Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University
Dr. Victoria Smye, RN, PhD, FCAN, is an associate professor and director of the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at London’s Western University (2017-present). Her long-standing professional practice – primarily in the area of mental health (1970-1998) and also in her roles as a nurse educator/researcher/administrator in academia over the last two decades (2001-present) – have been underpinned by a belief that health equity is nursing’s social mandate for the 21st century. Through community-based, collaborative research, Victoria has contributed to the uptake of equity-oriented approaches in nursing education that include the concepts of cultural safety, trauma- and violence-informed care, harm reduction and relational practice. This work has helped to advance and support the graduation of nurses who will make a contribution to the transformation of the health and medical-care systems. Victoria is also involved in a full range of committee and board activities across Canada to contribute to the shaping of nursing education, provincially and nationally.
The Leadership Award in Nursing Education (Academic) is awarded to the RN or NP who practises excellence as a nursing educator in a college or university setting. This individual enhances the image of nursing by encouraging critical thinking, innovation and debate about important nursing issues, and acts as a role model and mentor in their work environment.
