Every year the global health office recognizes and awards global health leadership at Dalhousie through our global health awards: the Dr Ronald Stewart Student Award, the Dr John Savage Memorial Faculty Award, and the Dr Jock Murray Resident Award. These awards recognize an outstanding contribution to the global health community at Dalhousie through:
- demonstrated leadership in global health
- work experience with marginalized communities
- engagement in global health research
- mentorship in global health
- promotion, development and enhancement of global health at Dalhousie
We have so many members of our community (Faculty, Residents and Students) doing inspiring work and making global health a part of their personal and professional lives it is wonderful to have this opportunity to celebrate these achievements.
For 2014 we are thrilled to recognize a member of the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie who is doing important and inspiring work in global health through his involvement in the microresearch program.
Dr. Bob Bortolussi
Recipient of the 2014 Dr. John Savage Memorial Award for Faculty Leadership in Global Health

Shawna O’Hearn, Dr. Noni MacDonald, Dr. Bob Bortolussi, Dr. John LeBlanc
The Dr. John Savage Memorial Award for Faculty Leadership in Global Health recognizes an outstanding humanitarian contribution to global health by a Dalhousie Medical School faculty member. It is named for Dr. Savage who was a former mayor of Dartmouth, premier of Nova Scotia and a family physician. Dr. Savage was also a champion of the need to promote healthy communities worldwide and had a long-standing commitment to global health projects in Africa with the Nova Scotia Gambia Association (NSGA). Dr. Savage also served on the advisory committee to the Global Health Office at Dalhousie University.

Shawna O’Hearn recounting the many achievements of Dr. Bortolussi
This award honours Dr. Bortolussi’s long and notable career as a paediatric clinical scientist and professor. He is described as a man who
has given unstintingly of his time both in Canada and in East Africa and has made this the major focus of his career…his contributions and collaborations with Canadian and African colleagues will have a lasting impact on global health research.
Dr. Bortolussi has been a mentor to countless clinicians and researchers and has developed resources to advance health research at Dalhousie and beyond. He spent a 3 month sabbatical at Makerere University in Uganda where he facilitated workshops on research methods. In collaboration with Dr. Noni MacDonald, he worked with faculty and students to develop innovate approaches to research for health care professionals at district and village levels. From this the concept of “micro research” was born.

Dr. Bortolussi addressing the crowd and discussing the origins or the Microresearch Program
Its aim is to mentor young researchers, especially those who might otherwise have no chance for research training, to investigate the questions that are locally relevant to their practice. This work has been well received and has resulted in dozens of graduates of the program. The partnerships have expanded to Kenya and Tanzania strengthening Dalhousie’s international presence in East Africa.
Bob is also one of the leaders working to grow a collective vision of global health at the IWK. His collaborative approach to working with residents, staff, faculty and researchers will help global health grow at the IWK and Dalhousie.

Dr. Ron Stewart congratulating Dr. Bob Bortolussi

Dr. Ron Stewart presenting Dr. Bob Bortolussi with the Dr. John Savage Memorial Award for Faculty Leadership in Global Health
Congratulations to Dr. Bortolussi! Look for the 2015 Call for Nominations coming again in January.
To read more about this award please visit our Dr. John Savage Memorial Award page.
To read more about Microresearch please visit their website.
Next up, our student award winner!
Congratulations! Wonderful to hear of all the good work you’ve done and continue to do. All the best.
Congratulations! Wishing you health, happiness and continued success.