At Homecoming, Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick made an incredible gift of $5 million to the University of Manitoba in support of new, state-of-the-art dental clinics in the five-storey building, which was named in their honour. The Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick Centre is supported by $40 million of funding from the provincial government and will be home to Ongomiizwin, new classrooms for medical students, the dental clinics and a child-care centre.

We continue working together with the Manitoba government to address health workforce shortages and meet the needs of patients across the province. Thank you all, faculty and staff, for your immense amount of effort dealing with this rapid pace of growth over the last two years, and ensuring that it’s been successful and will be sustainable going forward.

Thank you for the exceptional dedication to teaching, research and service. I wish everyone a joyous and restful holiday season and a happy new year.

College of Nursing dean Dr. Netha Dyck and associate dean (graduate programs) Dr. Donna Martin were  inducted as fellows in the Canadian Academy of Nursing.

In a virtual ceremony Oct. 15, Martin was one of 38 fellows inducted in the second annual class of fellows to be named since the academy was established in 2019. The inaugural class was announced in September 2020 at which Dyck was inducted.

Martin said she is honoured to be among the esteemed company, which includes many researchers that she has cited in her own work.

“This is going to be a great opportunity for me to learn from these individuals and decide how best we can, as a collective group, mentor upcoming fellows and new nurses,” Martin said.

Martin began her nursing career in 1976 when she became a registered nurse through the Health Sciences Centre. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from UM in 1991 and 1997 respectively, and a PhD from University of British Columbia in 2006.

While working on her master’s degree, she began researching the quality of work life for outpost nurses in northern Manitoba, and became passionate about social justice, health equity and providing better health-care services to First Nations communities.

Martin currently serves as a co-principal investigator on a study funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research looking at the perspectives of Little Saskatchewan First Nation youth impacted by a 2011 human-made flood that was the result of water being diverted from Winnipeg to 17 First Nations communities.

“Eight years of displacement created profound disruption in all facets of the youth’s lives. They wanted to have a voice at the decision-making table about land, water and human management,” Martin said. “The study’s findings align with CNA’s dedication to cultural safe nursing practice and the disruption of racism.” 

Dyck congratulated Martin on the accomplishment, noting the fellowship represents the highest honour for Canada’s nursing leaders.

“We’re so proud of Donna’s exemplary leadership in the delivery of master’s and doctoral education and preparing exceptional nurse leaders,” she said. “We also celebrate her remarkable contributions to nursing research, policy and advocacy.”

An alumna of the UM nursing program, Dyck is an acclaimed leader in nursing administration and education. She has earned awards from provincial, national and international bodies, including the Ethel Johns Award from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing in 2016.

Prior to her appointment as dean in 2018, she spent almost 13 years as dean of the School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon. She was also director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s personal care home program from 1998 to 2005.

Dyck was one of 46 fellows inducted in the academy’s inaugural class last year.

“It was a real honour to be named an inaugural Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Nursing. It has been such a privilege to work with and learn from inspiring leaders and colleagues throughout my dynamic career in leadership in both health care and education,” she said.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years,” says associate professor Judith Scanlan [BN/67, M.Ed./83, PhD/96], former associate dean, graduate programs, who has been teaching at the college for 46 years and joined the full-time faculty in 1983. “We’ve come a long way.”

In 2000, the college introduced a second master’s program, enabling nurses to become nurse practitioners. And in 2013, it launched its current doctoral program.

As the leading provider of nursing graduate studies in the province, the college has produced about 540 graduates from these programs: 334 have earned a master of nursing, 198 have graduated as nurse practitioners, three received PhDs in cancer control, and six have completed doctorates in the current PhD program.    

With the college having passed its 40th anniversary of delivering graduate education, those who have been closely involved see it as a time to celebrate the resulting enhancement of the profession.

“Graduate education provides a platform for generating new knowledge through research,” says Dr. Netha Dyck [BN/88], dean of the College of Nursing. “It’s also a vehicle for knowledge translation, continuous quality improvement in nursing practice and nursing education, and the enhancement of leadership capabilities.”

Graduates who hold these advanced degrees have become senior leaders in academia, policy and practice settings, Dyck says. They have attained positions such as president of a university, dean of nursing, president of the Canadian Nurses Association and vice-president of the International Council of Nurses.

One master’s graduate whose leadership skills have been highly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic is Lanette Siragusa [BN/95, MN/08], chief nursing officer for Shared Health.

Dyck says she’d like to pay tribute to the visionary former leaders of the college whose efforts laid the groundwork for graduate studies.

Margaret Elder Hart [LLD/93], director of the School of Nursing from 1948 to 1972, obtained her doctorate in the United States and wrote her thesis on Needs and Resources for Graduate Education in Nursing in Canada. Hart submitted the first proposal for a master of nursing degree at UM in the 1960s, but it didn’t become a reality until 1980.

Scanlan suggests one reason that nursing research and scholarship were undervalued in the past: “People have thought of nursing as a technical profession,” she says. “But it’s very much a critical thinking profession.”

When Scanlan was associate dean, graduate programs from 2007 to 2012, she led a curriculum revision that streamlined the master of nursing program so that students now choose one of three areas of focus: administration, education or clinical practice.

Research shows that when clinical leaders hold graduate degrees, their staff report higher levels of satisfaction and their patients have better outcomes, Scanlan notes.

Dr. Donna Martin [BN/91, MN/97], the current associate dean, graduate programs, says a key purpose of the master’s program is to translate research into improved patient care. “Our graduates work with hospital teams or public health teams to question the status quo and bring more up-to-date research findings into practice.”

Martin is a 1997 graduate of the master’s program. For her thesis, she traveled to northern Manitoba to study the quality of work life of outpost nurses. “That stimulated my current program of research on Indigenous people’s health,” she says.   

Martin finds that the majority of nurses who pursue a master’s, and may continue to a PhD, are people with a high level of curiosity. “They’re Sherlock Holmes types, really interested in finding the truth and solving an issue. Most of our graduate students are practising nurses who study part-time. They’ve had experience in health care, and they can really focus on a topic that interests them.”

A current PhD candidate, Abeer Alraja [MN/11], got fired up when she attended an event for nurses where it seemed that those who were new to practice viewed bullying as an unavoidable part of nursing culture.  

“I realized that addressing bullying should start in nursing schools to prepare a new generation of nurses who do not accept bullying,” says Alraja, who was inspired to create an online educational tool for nursing students and nurses on workplace bullying.

Prior to the 2013 launch of the PhD program, any nurse who wanted to earn a doctorate had to pursue it at another UM college or faculty, or leave the province. One of the key benefits of now having the program, the professors say, is that it enables Manitoba nursing to “grow its own” experts, some of whom will join the UM faculty.

“It’s a way for us to have a succession plan at the college,” Martin says. “Globally, there is a nursing faculty shortage. Through mentorship, we’re preparing the next generation of faculty. It’s also important that we have continuity of knowledge of the Manitoba health-care system and Manitoba population.”

In 2017, Kendra Rieger [BN/05, PhD/17] became the first graduate of the new PhD program. “I would have been unable to relocate at this point in my life,” she said at the time. “It was wonderful to have the opportunity right here.” Rieger joined the faculty as an assistant professor and has now relocated to Trinity Western University.

Recently, the nurse practitioner program was among the first to receive national accreditation from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. The program is one of four to receive this distinction.  

Reflecting on the success of all the graduate programs, Scanlan says: “We’re attracting students and faculty from other provinces. We have a stellar reputation.”

Dyck says all aspects of the profession benefit from excellence in graduate education.

“A number of our graduates have been recognized for their delivery of innovative nursing education,” she says. “Many graduates are conducting important clinical research. Those who are in the health-care workforce are making a huge difference in care delivery. ‘Leadership’ is really the key word that captures the contributions that our graduates are making.”

What was the purpose of the International Council of Nurses 2019 Congress?

ND: With a theme of Beyond Healthcare to Health, the Congress served to celebrate nursing’s contributions over the 120 year history of ICN, as well as to discuss significant issues and trends that are impacting nursing throughout the world. There was discussion on issues such as nursing leadership in global health transformation, safe nursing staffing interventions, patient safety, advanced practice nursing, the widespread human trafficking and the need for expansion of primary health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a strong presence at the Congress with a compelling message regarding nursing’s role in global health leadership.

What was your involvement in this event?

ND: It was an honour to present at the 2019 ICN Congress. My presentation was focused on the purposes, components and benefits of a teaching portfolio in advancing the scholarship of teaching in nursing education. Teaching portfolios are increasingly being used around the world as a key strategy for faculty reflection on their teaching and learning practices, as well as improvement in teaching performance.

I also had the opportunity to moderate a concurrent session. It was inspiring to learn about innovative teaching methods in nursing education, from eight presenters coming from China, Taiwan, Singapore, United States, Oman, Japan and Australia.

CA: I presented a poster articulating the Rady Faculty Office of Interprofessional Collaboration’s (OIPC) innovative two-year inter-professional collaborative care (IPCC) curriculum that was implemented in September 2016 and involves health profession students in nine programs in the colleges of nursing, medicine, rehabilitation sciences, pharmacy and dentistry and dental hygiene.

College of Nursing dean Dr. Netha Dyck and College of Nursing professor and Rady Faculty vice-dean, education Dr. Christine Ateah at the International Council of Nurses 2019 Congress.

Did the event allow any opportunity to build relationships with other nursing educators around the world?

