Recognition Awards

DR. JO-ANN V. SAWATZKY, RN, BN, MN, PhD

Letter of Nomination

We are nominating Dr. Jo-Ann Sawatzky for the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nursing Research Excellence Award. Dr. Sawatzky has focused her nursing experience and research activities on women and cardiovascular health. Her PhD dissertation was titled The Relationship between Physical Activity and the Determinants of Cardiovascular Health in Healthy Midlife Women. She leads by example and is committed to activities that promote her own physical cardiovascular health.

Dr. Sawatzky has a wealth of practical clinical experience which is the foundation that serves to enable her to integrate clinical experience with research and academic knowledge. She has published numerous articles focusing on cardiovascular health in many professional journals including the Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. She is the recipient of various research grants. She disseminates her knowledge and research finding through scholarly presentations both nationally and internationally.

Currently as an Associate Professor the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Nursing, her teaching skills encourage student critical thinking and independent thought. She makes herself accessible to student requests and is very generous of her time. Dr. Sawatzky has been both a mentor and role model to numerous students and nurses throughout her nursing career. Her ability to motivate others to exceed their own expectations is exemplary.

Dr. Sawatzky demonstrates the objective of the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses. She consistently strives to promote, develop and facilitate ongoing professional nursing education in the cardiovascular field. She designs, leads, and conducts cardiovascular research. Dr. Sawatzky is well know as a nurse researcher by the Cardiac Sciences Program of Manitoba and is regarded as a part of our research team. She works collaboratively in a leadership role with members of our cardiovascular team in promoting nursing research in our program.

We, the nominating group, would like to recognize Dr. Sawatzky for her research and excellence. We sincerely hope that the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses agrees to share our recognition of this outstanding cardiovascular nurse researcher.

Susan Mertin.

Nominators: Estrellita Estrella-Holder, Susan Mertin, Francis LaBossiere