Honouring Excellence at the Faculty of Health Sciences

By Faculty of Health Sciences

Camille Cottais - Communications, University of Ottawa

Photo of people listening to FHS Dean's Lucie Thibault
The Dean's 2025 Ceremony of Excellence took place on December 3. This annual event was an opportunity to highlight the achievements of students, alumni, researchers, professors, administrative personnel and the wider Faculty family.

President and Vice-Chancellor Marie-Ève Sylvestre thanked the members of our Faculty community for their outstanding work, and Dean Lucie Thibault presented 29 awards during the evening. Representatives of our five schools also spoke about their latest research.

Finally, the Dean congratulated graduate Krishnpriya Singh and students Ankita Jain, Grace Leah Tongue, and Tomor Sopa for winning a 21 Under 21 award, as well as Trinity Lowthian, who received the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Addresses:

  • Keynote address: Full Professor Dave Holmes, School of Nursing
  • Speeches from the Schools
    • Full Professor Diane Culver, School of Human Kinetics
    • Assistant Professor Claire Tugault-Lafleur, School of Nutrition Sciences
    • Full Professor and Assistant Director, Graduate Studies Janet Squires, School of Nursing
    • Assistant Professor Pier-Luc Turcotte, School of Rehabilitation Sciences​
    • Associate Professor Shannon Bainbridge, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​
Professor Claire Tugault-Lafleur giving a speech
Assistant Professor Claire Tugault-Lafleur

Recipients:

Award of Excellence: Teaching

  • Associate Professor Sarah Fraser, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​

Award of Excellence: Education

  • Associate Professor Karine Toupin April, School of Rehabilitation Sciences

Award of Excellence: Francophonie

  • Full Professor Marie-Claude Thifault​, School of Nursing

Award of Excellence: Part-time professor

  • Catherine Pouliot​, part-time professor at the School of Nutrition Sciences

Award of Excellence: Research

  • Full Professor Kristi Adamo​, School of Human Kinetics

Award of Excellence: Research Impact EDI

  • Full Professor Tracey O'Sullivan​, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​

Award of Excellence: Early career research

  • Associate Professor Sathya Karunananthan​, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​

Award of Excellence: Administrative personnel

  • Natalie St-Jacques-Farha​, ​Manager of the Louise McEntyre West Nursing Simulation and Peer Mentorship Centre at the School of Nursing​
  • Pierrette M. Bolongo​, Senior Administrative Assistant to the Direction at the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​
  • Carina Geddes​, Supervisor, Academic Advising​
  • Mirado Ralijaona​, Lead Officer, Administrative Support​

Award of Excellence: Friend of the Faculty

  • Natacha Ducharme, Kinesiologist and health promoter at Sandy Hill Community Health Centre in Ottawa

Award of Excellence: Alumni

  • Ric Cuming, System Chief Operating Officer at Christiana Care Health System (Wilmington, Delaware)​

Award of Excellence: Interprofessional collaboration

  • Rema Boushey​, Stacey Byer​, John Cavan​, Sarah Chung, Kate Daniel, Faculty of Medicine; Jovana Ivic​, Anne-Marie Laverdure​, Marisa McCulloch​, Faculty of Health Sciences; Jennifer Keays​, Patrick Leclair​, Josée Lemaire, Student Health and Wellness Centre

Award of Excellence: Undergraduate student

  • Morgan Preston​, School of Nursing
  • Anastassiya Beletskaya​, School of Nutrition Sciences
  • Isabelle Organ​, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​
  • Jack Mansour​, School of Human Kinetics​

Award of Excellence: Graduate student

  • Zohreh Ahmadi​, School of Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Sarah Granville​, School of Nutrition Sciences
  • Nathalie Todam Nguepnang​, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​
  • Meredith Wing​, School of Human Kinetics​
  • Jessica Reszel​, School of Nursing
Graduate students receiving an award from Dean Lucie Thibault
From left to right: Dean Lucie Thibault, Zohreh Ahmadi​, Sarah Granville, Nathalie Todam Nguepnang​, Meredith Wing and Jessica Reszel

Award of Excellence: Teaching assistant

  • Radia El Iraki​, School of Nutrition Sciences
  • Darrin Wijeyaratnam​, School of Human Kinetics​
  • Corinne Waked​, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​
  • Vincent ​Martin-Schreiber, School of Nursing

Award of Excellence: Ally for a good working environment

  • Associate Professor Anne Konkle, Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences​
  • Serginiav Desroches​, Senior Officer, Administrative Support to the School of Nursing Direction