Top row (L-R): Dr. Patricia Birk, Dr. Tracie Afifi, Dr. Melanie Morris, Dr. Janice Ristock. Second row: Melanie MacKinnon, Dr. Tina Chen, Dr. Joanne Embree.
Seven professors named Most Powerful Women in Canada
A record seven professors at UM have been named among Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2021, by Women’s Executive Network (WXN).
Launched in 2003, WXN is Canada’s national organization that propels and celebrates the advancement of women at all levels, in all sectors and of all ages. The winners range from rising stars to top of their fields to advocates to champions for others to community leaders to teachers and students. The 2021 winners will be celebrated virtually from November 24 to 25.
Read about these inspiring and accomplished women:
- Tracie Afifi (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences), a professor and Canada Research Chair in Childhood Adversity and Resilience – winner in the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders category
- Patricia Birk, head of the department of pediatrics and child health (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences) who is focused on addressing inequities in care and leading systemic changes – winner in the Intact Professionals category
- Tina Chen, a Distinguished Professor of history (Faculty of Arts) and a champion of equity, diversity and inclusion – winner in the Intact Professionals category
- Joanne Embree, a professor of pediatrics and child health (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences) and a pioneer in the study of childhood infectious disease – winner in the CIBC Executive Leaders category
- Melanie MacKinnon, head of Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences), whose patient-centered and culturally safe approach to health program design and delivery has modernized the outreach medical model – winner in the Intact Professionals category
- Melanie Morris (Rady Faculty of Health Sciences), the first Indigenous pediatric surgeon in Canada who has created a minimally invasive program of pediatric urology – winner in the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leader category
- Janice Ristock (Faculty of Arts), a professor of women and gender studies and the former UM Provost and Vice-President – winner in the CIBC Executive Leaders category
CIBC Executive Leaders category recognizes women who not only exemplify what it means to be a great leader, but also build confidence and champion others.
Intact Professionals category recognizes women who are professionals in practice and play a leadership role within their organizations.
Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders category recognizes women who have been targeted for successive leadership positions within their organizations and have a proven passion for learning and innovation.
These seven winners join 20 previous UM recipients named Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 since the awards began.
Research at the University of Manitoba is partially supported by funding from the Government of Canada Research Support Fund.