Building Excellence Awards

The Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Building Excellence Program provides annual funding to support professional development and educational opportunities for Alberta Health Services healthcare professionals in the area of cancer care with the intent of enhancing the patient experience to world class levels at the cancer centres throughout Alberta.

Dr. Solomon Levin Memorial Award

2019 Recipients

Mrs. Terry Lynn Skarberg: Palliative Care 101 Medicine: Oncology Stream

Mr. Derek Roth: Victoria Hospice Palliative Care: Medical Intensive

Mrs. Shehla Ramji: Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Conference

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Dr. Solomon Levin Memorial Award Program was established in 2007 by the Alberta Cancer Foundation in partnership with the Department of Symptom Control and Palliative Care at the Cross Cancer Institute in memory of Dr. Solomon Levin. The initial fund was created through the generosity of Dianne and Irving Kipnes in support of the award, as well as additional funds received in memory of Dr. Levin. This fund is now managed as an endowment fund by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

The Dr. Solomon Levin Memorial Award is designed to promote knowledge and skills in Palliative Care for individuals employed within Alberta Health Services (AHS) whose role requires a purposeful focus on cancer care. It provides an exciting way for these individuals to develop their ability to provide comprehensive, competent and compassionate patient care.

Recipients of the Dr. Solomon Levin Memorial Award are eligible for financial assistance up to a maximum of $5,000 and will be chosen by a selection committee made up of representatives from a number of patient care disciplines. The funds are to be used to support professional growth and education for individuals employed within AHS whose role requires a purposeful focus on cancer care through the attendance of educational opportunities related to palliative care.

Marlene Mysak Oncology Staff Education Bursary

2019 Recipient

Mrs. Anne M. Tremblay: Off Site visit to Fred Hutch BMT Program

ABOUT THE BURSARY

As the former Senior Leader of Clinical Services and Nursing Practice at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Marlene Mysak recognizes the value of staff development to ensure excellence in care and enhanced patient experience for all cancer patients and their families. Through her generosity, the Marlene Mysak Oncology Staff Education Bursary was established as part of the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Building Excellence Program. This Program provides annual grants in support of professional development and educational opportunities related to enhancing patient care at cancer centres throughout Alberta for staff working with cancer patients and their families.

The Marlene Mysak Oncology Staff Education Bursary is available to all Alberta Health Services employees who currently work directly or indirectly with cancer patients and their families and who are based at either the Tom Baker Cancer Centre or Holy Cross Hospital site. Each year, the focus of the Award is aligned with one or more strategic priorities of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. For 2019, applications are invited from staff members including administrative support staff, who wish to attend approved conferences, workshops or other educational opportunities focusing in the area of ‘Improving the Patient Experience’.

The recipient of the Marlene Mysak Oncology Staff Education Bursary is eligible for financial assistance up to a maximum of $775 and will be chosen by a selection committee made up of representatives from the relevant areas for the application theme.

Award in Palliative Care

(Cross Cancer Institute With Preference to the CCI Department of Symptom Control & Palliative Care Staff)

2019 Recipient

Mrs. Sandy L. Dziaba-Regehr: ASCO Palliative & Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Building Excellence Award in Palliative Care is part of the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Building Excellence Program, which provides annual support for individuals involved in providing care for cancer patients and their families. This award is designed to promote specialist-level knowledge and skills in palliative care for individuals employed by the Alberta Health Services directly working with patients with a focus on Palliative Care at the Cross Cancer Institute. The Award is primarily intended for non-physicians, although applications from physicians may be considered at the discretion of the award selection committee. Preference will be given to members of the CCI Department of Symptom Control & Palliative care. Recipients of the Award in Palliative Care are eligible for financial assistance up to a maximum of $2,500 and will be chosen by a selection committee made up of representatives from a number of patient care disciplines. These funds are to be used to support the professional growth and education of these individuals through attendance of educational opportunities related to palliative care. Recipients of this Award will be expected to use the knowledge and skills gained to enhance palliative care provided to patients and their families at the Cross Cancer Institute and potentially across the province.

Denise Melanson Bursary

2019 Recipients

Mrs. Susanne Lesniak Walton: BC Rural Health Conference 2019

Mrs. Tammy Patel: Master of Nursing

ABOUT THE BURSARY

This bursary is awarded in memory of Denise Melanson who died in August of 2006 as a result of a medication error. Denise, who was a 43-year-old wife and mother of three, worked with special needs children as a teaching assistant and she lived in Rainbow Lake, Alberta. Her story has prompted cancer care agencies across Canada to re-examine medication administration practices with the aim of reducing the possibility of a similar error affecting another patient.

The establishment of this bursary is one of many measures taken by Alberta Health Services to ensure an everlasting focus on patient safety in honour of Ms. Melanson.

This bursary was established as part of the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Building Excellence Program and provides funding for two annual awards. All Alberta Health Services employees whose primary role is to provide care or service to cancer patients are eligible to apply for this annual award. The award may be used to attend approved conferences, workshops or other educational opportunities focusing on patient safety.

Recipients of the Alberta Cancer Foundation Denise Melanson Bursary are eligible for financial assistance up to a maximum of $3,000 and will be chosen by a selection committee made up of representatives from a number of patient care disciplines.

Jaima Sheldon & Jacqueline Geller Award

The Cross Cancer Institute – Department Of Rehabilitation Medicine

2018 Recipient

Dr. Jill Turner: To Purchase night time compression

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Jaima Sheldon & Jacqueline Geller Bursary is part of the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Building Excellence Program.

The Jaima Sheldon & Jacqueline Geller Award is to support Cross Cancer Institute – Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Based on assessed need, to be determined by the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine on an annual basis, this award will provide funding for any of the following: Professional Staff Development/Education, Research or Equipment and specialized supplies to enhance patient care.

Individuals employed by AHS directly working with patients within the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Cross Cancer Institute, AHS staff are eligible to apply for the Jaima, Sheldon & Jacqueline Geller Award. The award is $1,250.00 every year.

Louise Enns Award

2018 Recipient

Mr. Darin McDonald

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Louise Enns Award provides the laboratory research community at the Cross Cancer Institute with an opportunity each year to formally recognize an outstanding technologist who has been identified by their peers for this honour.

This $500 Award is to be used by the recipient for educational purposes which will include things such as conferences and related travel expenses, books, course materials or journals.

Linda & Wayne Sartore Award at the Cross Cancer Institute

2018 Recipient

Ms. Bonnie Harrison: CANO Conference, Charlottetown

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Linda & Wayne Sartore Award is designed to promote knowledge and skill development for Daycare Unit Nurses at the Cross Cancer Institute to enhance their ability to deliver comprehensive, competent and compassionate patient care. The funds are used to support the professional growth and education of Cross Cancer Institute Daycare Unit nurses through attendance of educational opportunities related to patient care. The award is $1,250.00 every year.