The Canadian College of Health Leaders and Johnson & Johnson MedTech are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Robert Wood Johnson Awards. Established in 1956, the Robert Wood Johnson Awards are presented to students from six Canadian universities offering a Master of Health Administration. Recipients are selected by their respective faculty for their individual achievements and promising contributions to health services management.
Congratulations to our award recipients!
Clara Ho
University of Toronto
Amelia Hartnett
Dalhousie University
Evita Molino
University of Alberta
Yaara Nouri
University of British Columbia
Fatoumata Banel Thiam
Université de Montréal
Alison Reid
University of Ottawa
These awards, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson MedTech, are part of the CCHL National Awards Program and will be presented at the June 16 luncheon during the 2025 CCHL National Conference.
About Our Recipients
Clara Ho
University of Toronto
Clara Ho is a values-based healthcare leader and social worker with a decade of experience driving strategic advancements in patient- and family-centered care. Her commitment to authentic partnerships, health equity, and organizational excellence has demonstrably shaped patient and family engagement practices across the hospital sector in Ontario.
In her current role as Manager, Patient Engagement at Michael Garron Hospital, Clara co-designs and implements strategic initiatives in partnership with patients and their caregivers that enhance the care experience for the diverse Toronto East community. Prior to this, at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital as Manager, Client and Family-Centered Care and Partnerships, Clara spearheaded the award-winning Family Leadership Program, empowering over 120 Family Leaders as integral lived experience partners in hospital governance, service design, policy development, and research projects. Passionate about creating equitable pathways to care, she led the design of an inclusive peer support program for families living with complex medical needs, launched an accessible emergency transportation fund, and co-developed a new social needs screening tool to support determinants of health. At North York General Hospital, Clara co-led the development and implementation of a three-year Patient- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) strategic framework and maturity model, significantly advancing the hospital’s approach to patient engagement.
Clara’s dedication to advancing healthcare extends beyond her professional roles to her impactful academic work. As a sessional instructor at University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, she equips the next generation of social workers with key knowledge and skills in human services management and leadership. She has been a preceptor and supervisor for Master of Social Work students in leadership placements. Additionally, she has designed and facilitated numerous professional development programs and workshops, including the “Teaching & Facilitation Course for Family as Faculty” which was recognized as a 2021 Leading Practice by Health Standards Organization of Canada.
Driven by a deep commitment to fostering meaningful connections and ensuring accessible healthcare for all, Clara strives to build a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system that is co-designed with patients, families, and their caregivers.
Amelia Hartnett
Dalhousie University
Amelia Hartnett earned her Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Physiology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2022. During her time there, she was a four-year student-athlete on the Women’s Volleyball team and held leadership roles throughout her college years. Amelia served as the principal investigator for two research projects, presenting her findings at various conferences, and earned runner-up honors at the 2022 Embry-Riddle Discovery Day conference. She also worked as a peer tutor and mentor for fellow student-athletes and volunteered at the AdvantHealth Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After graduating, Amelia took a year to work as a substitute teacher and recruitment coordinator for the Department of Tourism, Heritage, and Culture in New Brunswick. During this time, her passion for healthcare and leadership was solidified. When she discovered the Master’s in Health Administration program at Dalhousie University, she knew it was the perfect fit for her.
Amelia is set to graduate with her MHA in Spring 2025. She was nominated by her peers as the cohort representative and co-chaired both the gala and student life committees. She also played for the Dalhousie Women’s Volleyball team in 2023-2024. Amelia now works as a Senior Policy Analyst with Nova Scotia Health in the Integrated Acute and Episodic Care Network. She is excited to begin her career, continue learning, and make a meaningful impact in healthcare.
