The many forms of excellence

Mentors. Advocates. Innovators. Steady hands. Culture builders. People who listen, lead, teach, inspire and challenge the status quo – all while finding meaningful ways to care for patients and support one another.  

These qualities and more define the recipients of this year’s Excellence in Professional Practice Awards. St. Joseph's Health Care London’s (St. Joseph’s) longstanding clinical excellence awards honour nursing, allied health professionals and support staff who embody St. Joseph's Mission, Vision and Values through exceptional leadership and patient care.  

Nominated by their peers and leaders, this year’s recipients were recognized for their outstanding contributions to clinical practice, leadership and teaching during an awards ceremony at Parkwood Institute on Oct. 7.

Each year, bursaries are also available to nursing and professional practice staff who wish to build on their knowledge and skills by pursuing continued education, made possible through generous donations to St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.

“We are deeply grateful for every professional on our teams, across every department and discipline,” said Amanda Thibeault, VP Patient Care and Chief Nurse Executive. “Working in health care does not come without its challenges, but you meet the needs of patients and families with skill, compassion and dedication. Your work makes a real difference, and we are truly thankful for the care and commitment you bring to everything you do.”  

Learn more about this year’s Excellence in Professional Practice Award recipients.

Excellence in Clinical Practice Awards

Jennifer Whitlock 
Excellence in Clinical Practice Award – Complex Care, Rehabilitation, Geriatrics

Jennifer Whitlock, a nurse on the Regional Geriatric Program's Outreach Team, is recognized for her clinical expertise, compassion and unwavering advocacy for older adults living at home. She was recognized with the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award for the exceptional standard of care she brings to every patient interaction.

Whether accurately assessing complex cognitive decline, coordinating interpreters and family members to gather a full picture of a patient's needs, or spending a week arranging a spot in a community day program - and another week adjusting the schedule to suit the family - Jennifer approaches each patient as if they were part of her own family. Colleagues describe her as an invaluable resource for newer nurses and a mentor who elevates the team around her.

"Jennifer possesses a remarkable talent for assessing and diagnosing issues and devising solutions, all with a smile and a contagious positive attitude," said her nominator.

Megan Beaudry 
Excellence in Clinical Practice Award – Mental Health Care

Megan Beaudry, an occupational therapist working in St. Joseph's Mental Health Care Program, is recognized for her ability to integrate complex physical and mental health needs into truly patient-centred care. She was awarded the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award for her holistic, advocacy-driven approach.

Megan's care extends well beyond her mental health specialty. She has supported patients with spinal cord injuries by ensuring safe equipment and transfers, connecting them with the outpatient Spinal Cord Injury team and introducing them to the fitness centre at Parkwood Intitute Main Building to promote long-term wellness. For a patient experiencing daily seizures, she coordinated wheelchair repairs, practiced safe floor transfers, arranged a joint home assessment with Ontario Health at Home and secured a protective safety helmet.  

"Her presence consistently brings optimism to the unit, and the patient visibly brightens when she arrives to support his care," said her nominator. "Megan is a remarkable asset to the team."

Adam Morse 
Excellence in Clinical Practice Award – Mental Health Care

Adam Morse, a registered nurse and Lead After Hours at Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care and Parkwood Institute, is recognized for the calm, trauma-informed leadership he brings to some of the most complex clinical situations at St. Joseph's. He was awarded the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award for his impact on patients, staff, and learners.

Adam is frequently called on to support staff through behavioural escalations and safety-sensitive situations, balancing clear clinical direction with mentorship and reflective debriefs that help teams learn from difficult moments. He is also a champion of interdisciplinary learning, intentionally connecting nursing students with programs, services and leadership so they leave their placement with a fuller understanding of the scope of forensic mental health care.

"His calm leadership style and willingness to support colleagues at all levels has made him a highly respected clinical resource across the organization," said his nominator. "He consistently promotes collaboration, professionalism and evidence-informed practice."

Excellence in Clinical Practice – Support Staff

Francesca Curcio
Excellence in Clinical Practice Award – Support Staff

Francesca Curcio, a clinical support clerk with the Transitional and Lifelong Care and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation programs, is recognized for her exceptional organizational skills, judgment, and commitment to patient and family-centred care. She is this year's recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award for support staff.

Joining the team during a period of significant transition, Francesca redesigned the patient scheduling process from the ground up, replacing multiple booking pathways with a centralized system that reduced scheduling gaps, improved clinic utilization and streamlined access to care. She has since brought that same collaborative, improvement-focused mindset to the Adult Wheelchair and Seating Program, where the processes she helped establish continue to benefit staff and patients.  

"Through her compassion, advocacy, and commitment to service excellence, Francesca enhances both the patient experience and the work environment, making a meaningful difference every day," said her nominator.

Excellence in Clinical Practice – Team or Group

Southwest Geriatric Psychiatry Ambulatory Clinic 
Excellence in Clinical Practice Award – Team or Group

The Southwest Geriatric Psychiatry Ambulatory Clinic (SWGPAC) is recognized for its work as a regional capacity-building hub, extending specialist geriatric psychiatry expertise into underserved and rural communities across Southwestern Ontario. The team is this year's recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award for a team or group.

The team's work spans evidence-based assessment, medication stewardship and deprescribing and structured partnerships with community and long-term care providers, helping to standardize care processes across geographically dispersed communities and improve equity of access for older adults.

"SWGPAC operates as a regional capacity-building and stabilization hub that strengthens system resilience through shared care, education and embedded collaboration," said the team's nominator. "It is a regional driver of evidence-based system transformation."

Excellence in Leadership Award

Reem Gray
Excellence in Leadership Award

Reem Gray, a nurse educator with the Palliative Care program at Parkwood Institute Main Building, is celebrated for her thoughtful leadership and dedication to advancing both patient care and staff wellbeing. She was recognized with the Excellence in Leadership Award for her ability to identify opportunities for improvement and see them through to sustained change.

In her role Reem has supported the implementation of a standardized role description and orientation package for unit leads, contributed to the development of a phlebotomy champion program and helped shape a new placement model for students from Western University.  She also leads reflective debriefs following end-of-life care and difficult family conversations,  acknowledging the emotional weight of the work and supporting the resilience of her team.

"Her genuine appreciation fosters a culture of respect, compassion, and excellence," said her nominator, "reinforcing the values of St. Joseph’s and contributing to a supportive and engaged team environment."

Excellence in Teaching and Coaching Award

Shannon McGuire 
Excellence in Teaching and Coaching Award

Physiotherapist Shannon McGuire is recognized for the passion, empathy and skill she brings to teaching learners at every stage of their careers. She was awarded the Excellence in Teaching and Coaching Award for her exceptional mentorship and the lasting impact she has on students, colleagues and patients.  

"Shannon has helped us become better clinicians, stronger teammates, more thoughtful family members and ultimately better people," said her nominator. "Her impact on those around her is powerful."