Pathologist and educator Bertha Garcia — who came to Canada from Peru in the 1970s — is nominated in the health, science and technology category.
The nominee: Pathologist and educator Bertha Garcia — who came to Canada from Peru in the 1970s — is nominated in the health, science and technology category. Originally recruited by a hospital in Calgary, she has worked in London since 1985. Students consistently rate her one of Western University’s top medical professors.
Key accomplishments: Though nominated for her medical work and mentoring, Garcia cites her humanitarian efforts: “I thought that was an impactful thing. I have done a fair amount of that. I had to learn to be a leader, nobody’s born a leader. I was kind of a trailblazer because there were no other women around the table.”
Hurdles overcome: “I arrived in Canada and I had to learn English in three months. That’s a challenge. Nobody knew in Canada where I came from. The assumptions that are made are not necessarily the right ones. They have no idea how I was trained before.”
In her own words: “I define myself as an educator, even more than in my clinical practice. I have mentored many young educators. Good teachers have an impact. It has a transformative effect. It can change a culture, it can change society.”
What she gets out of mentoring: “You have the opportunity to mould people’s minds. When your mentees have success and get great jobs, (it reflects on the mentor). So there is a little bit of selfishness to it.”
The Event
Hosted every two years, all proceeds from the women of excellence gala support the YMCA strong kids program, ensuring access to YMCA services regardless of the ability to pay.
Where: London Convention Centre
When: May 15, 2019
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: Students $80, adults $175, $1,750 for a table of 10
Online: ymcawo.ca/women-of-excellence-about
