Celebrating Excellence: Meet CHPCA’s 25 Coronation Medal Nominees, Part 1

In January, CHPCA was proud to announce the 25 Coronation Medal recipients we nominated for their dedication and contributions to hospice palliative care in Canada. To celebrate each recipient’s achievements, and thanks to the support of the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, we want to help you get to know a little more about each of them. Learn more about the recipients from Atlantic Canada and Ontario by reading their bios below!

For the recipients in Quebec, the Prairies, and Western Canada, see part 2 of this blog post here!

Newfoundland and Labrador

Dr. John Campbell

Dr. John Campbell is a family and ER physician in Newfoundland and Labrador with over 20 years experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria, a medical degree from Memorial University, and a Master of Clinical Science from the University of Western Ontario. As a founding board member of Lionel Kelland Hospice, the province’s first residential hospice, his efforts were instrumental in bringing the project to life in 2024. His journey in palliative care was inspired by his mother’s work as a palliative care coordinator and his experiences volunteering at Victoria Hospice.

 

Prince Edward Island

Susan Doucette

Susan Doucette is a dedicated palliative care professional with a nursing diploma (1994) and a certification in palliative care from CNA. Her passion for supporting individuals with life-limiting diagnoses led her to roles in home care, palliative care coordination, and education. She has been instrumental in developing training modules and facilitating orientation for healthcare professionals, including through the Integrated Provincial Palliative Program, ensuring quality care across PEI. A LEAP facilitator and collaborator with the provincial hospice association, Sue empowers patients and supports caregivers, driven by her commitment to making every moment count for those on their palliative journey.

 

Nova Scotia

Ann Forgeron-Cosgrove

Ann Forgeron-Cosgrove is a celebrated educator, and champion for community well-being and compassionate care. Her many contributions to non-profits include serving as the inaugural Executive Director of Pier 21, now Canada’s Museum of Immigration, and leading the creation of the Bella Rose Centre of the Arts. Most recently, as Board President of the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association, Ann advanced culturally and linguistically inclusive hospice palliative care services in the province. Her efforts were also instrumental in securing funding to develop and implement Grief, Bereavement, and Wellness programs in response to the Mass Casualty Commission Report in Nova Scotia.

 

Serena Lewis

Serena Lewis, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW, brings over 20 years of experience across health, long-term care, education, corrections, and non-profit sectors. A facilitator and international speaker, she champions awareness of death, dying, and grief, emphasizing evidence-informed progress through a two-eyed seeing approach. Passionate about intersectionality and improving grief literacy, Serena advocates for compassionate, thought-provoking dialogue. She was a strong proponent for improving grief and bereavement support in Nova Scotia after the 2020 mass casualty event. Dedicated to sustainable change, Serena combines professional expertise with a personal commitment to meaningful conversations. She has two sons and a Bernese Mountain dog.

 

New Brunswick

Dr. Pamela Mansfield

Dr. Pamela Mansfield is a palliative medicine physician in Moncton. Trained at Dalhousie University, she completed her family medicine residency in Moncton and specialized in palliative medicine in Halifax. She has spent the last 17 years as a palliative consultant supporting patients wherever they are, be it in homes, nursing homes, or hospital. Dr. Mansfield also teaches medical students and residents and advocates for accessible palliative care through the New Brunswick Hospice Palliative Care Association. She is dedicated to improving palliative care education for healthcare providers and volunteers across New Brunswick.

 

Ontario

Dr. Darren Cargill

Dr. Darren Cargill is a Windsor-based family physician specializing in palliative medicine. He practiced as Medical Director at the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County for 16 years and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine. Appointed Provincial Clinical Co-Lead for the Ontario Palliative Care Network in 2020, Dr. Cargill is a passionate advocate who led “Dan’s Law,” eliminating the 3-month wait for OHIP coverage for palliative patients. A Certified Hospice Medical Director and Canadian Physician Executive, he balances his award-winning career with family life, travel, and supporting his son’s hockey and lacrosse pursuits.

