dr. Martine is an Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of the Masters in Nursing program at the University of Toronto.
