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2027 Canadian Women's Heart Health Summit

Awards

Explore awards available for application at the 2027 Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit and learn about past recipients.

Submit a Nomination

The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit recognizes excellence in advancing women’s heart and vascular health through advocacy, research, and knowledge sharing.

Awards will be presented in three categories:

  1. Advocacy, which recognizes individuals who have championed awareness, action, and support for women’s health;
  2. Investigator, which honours outstanding contributions to scientific inquiry and the advancement of knowledge in women’s heart and vascular health; and
  3. Abstract Presentation Awards, which celebrate exceptional Summit presentations, including Best Rapid-Fire Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and the Persons with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) Top Choice Award. 

 

Award recipients will be recognized during the closing ceremonies of the 2027 Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit on Saturday, April 17, 2027. Recipients are encouraged to attend in person to accept their award.

2027 Awards

Award Opportunity
Categories
Important Dates
Advocacy Awards
Healthcare Professionals/Researchers
Persons with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLEs)
Trainees
Submission portal opens: November 2, 2026
Deadline to submit: February 1, 2027 (11:59 PM EST)
Notification of results: February 15, 2027
Investigator Awards
Healthcare Professionals/Researchers
Persons with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLEs)
Trainees
Submission portal opens: November 2, 2026
Deadline to submit: February 1, 2027 (11:59 PM EST)
Notification of results: February 15, 2027
Abstract Presentation Awards
Abstract Presenters
See Call for Abstracts page for details
on how to submit. Presentations will be judged and
awards presented during the CWHHS.

2027 Canadian Women’s Heart and Vascular Health Advocacy Award

Opening November 2

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing the heart and vascular health of women in Canada through advocacy, awareness, education, and community engagement.

It honours those who have inspired action, mobilized individuals or organizations, and contributed to meaningful change that supports women’s health and well-being.

The winner will receive a commemorative plaque and a $500 cash award, as well as complimentary registration to the CWHHS and one ticket to the Networking Dinner.

  • Nominations open: November 2, 2026
  • Deadline: February 1, 2027 at 11:59 PM EST
  • Notification of Results: February 15, 2027

One winner will be awarded for each of the following two categories:

  1. Healthcare Professional/Researcher: A clinician and/or researcher
  2. Person with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE): A PWLLE includes those living with heart disease, stroke, and/or vascular conditions and caregivers of those with lived experience (family or informal caregiver/friend).
  3. Trainee Award: Full-time student, resident or fellow.

To maintain the integrity and collaborative spirit of our awards program, self-nominations are not accepted. All nominations must be submitted by a colleague, mentor, or professional peer who recognizes the nominee’s outstanding contributions.

Nominators must complete the online submission form requesting the following details:

  • Contact details for both the Nominator and Nominee. 
  • A description of the advocacy efforts of the nominee and why you believe the nominee qualifies for this award.
  • At least one (1) letter of support from someone other than the nominator (maximum of 2 letters)
    • Letter of support criteria:  
      • Must not be written by a family member or relative
      • Must state how they know the Nominee and for how long
      • Must have knowledge of Nominee’s activities and experiences

Please note: Previous recipients of the Canadian Women’s Heart and Vascular Health Advocacy Award are not eligible to receive this award a second time. Only one nomination per individual will be accepted in this category. In cases where multiple nominations are submitted for the same individual, only the first nomination received will be considered. To avoid duplicate nominations, nominators are encouraged to contact the nominee before submitting a nomination.

The Selection Committee will evaluate nominees on the following criteria, scored out of 10 points each: 

  • Mobilizing Communities: building knowledge and skills of the community to advocate for programs and policies regarding women’s heart and vascular health.
  • Fostering Coalitions and Networks: engaging the community and other partners  in identifying key community issues that affect women’s heart and vascular health. 
  • Promoting Community Awareness: supporting public awareness campaigns about women’s heart and vascular health in the community.
  • Changing Organizational Practices: collaborating with others to advocate for the implementation of policies and procedures about women’s heart and vascular health within organizations and groups.

2025 Healthcare Professional/Researcher:

Sharon L. Mulvagh MD, FRCPC, FASE, FACC, FAHA

Professor of Medicine, Dalhousie University
Professor Emeritus, Mayo Clinic
Past-President, Canadian Society of Echocardiography
Co-Director, Women’s Heart Health Clinic
QE II Health Sciences Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia | @HeartDocSharon
Dr. Mulvagh is Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Professor Emeritus at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

2025 Person with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE):

Jackie Ratz, BA hons

Person with Lived Experience
Past Co-Chair, Patient Advisory Committee

2027 Canadian Women’s Heart and Vascular Health Investigator Award

Opening November 2

This award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to advancing the science of women’s heart and vascular health. The award honours investigators whose research has expanded knowledge, advanced understanding of women-specific health issues, and contributed to efforts aimed at reducing disease risk, improving quality of life, and preventing premature death among women in Canada. The winner will receive a commemorative plaque and a $500 cash award, as well as complimentary registration to the CWHHS and one ticket to the Networking Dinner.

