Congratulations to the Awards of Excellence recipients
Congratulations to Drs. Aaron Ward, Anthony Nichols, Shawn Li, and Chris Watling who have received Schulich Awards of Excellence.
Dr. Aaron Ward, Medical Biophysics (Schulich Educator Award)
Dr. Ward joined the Departments of Medical Biophysics and Oncology in 2011 and in a short time has had high impact on the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. He has demonstrated excellence as a teacher at the graduate level; outstanding commitment and dedication to graduate education; innovative approaches to teaching and curriculum design; and successful role modeling and mentoring of graduate students. Dr. Ward prepares graduate students to be outstanding teachers and researchers by nurturing a learning culture, by guiding students’ independence and abilities and by making students’ welfare a priority. He is described as a gifted, passionate, inspiring educator and a dedicated, supportive, caring teacher.
Dr. Anthony Nichols, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (Junior Faculty Award)
Dr. Nichols has been described as the prototype surgeon-scientist. He is a gifted and compassionate surgeon who maintains a comprehensive practice. He is an effective, engaging and passionate educator who has been involved at all levels of medical education and directly involved in the training of residents and fellows. He is among the leading supervisors of student research through the Summer Research Training Program program. He is the director of the Head and Neck Cancer Translational Research Laboratory and, with that, is the co-principal investigator of the world’s first Phase II randomized clinical trial comparing Transoral Robotic Surgery with conventional treatment in the management of oropharyngeal cancer. He is an exemplary role model for other junior faculty members.
Dr. Shawn Li, Biochemistry (Research Award)
Dr. Li joined the Department of Biochemistry in 2000, as an Assistant Professor. He is described as a truly impressive scientist, mentor and educator. He has been a trailblazer in the implementation of emerging strategies involving proteomics and bioinformatics for the investigation of complex biological processes and regulatory networks underlying cancer. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, with additional manuscripts under editorial consideration. Dr. Li has received national recognition in the form of grants and salary awards from national funding agencies and has been recognized for one of Canada’s Top 10 Achievements in Cancer Research by the Canadian Cancer Society.
Dr. Chris Watling, Clinical Neurological Sciences (Schulich Leader Award)
Dr. Watling is an award winning educator, scholar and leader who has made a major impact locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. He is known for his clear and fluid presentation style. He is the first MD at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry (and one of the first in Canada) to obtain a PhD in Health Sciences education. He was program director in the Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, and since 2010 has been Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. During his leadership he has led a number of major curricular developments within the School such as: Team-Based Learning in Bioethics, and the Transition to Residency (T2R) program. In the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, he is acting Chair, Neurology Specialty Committee, and a member of the Working Group in the Clinician Educator Areas of Focused Competency Program. He is currently leading a new initiative to revitalize Schulich Medicine’s postgraduate assessment practices in light of the Royal College’s new CanMEDS 2015 competency-based expectations.