ND: The congress provided the unique opportunity to network with international nursing leaders and engage in discussion with our dynamic ICN president Annette Kennedy and chief executive officer Howard Catton. We discussed the opportunities for nursing leadership in transforming global health, as well as the growing excitement related to hosting the upcoming ICN Congress in Montreal in 2023.

CA: We were also honoured to participate in a reception hosted by the Canadian Nurses Association for the Canadian delegates on Canada Day.  The CNA president Dr. Claire Betker welcomed special guests- the high commissioner of Canada to Singapore, Lynn McDonald, as well Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, who strongly advocated for the re-establishment of a chief nursing officer position for Canada.

What were some of the other highlights?

ND: Another unique and gratifying experience was to meet with our Korean nursing colleagues and learn about the Korean Nurses Association’s nomination of two nurses for the Nobel Peace Prize. Marianne Stoger and Margaritha Pissarek dedicated more than 40 years of their lives to the selfless act of caring for patients with Hansen’s Disease and creating an environment of healing and hope.

CA: This was my first time attending the ICN Congress and meeting nursing colleagues from so many countries was remarkable. It is clear that despite the differences in our approaches to issues, there are far more similarities within our profession.

“A person who saves a life is a hero. A person who saves 100 lives is a nurse.” – ICN president Annette Kennedy

What do you hope to see come out of your visit to Singapore?

ND: Networking with colleagues from around the world aligned well with one of our initiatives within the College of Nursing. We are currently developing an international framework for engagement in international partnerships to promote and support collaboration in education and research. The congress provided a great opportunity to explore opportunities for collaboration and in some cases strengthen existing partnerships. Interestingly, the congress also served to strengthen collaboration with academic leaders and colleagues from Canada.

We hope the establishment of a chief nursing officer for Canada will come to fruition, as a result of the strong advocacy from the WHO and ICN. The congress also served to celebrate the contribution nurses make every day. A special quote from the ICN president summed up the sentiments: “A person who saves a life is a hero. A person who saves 100 lives is a nurse.”

We would also like to participate in the Nursing Now campaign and the nightingale challenge, providing leadership opportunities for nurses and midwives.

CA: I was pleased at the positive feedback and interest in the Rady Faculty’s approach to inter-professional education. I anticipate connecting with a number of international colleagues who expressed interest in developing similar approaches in their countries’ health professional education programming.

She’s not only grateful for her appointment, she’s happy to be home.

“I’m delighted to be back,” Dyck says. “I’ve been in leadership roles for most of my career, spanning clinical practice, education and professional associations.

“Although being dean was not how I envisioned my future when I started my career in perioperative and critical care nursing, I’m honoured to have this opportunity to prepare graduates who will be our future practitioners and leaders.”

Dyck grew up in Winkler, Man. After completing her diploma and bachelor’s degree in nursing in Winnipeg, she moved on to obtain her master’s in administration (with a concentration in health services) from Central Michigan University and her doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Calgary.

From 1998 to 2005, she was director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s personal care home program, overseeing the delivery of quality care at 39 facilities.

Prior to returning to the U of M, Dyck spent almost 13 years as dean of the School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon, overseeing 34 programs, 385 faculty and staff, more than 4,000 students and a $30-million budget.

That experience, she says, fully prepared her to take on her current role, which began in February.

Dyck says she is engaging her entire team of faculty and staff, along with students and community partners, in the development of a strong vision for the college. It will include incorporating best practices and leading-edge technologies in the delivery of student-centred education.

Her priorities also include enhancing simulation learning, advancing inter-professional education and collaborative practice, Indigenizing the curriculum, and offering international student and faculty exchanges.

“We will also support faculty and student engagement in research, and continue to build on the exceptional work done by our Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research,” says Dyck. “We want to expand our interdisciplinary and international collaborative research.

“We’re very excited that one of our professors, Dr. Roberta Woodgate, has been awarded a Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare. Through research, we’ll continue to contribute significantly to knowledge generation and knowledge transfer.”

During Dyck’s deanship at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Nursing, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary. It just so happens that the U of M’s College of Nursing will mark its 75th anniversary this fall, and Dyck is helping to guide the celebrations.

“At Saskatchewan Polytechnic we had 10 grads from the original class there to celebrate with us from across Canada and the U.S.,” she says. “It was so special to meet with those grads and hear about the invaluable contributions they made to the profession.

“Now we’re in the unique position here at the U of M to celebrate the 75th, and I’m really looking forward to honouring the accomplishments and contributions of our alumni.”

After just a few months back in Winnipeg, Dyck says she is well settled in at home and work.

Of course, having spent more than a decade in the rival province to the west means Dyck and her husband have endured their fair share of good-natured ribbing since returning.

“When you move to Saskatchewan, you have no option but to become Rider fans,” she laughs. “I think as long as we become Bomber and Jets fans once again, we’ll be OK.”