National nursing body honours two Faculty of Nursing researchers

Two Faculty of Nursing researchers from the University of Calgary were honoured with prestigious Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) awards at this year’s biennial conference, held in late June in Saint John, N.B.

Associate professor Shahirose Premji, who is also an adjunct associate professor with the Department of Community Health Sciences, was honoured with the Jeanne Mance Award, named for one of Canada’s most inspirational nurses.

Premji is a clinical researcher, former neonatal nurse practitioner and public health nurse. She has more than 25 years of experience in newborn health and has practised clinically or provided technical expertise in countries such as Australia, China, Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan and Syria. In March 2016, Premji also received the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta’s (CARNA) Centennial Award.

Kathryn King-Shier, Guru Nanak Dev Ji DIL (Heart) Research Chair, received the CNA’s Order of Merit for Nursing Research, recognizing her sustained program of research, funding and sharing of her expertise and knowledge.

King-Shier is at the forefront of cardiovascular disease and ethnicity research. She has been working with ethnic communities in Calgary and across the country for more than 13 years with a program of research focused on the ethno-cultural and gender differences in cardiovascular disease symptoms, access to care and prevention activities.

As a member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health, King-Shier has received multiple awards including the Canadian Association of Schools of Excellence in Nursing Research Award in 2012 and CARNA’s Nursing Excellence in Research Award (2004).

Marlene Smadu, a UCalgary honorary degree recipient (2013), received CNA’s Order of Merit for Nursing Policy at this year’s ceremony.

This story also appeared in the June 28, 2016 issue of UToday.