2018 Merit Awards Recipients

In the high-tech environment of the neonatal intensive care unit, Stacey’s knowledge, skill and compassion are immensely valued by colleagues and families alike. Under her gentle care and guidance, her tiny patients grow and thrive while their parents gain the confidence they need. Her greatest source of pride comes from seeing pre-term infants become strong enough to go home with their families. Stacey has always been at the cutting edge of clinical practice and she takes great pride in sharing her knowledge and expertise with others. She comes to neonatal nursing with extensive academic training and a talent for establishing and implementing best practices. Her research has helped reduce neonatal morbidities and her exceptional speaking and leadership skills have ensured that her knowledge is shared nationally and internationally.

Brenda Huband is a proven leader with extensive experience in Alberta’s health system She has worked in remote, rural, regional and urban health settings, focusing on acute care, continuing care, Aboriginal health, seniors’ health, public health and administration. She began as a nurse and moved into progressively more senior leadership roles including chief nursing officer, chief operating officer and chief executive officer. She holds a bachelor of science (nursing) and masters of science (administration) and she is a certified health executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Brenda’s work touches lives every day and helps ensure resources are deployed effectively. She helped oversee Alberta’s responses to the 2013 floods and 2016 wildfires, ensuring evacuation and recovery efforts proceeded smoothly and safely.

Sandra is a whirlwind of ideas and energy who embraces technology to help students learn. Her key interest is in the use of simulation education to improve patient safety and boost the competence and confidence of new nursing graduates. While she encourages innovation, she is also committed to rigorous research and the ongoing evaluation of new teaching and learning strategies in simulation. Sandra is a skillful collaborator who works effectively within and across disciplines. Her research is having a positive impact on simulation education across Canada and internationally in the UK, Sweden and Australia. The substance and reputation of Canadian nursing education is advanced by her skillful merging of clinical acumen, expertise in teaching and research inquiry.

Tracy’s greatest policy contribution is in her work to design and implement Alberta’s Strategic Clinical Networks, which are evidence-driven engines of innovation and health policy. In her role as a vice president at Alberta Health Services, Tracy was key to implementing the networks to ensure they are designed to be inclusive and work to improve health outcomes for Albertans. Among her most significant accomplishments was her role in the development of Calgary’s largest greenfield hospital, the South Health Campus, which opened in 2013. Tracy oversaw operational, financial and clinical services design and implementation. Her collaborative human factors design work helped save over $1 million in costs.

Veronique’s research interests are focused on establishing best practices in gerontology, building gerontological educational programs for health-care professionals, and creating care delivery models for seniors residences. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts and was the lead author on the first Canadian edition of Gerontological Nursing and Healthy Aging. Veronique is actively involved in several research projects. For example, she is the director of the Schlegel Centre for Advancing Seniors Care at Conestoga College. She is also the principal investigator in the Neighbourhood Team Development study, where she trains team members in long-term care and examines innovative ways to put seniors at the centre of their care. She is the epitome of putting research into action.