 

Dr. James Downar

Dr. James Downar is a Critical Care and Palliative Care physician in Ottawa and Head of the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Ottawa, where he holds a Clinical Research Chair in Palliative and End-of-Life Care. He is President of the Canadian Critical Care Society, co-chair of the Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaborative, and an adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology. With over 150 peer-reviewed publications, his expertise spans communication, decision-making, grief, medical aid in dying, and treatment of existential distress. An award-winning leader, Dr. Downar advocates for improved care in critical and end-of-life settings.

 

Tracey Human

Tracey Human is a dedicated palliative care advocate with 42 years of experience spanning frontline care, leadership, and system-level capacity building. As Director of Toronto’s Palliative Care, Pain & Symptom Management Consultation Service for 15 years, she has advanced palliative care and chaired the provincial Intellectual and Developmental Disability Palliative Care Committee. Tracey contributed to the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework and mentors care providers internationally in the Congo and China. Her expertise in knowledge-to-action and empathy inspires care providers across Ontario, enhancing support for individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses.

 

Christopher Klinger

Christopher A. Klinger, PhD, is an Assistant Professor (Part-Time) at McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine and a Sessional Instructor in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto. He chairs the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly’s (NICE) End-of-Life Issues Theme Team and co-chairs the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada’s Research and Knowledge Translation Committee. A dedicated advocate and educator in palliative care, he has co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed articles, 3 book chapters, and numerous reports. Passionate about quality end-of-life care, Dr. Klinger mentors students and contributes extensively to research and knowledge translation in the field.

 

Vivian Papaiz

Vivian Papaiz is the Associate Dean for the School of Health Sciences at Canadore College, overseeing nursing programs in partnership with Nipissing University. A registered nurse with extensive leadership experience, she has served as the national palliative care lead for VON Canada and held key governance roles in hospice palliative care. Currently Past-President of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, Vivian is also a past chair of Hospice Palliative Care Ontario and Nipissing Serenity Hospice. With a doctorate in Educational Sustainability focused on palliative care nursing, she is passionate about advancing palliative care education and enhancing student experiences in health sciences.

 

Holly Prince

Holly Prince, Ph.D., is an Anishinaabekwe, a member of Opwaaganisiniing, and a nationally recognized leader in Indigenous health and palliative care. With a Master’s in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Educational Studies, her research focuses on decolonial education and health equity for Indigenous peoples. As the Lead for Indigenous People’s Health & Aging at Lakehead University’s Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health, Holly has championed culturally appropriate palliative care for over 20 years, engaging with 200+ Indigenous communities. She has received numerous awards, including the Denise Brooks Health Equity Champion Award and the International Palliative Care Innovator Award.

 

Rauni Salminen

Rauni Salminen is a pioneering leader in hospice palliative care, founding the Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care in 1995 and Emily’s House, Toronto’s first pediatric hospice, in 2013. An ordained minister with degrees in Education and Theological Studies, Rauni has extensive experience in palliative care, HIV support, spiritual counseling, and social services. She has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Dorothy Ley Award of Excellence and being awarded Member of Merit by the Order of St. Lazarus. Known for her visionary leadership, Rauni has advanced hospice care through advocacy, fundraising, and innovative responses, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Dr. Christina Vadeboncoeur

Dr. Vadeboncoeur is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa and Medical Director of Palliative Care at CHEO and Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice. She is a leader in pediatric palliative care advocacy, research, and education, serving on committees for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the International Children’s Palliative Care Network, and is a former Vice-Chair of the Canadian Network of Palliative Care for Children. She is an Associate Fellow of interRAI, an international network developing assessment tools for vulnerable populations, and collaborates on clinical and population data research in Ontario and Canada.

 

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A virtual ceremony honouring all 25 Coronation Medal recipients will be held on February 28, 2025 at 2:30PM EST (Click here to register to attend). Please join us in celebrating them for their invaluable contributions to strengthening quality hospice palliative care in Canada.

To learn more about the Coronation Medal recipients in Quebec, the Prairies, and Western Canada, see part 2 of this blog post here!