2025 Support Staff Awards of Excellence Winners
Congratulations to the winners!
Service Excellence Award
Thomas MacKay – Intermediate Specialist, Faculty Infrastructures, Facility Management Office
Thomas stands out as an exceptionally professional, responsive and kind colleague whose work consistently strengthens the daily experience of the Faculty of Medicine community. Whether responding within minutes to issues ranging from minor concerns to potential safety risks, guiding colleagues through the transition to a new access-card system with creative solutions like QR-code banners, or expertly coordinating the expansion and relocation of teams, he brings patience, clear communication and remarkable problem-solving skills to every challenge. His persistence in resolving access difficulties, his ability to mobilize multiple services, and his steady support during unforeseen security situations have built deep trust among learners, staff and faculty. Through his dedication, innovation and unwavering reliability, Thomas has enabled smooth operations across the Faculty, embodying the very spirit of this award and making him an exceptionally deserving nominee.
Service Excellence Award
Julie O'Brien – Executive Assistant, Department of Emergency Medicine
Julie O’Brien exemplifies service excellence through her dedication, initiative and thoughtful support of the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM). She has been essential to sustaining a department that has grown significantly, modernizing its operations by championing the early transition to SharePoint and adopting tools that improve communication and collaboration. Julie consistently goes beyond her role—launching newsletters, contributing to the DEM Support Staff Wellness Committee, and even using personal time to clean and remodel the Civic Campus physician lounge to create a more welcoming space. She has increased consistency throughout the department by developing clear Standard Operating Procedures, including a detailed onboarding guide for physicians. Her leadership on the annual report—coordinating contributors and producing a polished final product—demonstrates her strong project management skills. Through her kindness, reliability and proactive problem-solving, Julie has greatly enriched the experience of learners, faculty and staff.
Award for Service Excellence – First 2 Years of Service
Michela Gentile — Supervisor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology
Michela Gentile has had a transformative impact on the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology since joining as head of the administrative office in 2024. Arriving during a period of major staffing shortages, she mastered her role within days and immediately delivered exceptional work—most notably by organizing revamped poster and presentation days with creativity, precision and flawless execution. A natural leader, Michela has already taken on supervisory responsibilities, thoughtfully mentoring a new team member and providing essential support to the acting Chair during a leadership transition. Her warm, positive presence has strengthened workplace culture, making her a trusted and well-liked colleague. Committed to ongoing growth, she is actively expanding her language skills to better serve the Faculty’s bilingual community. Through her initiative, professionalism and strong interpersonal skills, Michela has become an invaluable member of the department.
Award for Service Excellence – First 2 Years of Service
Kennedy Beuman – Program Coordinator, Department of Emergency Medicine, the Ottawa Hospital
Kennedy Beuman has made an exceptional impact on the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) in just her first two years, significantly enhancing the resident experience, faculty support, and program operations. She has modernized essential resources—including a complete redesign of the resident handbook and major improvements to SharePoint—and took it upon herself to learn Brightspace quiz building, streamlining evaluations for learners and program directors. Kennedy consistently provides hands-on, learner-centered support, she follows up across departments to resolve issues quickly, and contributes actively to the DEM Admin Wellness Committee. Her work is deeply appreciated by residents, who unanimously reported feeling supported and consistently praised her responsiveness and care, as well as by Program Directors who view her as remarkably skilled for her experience level. Through her proactive mindset, dedication, and unwavering commitment to resident success, Kennedy has become an invaluable member of DEM.
Award for Innovation, Transformative Thinking and Continuous Improvement
Maxime Charette – Chief Executive Officer, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital
Maxime Charette is a transformative leader whose innovative thinking and commitment to continuous improvement have significantly strengthened the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine. He has modernized operations by launching a department-wide SharePoint site, improving security and collaboration, and by streamlining administrative systems with digital tools. Maxime also led the department's transition to a formal not-for-profit structure, ensuring long-term sustainability. His support for residents includes creating the uOttawa Anesthesia Career Assistant, offering individualized and group career coaching, and introducing the EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence assessment to promote personal and professional growth. He champions staff well-being through initiatives such as the condensed summer work week, and his collaborative approach has fostered a culture where innovative ideas thrive. Through strategic insight, community-minded leadership, and practical solutions, Maxime has elevated departmental performance and enriched the experience of faculty, residents, and staff.
Award for Innovation, Transformative Thinking and Continuous Improvement
Ryan Reshke – Senior Advisor, Research and Program Support, Research Office
Ryan Reshke has brought remarkable innovation and transformative thinking to the Research Office since joining in 2024. His most significant contribution has been leading a long-needed overhaul of the Faculty’s Core Facility management. By gathering data from disparate systems, creating a unified tracking structure, and developing an evidence-based funding model, he replaced years of ad hoc decision-making with a transparent and sustainable approach. His work has greatly improved the management of 150+ research instruments and the operations of 60+ staff and faculty. Ryan has also become a go-to advisor for researchers, offering tailored guidance that helped his assigned CIHR applications achieve the highest success rate in the competition round. He has elevated the Faculty’s profile by supporting successful award nominations and strengthening research communications. Through initiative, systems thinking, and continuous improvement, Ryan has made an exceptional impact.
