The Canadian College of Health Leaders and Johnson & Johnson MedTech are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 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!
Danielle Annamalai
University of Toronto
CJ Blennerhassett, RM, MHA
Dalhousie University
Emma Forest
University of Alberta
Sukhpreet Gill
University of British Columbia
Jade Jost
Université de Montréal
Cassandra Mayville-Fortin, CHE
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 3 luncheon during the 2024 CCHL National Conference.
About Our Recipients
Danielle Annamalai
University of Toronto
Danielle Annamalai received her Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2009, completing a residency program in Chiropractic Clinical Sciences in 2011. She holds a fellowship from the College of Chiropractic Sciences (Canada), where she currently serves on the Board of Directors. She has over ten years of clinical experience, having worked with interdisciplinary care teams in urban hospital settings in both Canada and the U.S. She has dedicated the last ten years of her career to advancing care for people with musculoskeletal disorders through research and knowledge translation in her role as research project manager at the Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
In 2022, Danielle enrolled in the MHSc Health Administration program at the Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto where she has had the opportunity to further develop her capacity as a health system leader. In 2024, Danielle began her current role within the Ontario Ministry of Health, informing policy that will shape system transformation and advance integrated care across the province. Danielle is passionate about solving the complex problems facing health care today and aims to continue her commitment to leading system-level change, improving the health and wellbeing of all people.
CJ Blennerhassett, RM, MHA
Dalhousie University
CJ Blennerhassett is a Registered Midwife with eight years of clinical practice providing primary care to hundreds of families, specializing in prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, and sexual and reproductive health. CJ will graduate in Spring 2024 with a Master of Health Administration from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS where they live. CJ is President of the Canadian Association of Midwives and within this role has represented Canadian healthcare on the international stage. As President, CJ works with midwifery, government, and health system leaders from all provinces and territories to advocate for the growth of midwifery and ultimately the increased access to improved outcomes for sexual, reproductive and newborn health. CJ is Vice President of the Association of Nova Scotia Midwives and has worked within the provincial government’s department of health and wellness in system integration and health services planning.
CJ is an experienced teacher and clinical preceptor and has extensive speaking experience across interprofessional audiences, appearing at conferences and conducting workshops about the provision of inclusive care for queer, transgender and non-binary patients. CJ strongly believes that the midwifery philosophy of informed choice is foundational to the provision of inclusive health care and that patients should be centered as experts in their own care. In addition to her leadership, administrative and clinical expertise CJ is a parent and avid reader. CJ is a volunteer firefighter with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency where she is proud to serve her community as a first responder.
Emma Forest
University of Alberta
Halfway through her Bachelor of Science in Biology, Emma Forest discovered a keen interest in and passion for the areas of substance use and mental health. While preparing for a research-focused career, she engaged in several diverse projects throughout her first degree. Additionally, Emma sought volunteer work through Alberta Health Services which provided the opportunity to interact with and to learn from members of a vulnerable population, and to create health promotion materials relevant to substance use and mental health. This dual motivation, blending professional drive with a heartfelt desire to aid those in need, shaped her journey. Introduced to public health in the final semester of her undergraduate degree, Emma’s path became clear.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) program equipped Emma with skills in program and policy evaluation, strategic planning, systems thinking, and person-centered design, which she eagerly anticipates applying in her future career. As the Vice President of the School of Public Health Students’ Association, Emma supported peers and organized events, including a mentorship program and student gala. Emma completed a practicum placement with the Alberta Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction where she supported planning for various community-based mental health and addiction programs and initiatives for children, youth, and young adults. Upon graduation, she aims to explore the world, continuously learn, and contribute to positive change, step by step.
Sukhpreet Gill
University of British Columbia
Sukhpreet entered the healthcare system passionate about health promotion and disease prevention. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2019. Following graduation, she started her career in public health where she engaged in numerous community events to spread knowledge about healthy behaviours. Through her work in various positions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sukhpreet was introduced to the complexities inherent in healthcare delivery. This experience motivated Sukhpreet to enrol in the Master of Health Administration (MHA) at the University of British Columbia.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Sukhpreet pivoted to a role in the community and primary care sector where she has been able to apply the learnings from the MHA program to her work in improving access and delivering primary and urgent care services. Set to graduate in Spring 2024, Sukhpreet looks forward to leveraging the tools and skills honed through the MHA to make a meaningful impact on patient care and the healthcare system.
Jade Jost
Université de Montréal
Jade graduated from the Université de Montréal with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2018. Since graduating, she has worked as a registered nurse in the emergency department of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Her commitment extends beyond patient care; for four years, Jade actively participated in the Comité de la Relève Infirmière at the MUHC. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, she served as the committee’s president for two years, advocating for nurses with less than five years of experience. Jade’s initiatives focused on providing crucial support and representation for young nurses, creating a nurturing environment of community and professional engagement. She was also part of the flow committee of the emergency department.
Jade’s motivation of enhancing hospital fluidity and access to care led her to embark on a master’s degree in health administration at the Université de Montréal. Throughout her academic endeavors, she cultivated a keen interest in innovation and technology, recognizing their potential within the healthcare sector. Driven by an unwavering dedication to fostering positive change in healthcare, Jade envisions contributing to the ongoing transformations of the health system.
Cassandra Mayville-Fortin, CHE
University of Ottawa
Cassandra Mayville-Fortin completed her BSc with honors in biomedical science in 2013 and her BSN in 2015. She worked as a registered nurse at The Ottawa Hospital primarily in the emergency department for 7 years. Driven by the need to invoke continuous quality improvement within our healthcare system, Cassandra went on to complete her Master of Health Administration at the University of Ottawa. During her residency at Cornwall Community Hospital, she worked with the Great River Ontario Health Team to address the Health Human Resource Challenges of the region. Cassandra was awarded the Michel Lalonde MHA Scholarship from the Telfer School of Management.
Today Cassandra works at Kemptville District Hospital as the Manager of Emergency, Care Quality, and Education. Included in her role, she facilitates education for staff, works on quality improvement projects, is leading accreditation, and manages IPAC, clinical scholars, and patient relations. Cassandra has a passion for quality improvement, patient and family centered care, and ongoing learning.
