Awards honour education champions

Sunnybrook's champions of education were lauded May 21, 2013, at the 3rd Annual Celebrating Excellence in Education awards evening. The event honoured 57 education leaders for their passion for teaching at Sunnybrook and beyond.

Four awards were presented by the Sunnybrook Education Advisory Council (SEAC) following a nominations process and panel review.

Those winners were:

• Educating Beyond Sunnybrook Award: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program (the first of its kind in Canada)
• Educating Sunnybrook: Scott Gorsline, manager of paramedic practice at the Sunnybrook Centre for Prehospital Medicine.
• Patient and Family Education Award: Sonia Dyett, pharmacist and designer of the "Meducation" program in the inpatient adolescent psychiatry department.
• Teaching Award: Dr. Gemini Tanna, nephrologist.

Three new awards were also handed out. The Allan Knight Lifetime Education Achievement Award honours an education champion who had made a significant contribution to education at Sunnybrook. Dr. Allan Knight was on-hand with his family to receive the award this year.

The Dr. William Dixon Sunnybrook Surgical Teaching Award honours excellence in educating surgical trainees. Dr. Barry McLellan presented the award to Dr. William Dixon.

The Golden Pear Dietitian Preceptoring Award is a new award for which the dietetic interns nominate a preceptor who demonstrates excellence. This year's recipient was Andrea Ho.

Also honoured were those who received academic appointments and promotions at the University of Toronto.

"The Celebrating Excellence in Education event highlights the achievements of our education champions, and demonstrates the passion that Sunnybrook shows for teaching and learning," said Dr. Joshua Tepper, VP, Education. "We are proud of and grateful for our award winners, those who received appointments and promotions, and all of the staff and physicians who take part in educational activities for their continued dedication in providing our learners with the best possible education."