Across Nova Scotia you’ll find incredible physicians who have dedicated their careers to improving the health and well-being of their patients.

This year, Doctors Nova Scotia recognized 10 physicians and one medical student for exemplary achievement.

Pictured above, from left to right: Dr. Doug Sinclair, RJ Roggeveen, Dr. Robert Merritt, Dr. Lynn Johnston, Dr. Andrew Lynk, Dr. Abir Hussein, Dr. Selene Etches and Dr. Andrea Faryniuk.

Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Andrew Lynk
Dr. Andrew Lynk received the Distinguished Service Award for being a local and national advocate for the well-being of children and families for more than 35 years. He has served as Chief of Pediatrics at both IWK Health Centre and Cape Breton Regional Hospital, as well as holding numerous national leadership roles. Through his leadership, Dr. Lynk has strengthened public health in Cape Breton, championed smoke-free communities and youth health centres across the island. “If there is one piece of advice I would give to younger leaders, it would be to confirm your guiding principles and seek out mentors who have ‘got stuff done,’” he said.

Community Family Physician of the Year: Dr. Abir Hussein
Yarmouth family physician Dr. Abir Hussein was awarded Community Family Physician of the Year for being an outstanding clinician, educator and mentor and a powerful advocate for improving access to care in her rural community. A long-time preceptor and former site director of the Southwest Nova Family Medicine Residency Program at Dalhousie, Dr. Hussein enjoys modelling clinical care and effective leadership to medical learners. She also led efforts to establish an interprofessional primary care clinic in Yarmouth.

Community Specialist of the Year: Dr. Andrea Faryniuk
Amherst general surgeon Dr. Andrea Faryniuk is the recipient of the Community Specialist of the Year Award for her exceptional dedication and leadership providing community-based healthcare for people in Cumberland County. As perioperative specialty site lead at Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Dr. Faryniuk has boosted care for patients with breast cancer and expanded access to endoscopy. She has also strengthened surgical care in the region and established a satellite wound care clinic in Springhill.

Dr. William Grigor Award: Dr. Selene Etches
Halifax psychiatrist Dr. Selene Etches was awarded the Dr. William Grigor Award for her advocacy, leadership and commitment to strengthening youth mental health and addictions care in Nova Scotia. Dr. Etches haschampioned new pathways for addictions care to support vulnerable youth in care and the shelter system. She has also led efforts to create a province-wide support group for caregivers and has spearheaded the annual Nova Scotia Adolescent Addictions Conference.

Physician Health Promotion Award: Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed
Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed has received the Physician Health Promotion Award for her outstanding leadership in health promotion, prevention and safety and her ongoing commitment to equity in medical education. As Nova Scotia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Watson-Creed shaped public policy and helped guideNova Scotians through COVID-19, including developing population-level prevention strategies and equity-focused approaches. As the Associate Dean for Serving and Engaging Society with Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine, she is committed to ensuring equity and community engagement are pillars of medical education.

Dr. Clement Ligoure Award: Dr. Jeannette Comeau
Pediatric infectious diseases physician Dr. Jeannette Comeau is the recipient of the Dr. Clement Ligoure Award for her exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, which has helped protect patients, families and staff. During COVID-19, she took a progressive, evidence-based approach, ensuring there was no spread of the virus at the IWK Health Centre. During Nova Scotia’s recent measles outbreak, she provided leadership and expertise, protecting patients, families and staff.

Outstanding Resident Award: Dr. Marihan Farid
Internal medicine resident Dr. Marihan Farid was awarded Resident of the Year in recognition of her excellence as a scholar, clinician and educator and her ongoing advocacy to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in medicine.  Dr. Farid is former vice-president and co-chair of the Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee in the Faculty of Medicine. She co-authored Am I Ablest?, an award-winning teaching tool, and led workshops on moral distress, inclusive care and disability in medical education.

Outstanding Medical Student Award: RJ Roggeveen, Class of 2027
DalMed student RJ Roggeveen was named Medical Student of the Year in recognition of his academic excellence, research, advocacy and commitment to breaking down barriers in healthcare and medical education. A full-time wheelchair user, he has helped create policies for wheelchair users to take part in surgery without compromising patient safety. He is also co-founder of the Disabled Not Dead Society, which provides peer support for Nova Scotians with mobility challenges.

Senior Membership Award: Dr. Lynn Johnston
Dr. Lynn Johnston is the recipient of the Doctors Nova Scotia Senior Membership Award in honour of her work over four decades as a national leader in infectious diseases, infection prevention and control. A prominent and respected educator at both Dalhousie University and the Royal College, Dr. Johnston loved mentoring the next generation of physicians and supporting her colleagues. She held roles in national and international health organizations, lending expertise to over 50 committees and working groups, including volunteering with the WHO during the West Africa Ebola crisis.

Senior Membership Award: Dr. Robert Merritt
Porters Lake family physician Dr. Robert Merritt receives the Senior Membership Award in recognition of his 36-year career providing full-scope primary care in his rural community, including obstetrics care, rural emergency care, inpatient care and nursing home visits. Over the years, Dr. Merritt held leadership roles at Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital in Musquodoboit Harbour as chief of staff and site lead. A gifted teacher, he enjoyed mentoring medical students and family medicine residents, and supervised internationally trained physicians.

CMA Honorary Membership Award: Dr. Doug Sinclair
Dr. Doug Sinclair has received the CMA Honorary Membership Award in recognition of his distinguished service, visionary leadership and deep commitment to advancing medicine. Dr. Sinclair was a pioneer of emergency medicine in Atlantic Canada, particularly emergency care for children and youth. He helped establish Dalhousie University’s independent academic Department of Emergency Medicine – one of the first in Canada. An accomplished leader, he served as Vice President of Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and Vice President of Medicine/Quality/Safety at IWK Health.

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