Professor Lia Sanzone is the epitome of supportive leadership in McGill University’s Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN). From her role as Director of the B.Sc. (N.) program, to her work on integrating Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) in the nursing curriculum, to her supervision of the Nursing Peer Mentorship Program (NPMP), Prof. Sanzone strives to prepare students for a smooth transition into the nursing profession. Her engagement with the IBL pedagogy enhances the learning experience for hundreds of students by providing opportunities to practice communication and critical thinking in a safe environment which improves students’ confidence in the transition to professional practice. Under Prof. Sanzone’s direction, the NPMP program has flourished and hosted multiple interprofessional events for students including French Language and ASL workshops, peer support discussions, and nursing theory review sessions. Her endless support for student initiatives has fostered a community of professional and peer support that reaches far beyond the walls of any classroom. Prof. Sanzone is not only the heart of peer mentorship initiatives at ISoN; she also advances knowledge with her research on the value of mentorship and peer learning to support new nursing graduates across professional settings. Suffice to say, Prof. Lia Sanzone is a deserving candidate for the Torch Award as she continues to light the way to healthy and supportive nursing experiences for students and new graduates alike.

NOMINATOR: Cristina Burnett
LETTER OF SUPPORT: Richard Drew

Christopher Picard has shown his commitment to education, research and professional advancement through numerous venues such as journal submissions, research and teaching within the department. He is engaged, committed and inspired to push nursing and our profession forward. He displays his commitment to his own learning and education by instructing Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Mental Health First Aid, and Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS). This gives Chris the freedom and advantage to teach others. Chris has brought to our department numerous new challenges and learning opportunities such as nurse initiated peripheral ultrasound guided intravenous insertion, CPR feedback devices, and high-fidelity simulation. Each new protocol or learning opportunity presented by Chris is always backed with the best evidence-based information, or from research he is a part of. Outside the department, Chris sits on numerous boards and research teams and introduced ground-breaking research surrounding at home smart devices assisting with emergencies. His engaging personality and innovative spirit bring passion and enthusiasm to our department. Chris has presented both his own and collaborative research at numerous venues and has articles have been published in multiple academic journals. There is no better candidate for this award than Chris. He has accomplished so much in a small amount of time and he is someone to watch for as he will help drive us forward.