By Justin Faiola

Dr. Anna Jarvis, a retired staff physician in the Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), was presented with the University of West Indies (UWI) Vice Chancellor’s Award at the UWI Toronto Benefit Gala on March 29.

Dr. Anna Jarvis receives her Vice Chancellor’s Award from Professor E. Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor, The University of the West Indies.

Jarvis, who is a UWI alumna, is one of five recipients of the award, which is given to people of Caribbean heritage who have made significant contributions in Canadian organizations.

“The UWI was an integral part of my personal development,” said Jarvis. “Not only did I attend the UWI – Mona campus in Jamaica – I also lived on campus as my father taught at UWI for many years, and was the first West Indian to be appointed a professor and department head. I witnessed the creation and establishment of the institution as a whole, so to be honoured with this award is something very special.”

Jarvis became a staff member at SickKids in 1977 after four years of paediatric training at SickKids followed by paediatric oncology clinic and ward work at Princess Margaret Hospital. For 13 years, she supervised the Department of Paediatrics Clinical Fellowship Program in Paediatric Emergency Medicine, a program she was instrumental in creating and implementing. She also served as the Associate Dean Health Professions, Student Affairs, University of Toronto, in 2001-2009.

Jarvis has made major educational contributions to the creation and development of learning opportunities in Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM), Continuing Education and Life Support in Ontario and abroad. She supported the establishment of PEM and Paediatric Advanced Life Support Programs in Japan and mentors former trainees in the Middle East and other parts of the world as they develop PEM programs. She serves as External Examiner for UWI and Kuwait and also played an active role in the establishment and accreditation of PEM as an independent subspecialty by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Despite her retirement, Jarvis continues to work with SickKids, attending Grand Rounds regularly. She says her continued dedication to education and training is rooted in her experiences at UWI and SickKids.

“Being immersed in education and training at UWI and SickKids has taught me it is important to never give up your students. There are always ways to support them as they travel down new paths. I feel very lucky to have contributed to great changes in health care and health educational learning opportunities.”

The UWI Benefit Gala honours outstanding leaders of Canadian and Caribbean heritage and raises funds for the university scholarship fund. To date, almost 150 scholarships have been awarded to students in financial need. Please visit http://www.uwitorontogala.com/2014/ for more information.