Prizes and awards officially announced between May 1 2025 and April 30 2026 are featured in this report.
Notable accolades
Over the past year, researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences have been widely recognized for their outstanding research achievements. Each distinction represents a strong commitment to advancing knowledge, addressing complex health and / or societal challenges, and upholding the highest standards of research excellence. We extend our warmest congratulations to all recipients for the recognition of their dedication and innovation.
Kristi Adamo
Dean's Award of Excellence - Research
Recognized for her exceptional contribution to early lifestyle interventions and maternal-fetal health, Professor Adamo (School of Human Kinetics) received the Award of Excellence in Research. Her pioneering work, including leadership in the development of the 2019 Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity throughout Pregnancy, has redefined prenatal care and informed best practices nationwide. Through her research, Professor Adamo optimizes the long-term health trajectory of both mothers and their children, shaping the next generation's well-being.
Nancy Edwards
Honorary Paramount Chief of Sierra Leone - Government of Sierra Leone
Professor Edwards (School of Nursing) was conferred the title of Honorary Paramount Chief of Sierra Leone in recognition of her decades-long commitment to health development in the country. Her memoir, Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-Altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa (2022), details her nursing experiences and offers a powerful perspective on global health practice and service. A play, based on this memoir, takes us into the rural villages of Sierra Leone during the late 1970's and early 1980's.
Glen Kenny
John Sutton Memorial Lecture - Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
The John Sutton Memorial Lecture is a prestigious keynote address presented by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). The lecture honours the legacy of Dr. John Sutton and celebrates excellence and leadership in the field. Professor Kenny (School of Human Kinetics) was invited to deliver the lecture as part of the CSEP annual conference programme, highlighting his outstanding scholarly and applied contributions to the field.
Krystina Lewis
New Investigator Award - Heart & Stroke Foundation
The research of professor Lewis (School of Nursing) in shared decision-making, patient engagement and cardiovascular care is transforming how patients and families actively participate in critical healthcare decisions. The award provides dedicated career funding to emerging investigators who have established independent research programs in cardiovascular health. This recognition will further support the growth of her influential research program, advancing decision quality and improving outcomes for individuals affected by heart disease and stroke.
Tracey O'Sullivan
Dean's Award of Excellence - Research Impact EDI
The work of professor O'Sullivan (Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences) focuses on older adults, with particular attention to stroke survivors and family caregivers. She challenges the discriminatory and deficit-oriented narratives in media and policy, advocating for more inclusive language that promotes asset literacy and recognizes the strengths of vulnerable populations. From the international platforms of the United Nations International Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) to her scholarly contributions for the World Health Organization, her decades-long work highlights the care for vulnerable groups living in the shadows of disasters and pandemics. The award serves as a profound acknowledgment of Professor O'Sullivan's impactful research. Her contributions exert tangible influence by driving social inclusion and informing more equitable public policies.
Sathya Karunananthan
Dean's Award of Excellence - Early Career Researcher
The Early Career Research of the Year Award highlights the exceptional contribution of professor Karunananthan (Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences) in promoting equity, accessibility and linguistic inclusion in Canadian healthcare systems. Her research addresses the needs of millions of linguistically marginalized Canadians and investigates the role of health technologies in delivering equitable care. By examining how language can act as a barrier to high-quality healthcare, her work seeks to improve access and outcomes for older adults with complex health conditions.
Dawn Stacey
Grimes Career Achievement Award - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Professor Stacey (Scool of Nursing) has dedicated her career to supporting patients and families to make informed treatment decisions. She focuses on the theory and practice of shared decision-making to empower patients and provide support globally. She developed Canada's widely used COSTaRS cancers symptom practice guides, improving cancer symptom management and reducing emergency room visits. She also created the Ottawa Personal Decision Guide to help patients navigate complex medical decisions. She co-leads the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS), advancing health care decision support worldwide. The award honours her scientific leadership and the significant impact of her research on patient care and engagement.
Marijke Taks
EASM Chelladurai Award 2025 - European Association of Sports Management
The Chelladurai Award is the most distinguished honour bestowed by the European Association for Sport Management (EASM), recognizing individuals for their exceptional leadership, scholarly excellence and sustained contribution to the advancement of sport management as an academic discipline. The distinction was awarded to Professor Taks (School of Human Kinetics) in recognition of her transformative impact on the field. Professor Taks has advanced both theoretical and empirical scholarship in sport management, with particular contributions in the areas of sport participation, consumer expenditure, and the socio-economic impacts of sport events. She has produced an extensive body of published work and served for many years as Editor of European Sport Management Quarterly (ESMQ), where she played a central role in securing the journal’s inclusion in the Social Science Citation Index.
Susan Tosh
2025 Harraways 1867 Visiting Professor
As part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the opening of its first steam-powered mill, Harraway and Sons Ltd invites a distinguished researcher each year. This year, Professor Tosh (School of Nutrition Sciences) was invited to the Department of Food Science at the University of Otago in New Zealand, where she delivered public lectures, led seminars and visited the company’s headquarters. Professor Tosh shared her extensive research on the importance of cereal fiber to human health with scholars, students, and industry professionals.