WCVM honours employees and students
WCVM Dean Dr. Charles Rhodes presents Sarah Caldwell with a plaque commemorating her 2009 Distinguished Employee Award.
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) honoured some of its employees and graduate students during the College’s annual staff barbecue on June 11. The evening’s most prestigious honour — the Distinguished Employee award — was given to Sarah Caldwell of the WCVM’s Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences.
A 25-year employee of the WCVM, Caldwell is an electron microscopist (technician IV) who oversees the electron microscope (EM) suite at the College. She has been involved in a variety of EM-related research projects and is well known for her teaching work with many graduate students. In addition, Caldwell has made many contributions to the College through her involvement with the human resources and safety committees.
Rhodes said the letters supporting Caldwell’s nomination “highlighted her leadership, her strength as a team player, and the fact that she’s a very compassionate person with her fellow workers.” All of these qualities made her the ideal choice for this year’s award, said Rhodes.
Two other awards that require nominations were presented during the evening:
• The Hill’s Canada Outstanding Intern Award: was given to clinical intern Dr. Suresh Sathya (at left) by Dr. Klaas Post, head of the WCVM Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. “Everyone in the Small Animal Clinic votes on this award, and for the very first time, there was someone on top by such a big margin — I had never seen that before.” The Hill’s Canada Outstanding Intern award, worth $500, is presented each year to a clinical intern who demonstrates outstanding excellence during the one-year program.
• The Hill’s Canada Outstanding Small Animal Resident Award: was presented to Dr. Casey Gaunt (at right), a resident in small animal medicine at the WCVM. The $1,500 award is annually given to a second-year resident in recognition of the person’s excellence in a small animal residency program. Selection is based on a resident’s clinical performance, teaching, academic excellence and research progress.
A number of other WCVM employees and graduate students were recognized during the evening:
• Retirement: Marilynn Sillers retired after 26 years of service in the WCVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
• Five-year awards: Karen MacDonald, Michele Karmark, Kathleen Linn, Dennilyn Parker, Debbie Paisley, Sandra Rose, Elisabeth Snead, Beverly Turgeon, Liping Zhu and Patrick Zimmer.
• 10-year awards: Dione Bachiu, Liana Kinar, April Penner, Sherry Presnell, Rhonda Shewfelt, Elemir Simko, Mark Wickstrom, Murray Woodbury, Xiaobei Zhang and Marnie Zimmer.
• 15-year awards: Norine Demeria, Trish Dowling and Nadine Morris.
• 20-year awards: Lesa Altrogge, Sue Ashburner, Brenda Beierle, Janna Boymook, Wes Epp, Wendy Fernets and Cindy Shmon.
• 25-year awards: Maureen Hurley, Glenna Miller and Marilynn Sillers.
• 30-year awards: Al Barth, Lori Lorenzo, Vikram Misra and Sharon Thomas.
• 35-year awards: Gary Wobeser, Marion Smart, Anne Ruholl.
• Certificates for clinical interns (Large Animal Clinical Sciences): Dr. Nora Chavarria.
• Certificates for residents (Large Animal Clinical Sciences): Drs. Ryan Wolker, Luca Panizzi, Sarah Eaton and Brandy Burgess.
• Certificates for clinical interns (Small Animal Clinical Sciences): Drs. Cynthia Chow, Robert Adamski, John Davies, Philip Jull, Maxie Krueger, Kai-Fong Ng and Suresh Sathya.
• Certificates for residents (Small Animal Clinical Sciences): Drs. Barbara Ambros, Peter Gilbert and Kevin Cosford.
• Certificates for clinical associates (Small Animal Clinical Sciences): Drs. Sherisse Sakals, Kirsty Elliot and Keri Gage.
Marilyn Jonas, executive director of Prairie Diagnostic Services, presented long-service awards to PDS employees:
• Five-year awards: Victoria May and Pauline Gaudette.
• 10-year awards: Lilian Fernandez, Leah Heasman, Suzanne Krieger and Linda Nordlund.
• 20-year awards: Teresa Berry.
• 25-year award: Lois Ridgway.
