Faculty of Medicine staff members earn U Make a Difference Award

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Posted April 21, 2010

By Aisling Gamble

Sharon Shwed, winner of a 2010 U Make a Difference AwardThe U Make a Difference Award recognizes the contributions of Faculty and staff members who make the University of Calgary a great place to work and learn. Winners of this award are those who consistently provide leadership, creating a positive work environment, customer service, student experience, teamwork and change management.

Two of the 2010 ‘U Make a Difference’ award winners represent the Faculty of Medicine.  Sharon Shwed has been the Faculty’s facilities coordinator for 23 years, while Lindsay Bradshaw has held the position of executive assistant in the Population Health Intervention Research Centre (PHIRC) since 2004, and has provided administrative assistance to Penny Hawe, PhD, and Alan Shiell, PhD, in the Department of Community Health Sciences.

Shwed, who will be retiring from her position this summer, expressed disbelief upon being told of winning the award. “I couldn’t fathom why I would be getting this award, but when reality sunk in, I felt honoured.”  Asked why she continues to do what she does, Shwed says there is a real feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.  She attributes the feeling to the support and encouragement she receives from each person she has contact with in her position.  In particular, she names Lynne Osborne, Dr. John Reynolds, Anwar Haq, Doug Scratch, Guy Levy and Dr. Ron Bridges as the key people who have attributed to her receiving this award.

Lynne Osborne, director of Support Services, is not surprised by the recognition.  “Sharon is a valuable resource for the faculty and our department.  She is highly regarded in her role by her colleagues and she really epitomizes the spirit of what this award is all about.  We are thrilled for her.”

Lindsay Bradshaw, winner of a 2010 U Make a Difference AwardLike Shwed, Bradshaw was surprised to hear that she had won the award. “I was very surprised and extremely flattered. It’s wonderful to know that people appreciate what I do.”  Bradshaw enjoys working with her colleagues in her department and receives a lot of encouragement from Merle Dalip.  She also attributes her attitude towards her work to her parents who taught her if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.  

Bradshaw continues in her position because of the hard work and dedication she witnesses in the likes of Hawe, Shiell, Melanie Rock, PhD, and others in PHIRC.  She does her job well to ensure the centre runs smoothly and that means one less thing for others to worry about.  Ann Toohey, the person who nominated Bradshaw for the U Make a Difference award notes she deserves to be recognized for the stellar work she does.  “Lindsay is always professional, organized, encouraging and supportive. She embodies competence, which in itself creates the environment within which students, researchers, and Faculty alike can flourish. She is truly the driving force behind the cohesiveness of our very productive Population Health Intervention Research Centre personnel.”

Both Shwed and Bradshaw will be honoured along side long-service Faculty and staff at the 2010 Recognition Awards Ceremony & Reception on April 29.