The venue was virtual and the Prosecco was pixelated, but the honours were real at the Faculty of Medicine Awards of Excellence ceremony Tuesday, December 15.
Hosted on the virtual reality platform The Echo, the awards ceremony paid tribute to 25 laureates notable for their outstanding achievements in the areas of research, academic publication, education, mentorship, engagement, la francophonie, and global health.
The Faculty Awards of Excellence ceremony was followed by two shorter ceremonies, one to recognize the winners of the 2020 Research Day awards; and one to pay tribute to individuals and teams for their exceptional efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a pre-recorded video address, Dean Bernard Jasmin praised the hard work of learners, faculty, staff and alumni in persevering through the many struggles brought about by COVID-19.
“Through our teamwork and commitment, our Faculty has demonstrated steadfast leadership in adapting all our programs and research activities to the new environment. We have made sure to uphold important safety measures, while maintaining the best possible learning and working environment,” Dr. Jasmin said.
The awards night marked the final event in the Faculty’s 75th anniversary celebrations. Looking forward to 2021 and beyond, Dr. Jasmin reiterated the Faculty’s commitment to fostering greater inclusion, recognition, equality, diversity, wellness and social accountability.
“We are also focused on our future in research and development by expanding upon projects in medical artificial intelligence, Indigenous health, a future school of pharmacy — Une école des sciences pharmaceutiques — and a new Advanced Medical Research Centre,” he said.
Following his speech, the dean handed over the virtual mic to Dr. Ali Jalali, interim assistant dean, External Relations, Engagement and Advancement. Appearing in avatar form, Dr. Jalali announced the award winners and led the cyber-audience in several rounds of applause for the honourees.
The winners of the 2020 Faculty of Medicine Awards of Excellence are:
