FHS Teaching Award of Excellence for Faculty

Teaching Award

About the Award

First awarded in 2002, the Faculty of Health Sciences Teaching Award of Excellence is presented to one full-time and one part-time faculty member annually. Recipients are chosen based on evidence of excellence in academic endeavours with emphasis on exceptional performance in teaching.

Full-time award recipients' names are added to a plaque which is permanently displayed in the Dean's Office.

Previous Winners

View Previous Winners

*denotes part-time faculty member

2023 Maxwell Smith (Health Studies)
Tania Larsen* (Physical Therapy)
2022 Heather Gillis (Physical Therapy)
Ashley McKeown* (Nursing)
2021 Julie Theurer (Communication Sciences and Disorders)
2020 Shauna Burke (Health Studies)
Anita Cramp* (Health Studies)
2019 Jim Dickey (Kinesiology)
2018 Dan Belliveau (Health Studies)
Dalton Wolfe* (Health Studies)
2017 Dave Humphreys (Kinesiology)
Natascha Wesch* (Kinesiology)
2016 Don Morrow (Kinesiology)
Tara Mantler (Health Studies)*
2015 Matthew Heath (Kinesiology)
2014 Jennifer Irwin (Health Studies)
Heather Gillis (Physical Therapy)*
2013 Phil Doyle (Communication Sciences and Disorders)
Julie Theurer (Communication Sciences and Disorders)* 
2012 Anne Kinsella (Occupational Therapy)
2011 Aleksandra Zecevic (Health Studies)
Troy Seely (Physical Therapy)*
2010 Carol McWilliam (Nursing)
Dave Walton (Physical Therapy)*
2009 Kathy Obright (Physical Therapy)
Barb Sarma (Kinesiology)*
2008 Ken Kirkwood (Bachelor of Health Sciences Program)
2007 Tim Wilson (Bachelor of Health Sciences Program)
Dave Walton (Physical Therapy)*
2006 Kathy Obright (Physical Therapy)
Julie Theurer (Communication Sciences and Disorders)*
2005 Susan Anthony (Nursing)
2004 Kevin Wamsley (Kinesiology)
2003 Janet Brown (Physical Therapy)
2002 Tom Overend (Physical Therapy)

Eligibility & Nomination Procedure

Full-time and part-time faculty members for courses within the Faculty of Health Sciences may be nominated. Part-time and full-time nominees must have at least three years and five years (respectively) of teaching experience within the Faculty of Health Sciences. Individuals may only win this award once.

  • Submit a completed nomination form by March 15
    • If the submission deadline falls on a weekend, nominations will be accepted the next business day
  • Nominations can be made by students, faculty, staff or alumni
  • Nominators are encouraged to speak with Director of the nominee’s School about the nomination, prior to speaking with the nominee about the nomination
  • Nominees must approve of their nomination and must sign the nomination form. Implicit with this approval is agreement to submit the required dossier by the dossier submission deadline (April 15)
  • Members of the FHS Teaching and Research Awards Committee may neither nominate individuals nor write letters of support for this award

Nominee dossier must be submitted electronically by April 15 (see instructions below) to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate).

  • If April 15 falls on a weekend, the deadline moves to the next business day

Requirements for Dossier

1. A letter of nomination from School/Program Director or peer

  • If the letter of nomination comes from a peer, a letter of support should be included from the School/Program Director
  • This letter of nomination should summarize the contributions of the nominee to the teaching mission of the School and Faculty, through reference to the criteria outlined by the Western Subcommittee on Teaching Awards, found here and listed (in brief) here:
    1. Instruction: This includes either (or both) of classroom teaching and clinical teaching
    2. Academic counselling, tutoring, and mentoring of students
    3. Graduate student and thesis supervision
    4. Course design
    5. Curriculum development
    6. Educational materials development
    7. Educational leadership
    8. Research and/or publications on university teaching
    9. Development of innovative teaching methods
    10. Educational planning and policy-making
    11. Educational outreach at the local, provincial, or national level

2. One or more supporting letter(s) [maximum 6] from peers or relevant authorities summarizing the nominee’s strengths, and noting the various contributions made to the Schools within the Faculty of Health Sciences in any of the aforementioned award criteria.

3. One or more supporting letter(s) [maximum 6] from students

4. Current Curriculum Vitae

5. Teaching Dossier

6. Teaching materials, which can include samples of teaching materials or assessments (screenshots are acceptable forms of evidence), evidence of impact (not to exceed 10 pages in total)

7. It is recommended that a peer review be included

  • See also this page, hosted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, for further information on getting feedback on teaching

8. Administrative support will be provided for all nominations by the School in which the nominee is teaching

The Documentation

  • The material submitted to the FHS Teaching and Research Awards Committee should relate directly to the current nomination
    • Promotion and tenure letters or newspaper clippings relating to other awards or relaying unfocussed opinions are unacceptable
  • Letters dealing specifically with teaching in a broad context are more useful than letters relating to the nominee’s standing in the profession
  • Letters of support are to be solicited by the nominators, not the nominee
  • Dossiers are reviewed by the FHS Teaching and Research Awards Committee to select the award recipients
  • Award winners are announced at the FHS end-of-year reception