The Faculty of Health Sciences recently held the Dean's Awards at the Quadrangle of the Main Campus, in what turned out to be a short significant event one warm breezy July evening. Immersed within an atmosphere of strict seated social distancing rules and mask wearing, Dean Roberta Sammut presented awards to nine undergraduate students for their academic achievements: Christian Galea, Lynn Scicluna, Kamie Marie Grech, Jessica Caruana, Rebecca Mohnani, Francesca Xuereb, Hannah Gatt, Francesca Sammut, and Kirby Cutajar.
The award for the greatest academic improvement throughout the undergraduate programme was presented to Angele Vella. Voted by faculty students, Ms Adrienne Grech from the Department of Nursing was awarded the best academic for 2020-2021, while Ms Marthese Camilleri from the Department of Mental Health was voted best practice placement mentor. Students also voted in Ms Bernice Zarb as the best technical member of the faculty staff.
Dr Sammut presented a special mention award to Ms Eve Lowell for her selfless contribution to the efficient running of the reception area of the Faculty building, and beyond. She is the first point of contact, and many consider her an invaluable and irreplaceable link between visitors, academic, technical and support staff, and students. Her friendly, empathetic and yet professional demeanour represents the very nature of our identity as health care professionals.
Dr Sammut highlighted the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on staff and students, where institutions and individuals alike have faced and have overcome new challenges in their daily lives during the past sixteen months. She was proud of the faculty staff and students who took part in the vaccination programme, the COVID-19 helpline and the contact tracing effort. She was particularly proud of the drive all academic, administrative and technical members of the Faculty of Health Sciences shored up to ensure quality education to our students.
Professor Charmaine Gauci was the honoured guest of the evening. She commented with some degree of nostalgia and sadness on the sheer silence at the Qaudrangle and the University open spaces, where up until several months before they were bustling with students interacting socially and going about their business. She acknowledged the difficulties everyone endured and outlined how online teaching was a successful way of prevailing under difficult circumstances.
Professor Gauci said she was convinced that difficult and informed decisions taken by health professionals, academics and students will enable all to help the citizen live healthily through any national health crisis. She congratulated the awardees for their achievements and reminded all that the patient is the centre of our care.
A clip from the evening may be viewed below:
