Volunteer of the Year
Terry Morrison, James Sutherland, Chris Morrison
Volunteers of the Year 2020
Rajan Bola
Volunteer of the Year 2019
Every year, CNIS gives an award to one of our volunteers who has made a notable contribution towards our work and vision.
Dr. Gary Redekop
Volunteer of the Year 2017
Dr. Christine Bloche
Volunteer of the Year 2016
Wylam Faught
Volunteer of the Year 2010
Dr. Wylam Faught, MD, FRCSC, is the professor and chair of the obstetrics/gynecology department for the University of Ottawa and regional ob/gyne physician lead for their thel-newborn program. He is actively involved in gynecologic oncology clinical care, education and clinical research, and surgical skills teaching for CNIS in Moshi, Tanzania. Wylam is a past-president of the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada, a board member of Ovarian Cancer Canada and the Canadian Foundation for Women's Health, and a member of the Royal College specialty committee in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Faught was given the 2010 Volunteer of the Year award for his contribution as an ESS instructor and for his help in establishing the obstetrics program and the surgical skills lab in Moshi, Tanzania.
OkaZHI
Volunteer of the Year 2009
For the first time ever, the volunteer of the year award went to a group: the Okanagan Zambia Health Initiative. In the fall of 2009, three OkaZHI surgeons from Kelowna, BC introduced CNIS surgical teachings to Zambia. Drs. Bill Nelems, Gary O'Connor, and Glynn Jones taught the initial ESS course in Mongu in the Western Province of Zambia. CNIS looks forward to further collaboration with OkaZHI.
Vincent Echavé
Co-Volunteer of the Year 2008
Dr. Echavé is a professor of surgery at the Université de Sherbrooke. Prior to working with CNIS, the Cuban native has done humanitarian work with MSF. Dr. Eschavé took the Essential Surgical Skills (ESS) Instructors Course in May 2007. and was instrumental in introducing ESS to Mali in December of the same year. In 2008 he returned to Mali to sustain the surgical skills work. In 2008, Dr. Echavé received the Canadian Medical Association's Highest Honor, the F.N.G. Starr Award.
François Couturier
Co-Volunteer of the Year 2008
Dr. Couturier is a professor of family medicine at Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne of Université de Sherbrooke. He provided the initial link between CNIS and Sherbrooke, and CNIS and Bamako, Mali, and has been instrumental in starting the Sherbrooke primary medicine collaboration with the national university in Bamako. In addition, he has been involved with teaching the Obstetrical Unit of the ESS Course in Bamako, both in 2007 and 2008. Dr. Couturier's help has allowed CNIS to expand into Francophone Africa in collaboration with Université de Sherbrooke.
Jan Christilaw
Volunteer of the Year 2007
jchristilaw@cnis.ca
During 2007, Jan Chrstilaw co-authored the Structured Operative Obstetrics (SOO) Course, piloted the SOO Course in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, piloted another project in Uganda, and co-taught the SOO Instructors Course in Vancouver, Canada.
Robin Fairfull-Smith
Volunteer of the Year 2006
Robin Fairfull-Smith helped implement, and was the main player, in keeping ESS going in Moshi, Tanzania. He also volunteers for another organization who has a clinic in Tanzania, and supports the work of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons in Guyana.
Elaine Gibson
Volunteer of the Year 2005
Elaine Gibson, professional editor, prepared the CNIS Non-Violent Conflict-Resolution manuals and has continued to be a great asset to CNIS in its publication program. Elaine's husband, Ted Marchant, has also been a great assistance with editing for CNIS.
Damon Ramsey
Volunteer of the Year 2004
Damon Ramsey, a high school student at the time, upgraded and managed the CNIS website, and also volunteered in many areas around the office. Damon is now a general surgery resident at UBC and plans to fully dedicate himself towards global health equity and better access to surgical care.
Elizabeth Roath
Volunteer of the Year 2003
Elizabeth is an expert on equipment management, who organized a gift of more than $100,000 of surgical instruments in preparation for use by CNIS for its skills courses and also for donation to our partners in Africa.
Addy Kgomo
Volunteer of the Year 2002
Addy filled the role of Event Coordinator, implemented a filing system, helped link CNIS to the African community of Vancouver and assisted with other projects around the office.
Joan Jamieson
Volunteer of the Year 2001
Joan Jamieson upgraded the Library Project to be responsive to the requests of our African partners. She also served on the Board of CNIS and was a volunteer Treasurer for many years. Her support in the early years of CNIS was instrumental in our future success.
Robert Taylor
Volunteer of the Year 2000
Robert Taylor is still known as "Our man in Malawi". His efforts on the ESS program have been continued for many years in Malawi. Since then he has been very active with CNIS in the preparation of several structured skills curriculum.
Fikre Germa
Volunteer of the Year 1999
Fikre Germa organized the collection of used medical and surgical texts, as well as journals, which were shipped to surgical libraries in Africa. This project was the forerunner of the CNIS African Program Information Initiatives.
Glenn Lett
Volunteer of the Year 1997
Glen Lett was one of the original supporters of CNIS, who organized and implemented a system to collect coin contributions at confectioneries and supermarkets in Alberta when money was very short.