Evita Molino
University of Alberta
Evita graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. During her studies, she volunteered with Bear Necessities Calgary, where she gained deeper insight into the complex factors contributing to homelessness, particularly the roles of affordable housing and mental health. After graduation, she worked as a Medical Office Assistant in a multidisciplinary clinic, where she observed how limited resources impacted patients’ ability to continue treatment. These experiences reinforced her belief that addressing the intersections of affordability and accessibility in healthcare is crucial for developing effective public health policies.
Driven by her passion for improving healthcare affordability and accessibility, Evita pursued a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management with a Graduate Embedded Certificate in Health Economic Evaluation at the University of Alberta. This program equipped her with skills in policy development, program evaluation, strategic planning, and systems thinking. She developed a particular focus on leveraging fair, evidence-informed decision-making to improve healthcare systems. Evita was also an active member of her school community, serving as the Health Policy and Management Director for the School of Public Health Students’ Association and as a Committee Member for the Diversity, Inclusion, and Action Group. These roles provided her with valuable leadership and advocacy experience, which she plans to apply in addressing the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations. She looks forward to continuing her commitment to advancing public health initiatives that reduce disparities and promote equitable access to healthcare.
Yaara Nouri
University of British Columbia
Yaara Nouri is a healthcare professional with a diverse background in clinical care, public service, and health administration. Born and raised in Israel, she began her career as a speech therapist and audiologist, supporting patients with communication disorders and improving their quality of life. Her interest in healthcare systems grew while serving at the Embassy of Israel in Kenya, where she collaborated on public health initiatives and contributed to the COVID-19 response in East Africa.
After moving to Canada, Yaara shifted her focus from direct patient care to healthcare administration, recognizing the impact of policy, governance, and system-level decisions on health outcomes. She is pursuing a Master of Health Administration (MHA) at UBC while working at the BC Ministry of Health, where she contributes to health policy programs in primary care. She has developed a strong interest in aging services and eldercare policy, an area she continues to explore through research and professional engagement. Yaara looks forward to applying her experiences to support collaborative, patient-centered improvements in the healthcare system.
Fatoumata Banel Thiam
Université de Montréal
Arriving in Canada as an international student, Fatoumata Banel Thiam initially pursued a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. This academic background strengthened her scientific rigor, but her desire to have a direct impact on patients’ lives led her to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Now a nurse clinician in obstetrics at CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, she is actively involved in improving the quality of care and plays a key role in mentoring new nurses, thus contributing to the development of the next generation. Her inspiring leadership and ability to foster a collaborative environment make her an invaluable asset to her team.
Aware of the growing challenges facing Quebec’s healthcare system, Banel chose to pursue a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration, with a specialization in Healthcare System Management, at the Université de Montréal. Her goal is to enhance the experience of both patients and healthcare professionals by optimizing resource management and promoting innovative approaches to care organization. Throughout her academic journey, she has continuously strengthened her leadership skills, both in the classroom and through group work, where she has successfully brought her colleagues together around common goals. Banel remains steadfastly committed to her mission of continuously improving Quebec’s healthcare system, always placing the experiences of patients and professionals at the heart of her work.
Alison Reid
University of Ottawa
Alison completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Concordia University in 2015 and her Master of Health Sciences in Physiotherapy at the University of Ottawa in 2017. She worked as a Registered Physiotherapist and Certified Respiratory Educator at Somerset West Community Health Centre for over six years providing community based pulmonary rehabilitation. This work provided an unfiltered view of the realities and challenges of our current healthcare system, particularly for underserved, vulnerable communities. It fueled her desire to make a larger impact and to be involved in healthcare system optimization across the care continuum and motivated her to pursue a Master of Health Administration at the University of Ottawa. Alison’s administrative residency at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute centered on developing a cardiovascular disease primary prevention strategy for the organization, adopting a population health and social determinants of health lens. She was the recipient of the Michael Garron Hospital MHA Award for this work.
Today, Alison works for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit as a Health Promotion Specialist combining her clinical expertise in community health and comprehensive health promotion with her passion for driving system-level change and improving the health and well-being of all people.