Engagement Award
Sheena Levesque – Senior Advisor, Program Management, Office of Continuing Professional Development
Sheena exemplifies what it means to foster meaningful engagement across teams, communities, and partnerships. She has transformed the Office of Continuing Professional Development into a collaborative, people-centred environment where staff feel supported and connected. She introduced monthly “Common Collaboration Days” to unite the team around shared challenges and strengthened wellness and collegiality through initiatives like a stocked fridge, a Kudos board, and regular team-building activities. Sheena also organizes weekly peer-support meetings, encourages staff-led projects, and promotes shared learning in areas such as AI and social media, helping build confidence and boost event participation. Her commitment to inclusive engagement extends outward through partnerships with EDIA leaders, Indigenous speakers and elders, and community stakeholders, as well as improved accessibility and outreach to underserved groups. By stepping in wherever needed and guiding her team through change, Sheena has created a workplace grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Engagement Award
Kaitlin Moberg – Lead Coordinator, Event Management, Office of Continuing Professional Development
Kaitlin exemplifies exceptional engagement through her ability to build trust, connection, and meaningful collaboration across the Faculty and broader community. She approaches every interaction with empathy and professionalism—qualities especially evident in her work with people with lived experience and MAiD providers, who consistently praise her supportive leadership. As Lead Coordinator of Destination: Family Medicine, she has expanded accessibility by creating bursary pathways for students from low-income and underserved communities, inspiring resident-led research and strengthening engagement with marginalized groups. Kaitlin also united colleagues to embed donation options into event registrations, raising over $3,000 and expanding bursary availability for Indigenous and francophone learners. Through her calm leadership, commitment to psychological safety, and dedication to continual improvement, she fosters inclusivity, empowers others, and mobilizes partnerships that meaningfully enhance the Faculty community.
Engagement Award
Ryan Morrison – Senior Multimedia System Specialist, Department of Family Medicine
Ryan consistently advances a culture of engagement, collaboration, and support within the Department of Family Medicine. He promotes teamwork by proposing collaborative activities, contributing his expertise to major departmental and faculty-wide events, and assisting on projects beyond his portfolio. Ryan anticipates needs, provides flexible support that maximizes participation, and introduces innovative ideas—including the use of AI—to improve accessibility and engagement. Through networking with external institutions and sharing insights with his team, he expands opportunities for collaboration and strengthens community ties. His commitment to inclusivity is evident in the creation of bilingual, accessible resources and in fostering an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued. He also enhances the learning environment through his skillful production of eLearning modules, podcasts, and video tutorials that broaden educational reach and deepen connection with learners and faculty. Calm, professional, and generous with his expertise, Ryan is a trusted collaborator who consistently strengthens engagement across teams.
Team Service Excellence Award
School of Epidemiology and Public Health Administrative Team
Annick Evraire, Bonnie Thornbury, Geneviève Twihangane, Gina Campbell, Jennifer Collins, Maryse Thibeault, Samantha Bennett, Sarah Vockeroth and Valery L'Heureux
The School of Epidemiology and Public Health Administrative Team has demonstrated exceptional service, teamwork, and strategic coordination during an unusually demanding year. While sustaining daily academic, research, and administrative operations, the team successfully supported three major initiatives. They coordinated a complex faculty recruitment process—reviewing 300+ applications, organizing 30 online interviews, and managing multi-day visits for eight finalists—resulting in four new Assistant Professors. They also implemented SEPH’s new Epidemiology and Applied Health Research graduate program, updating calendars and websites, creating clear guidance for students and faculty, supporting new committees, coordinating timetables, and delivering an excellent September orientation. In parallel, they advanced major work for the Public Health and Preventive Medicine residency program, including Competency-By-Design implementation and accreditation preparation. Across all initiatives, the team demonstrated adaptability, collaboration, and exceptional dedication, making a transformative impact on SEPH’s success this year.
Exam Question Bank Team
Faculty of Medicine staff: Vanessa Blais, Tammy Constant, Marijke Cowick, Sabrina Gareau, Darquise Lacroix, Eric Larouche, Mélanie McCallum, Muriel Miezan, Justine Smyth, Martine Trudeau and Denis Vadeboncoeur. Clinical Department staff: Alicia Campagna, Lianna Begg, Tiffany Gervais, Margaret King, Bonnie Landon, Samantha Moreno, Khadije Sobh and Jo-Anne Villeneuve
The team behind the creation and implementation of the Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) clerkship exam question bank has achieved a transformative milestone for the Faculty of Medicine, succeeding where previous attempts over several years had not. Over 18 months, this team coordinated nearly 30 stakeholders through exceptional collaboration, transparent communication, and rigorous project management to build a centralized, high-quality question bank that now houses approximately 3,600 vetted questions. Their work has streamlined exam preparation, improved consistency and fairness in assessments, and introduced powerful analytics that support evidence-informed teaching and continuous improvement. By elevating assessment quality and enhancing both faculty efficiency and learner experience, this team has delivered a sustainable, scalable system that strengthens curricular alignment and academic excellence. Their perseverance, innovation, and unified commitment to service make them an outstanding example of teamwork and collective impact within the Faculty of Medicine.