Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) supervisor, Rob Devitt, was recently recognized for his long-standing dedication to mentorship in the field of healthcare management.
Devitt was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Masters of Health Administration Alumni Association (MHAAA) Preceptors Award from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. This annual award recognizes residency preceptors for their excellence in providing meaningful field placement experiences, as well as mentoring students of the Masters of Health Administration (MHA) Program.
“As an alumnus of the Masters of Health Administration Program, I am honoured to receive this recognition from my peers,” Devitt said in a press release.
“As a residency preceptor I was given a tremendous opportunity to guide future healthcare administrators with knowledge and real-world experiences within the hospital and community.”
In order to be eligible for this award, candidates must have been a preceptor or a field project supervisor in the last five years and demonstrate how they have strengthened their organization’s commitment to MHA residents and culture of support. Annually the MHAAA Board invites an awarding committee to vet all qualified candidates against the ‘4 Pillars of Preceptor Excellence’ which include: number of students hosted; years of participation as a preceptor; overall engagement in the Masters of Health Administration Program, beyond the residency experience; and student satisfaction with the residency experience.
The MHA Program is designed to prepare ethical and socially responsible professionals to assume management and leadership positions in the changing health service system primarily in Canada as well as internationally.
As part of the MHA Program, students are required to complete a four month administrative residency and field project in collaboration with partner hospitals and healthcare organizations across the province of Ontario and beyond.
During his tenure as president and CEO at Michael Garron Hospital (formerly Toronto East General Hospital), Queensway-Carlton Hospital and Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Devitt oversaw residency students and provided them with a robust experience beyond the hospital walls.
“Rob always offered his residency students opportunities to experience the breadth of his organization, both internally and externally, from Board meetings to collaboration with government and community organizations,” stated Brian Malcolmson, MHA Program Executive in Residence, Telfer School of Management.
“He’s an individual of great knowledge and always takes into account each student’s goals and aspirations.”
Devitt’s engagement in the MHA Program went well beyond the residency experience, often spending time to support the program on his own accord through participation in Telfer School of Management events and educational sessions.
His commitment to the program was further demonstrated with the establishment of the Michael Garron Hospital MHA Scholarship – initiated by a previous award that he was bestowed with – the Canadian College of Health Leaders Mentorship Award – for his commitment to the education of the next generation of health leaders and subsequently added to from funds generously donated by those wishing to honour Rob in his retirement.
This scholarship is used to award University of Ottawa MHA students who have demonstrated innovative health solutions to practical problems encountered during their residency placement. Deserving students, who have completed their residency, are granted $1,000 scholarships annually at the MHA Field Project Presentation Day.
The Masters of Health Administration Alumni Association (MHAAA) Preceptors Award was presented at the MHAAA Annual General Meeting on January 17, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario.
– File photo