  • Nominations open: November 2, 2026
  • Deadline: February 1, 2027 at 11:59 PM EST
  • Notification of Results: February 15, 2027
  1. Mid-Career Investigator Award: A researcher who, at the time of application, has assumed his/her independent research position 5-15 years ago. 
  2. Early-Career Investigator Award: A researcher who, at the time of application, has assumed their first independent, research-related appointment within five years. *The date of first appointment will be based on the date listed in the Common CV (i.e., under Employment).
  3. Trainee Award: Full-time student, resident or fellow. 

 

*Given that career progress for an early career investigator (ECI) is particularly vulnerable to normal life circumstances, the CWHHS Research Sub-Committee will adjust the eligibility window, as follows:

  • Eligible leaves (e.g. maternity, parental, medical, family medical, bereavement) will extend ECI status (i.e. will not be counted towards the maximum) and will be  credited as twice the amount of time taken;
  • No adjustments are provided for professional leaves (e.g., training, sabbatical, administrative). No adjustments are provided for time spent on non-research related duties or for the pursuit of non-research related career activities.

To maintain the integrity and collaborative spirit of our awards program, self-nominations are not accepted. All nominations must be submitted by a colleague, mentor, or professional peer who recognizes the nominee’s outstanding contributions.

Nominators must complete the online submission form requesting the following details:

  • Contact details for both the Nominator and Nominee. 
  • A description of the advocacy efforts of the nominee and why you believe the nominee qualifies for this award.
  • Nominee’s Tri-Agency CV
  • At least one (1) letter of support from someone other than the nominator (maximum of 2 letters)
    • Letter of support criteria:  
      • Must not be written by a family member or relative
      • Must state how they know the Nominee and for how long
      • Must have knowledge of Nominee’s activities and experiences

 

Please note: Previous recipients of the Canadian Women’s Heart and Vascular Health Investigator Award are not eligible to receive this award a second time. The Early-Career Investigator Award and Mid-Career Investigator Award each recognize a single recipient. In evaluating nominations, the Review Committee will endeavor to recognize both basic science and clinical science investigators across these award categories whenever possible. However, selection will be based on the overall strength of the nominations received, and recognition in both areas cannot be guaranteed. Only one nomination per individual will be accepted. If multiple nominations are submitted for the same individual, only the first nomination received will be considered.

The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit Research Sub-Committee will evaluate nominees on the following criteria, scored out of 10 points each:  

  1. Relevance to women’s heart and/or vascular health and inclusion of sex- and gender-based plus analyses.
  2. Novel aspect or significance of the work, other related grants and awards, and the role of collaborators. 
  3. Impact of the research.

2025 Mid-Career Investigator Award:

Kara Nerenberg, MD, MSc

Associate Professor, University of Calgary,
Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Community Health Sciences, 
General Internal Medicine, Obstetric Internal Medicine
Calgary, AB | @KaraNerenberg

2025 Early-Career Investigator Award:

Saleema Allana, RN, PhD

Assistant Professor
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario

2025 Trainee Award:

Daria Goulets

Undergraduate Student
University of Ottawa
Ottawa, ON

2027 Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit Abstract Presentation Awards

Abstract Submission Portal Opens November 2

The Abstract Presentation Awards recognize excellence in communication, translation, and dissemination of knowledge presented during the 2027 Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit.

Summit presenters will be eligible for awards in three categories:

  • Best Poster Presentation
  • Best Rapid-Fire Oral Presentation
  • Persons with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) Top Choice Award
     

These awards celebrate outstanding presentation quality, scientific merit, accessibility, and contributions to advancing women’s heart, brain, and vascular health.

The individual(s) judged to have prepared and delivered the top presentation in each category will receive a commemorative plaque and a $250 cash award.

  • PLEASE NOTE: Presenters are eligible to win one award only. Rapid-fire oral presenters will be required to present in person. All presenting authors must register for the CWHHS and are responsible for their own transportation and accommodations. Registration is NOT complimentary. 

Posters will be displayed on Friday, April 16, 2027, and must remain on display from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Poster presenters are expected to be present at their posters during the designated poster session from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to engage with Summit delegates, answer questions, and discuss their work. 

Poster presentations will be evaluated by the 2027 CWHHS Review Committee based on the following criteria: 

  • Originality 
  • Design and methodology 
  • Supporting data 
  • Quality of presentation

Rapid-Fire Oral Presentations will take place in the main plenary session on Saturday, April 17, 2027, as part of the 2027 Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit.

Presentations will be evaluated by the 2027 CWHHS Review Committee based on the following criteria:

  • Originality 
  • Design and methodology 
  • Supporting data 
  • Quality of presentation 
  • Staying within allotted time 

Posters will be displayed on Friday, April 16, 2027, and must remain on display from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Poster presenters are expected to be present at their posters during the designated poster session from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to engage with Summit delegates, answer questions, and discuss their work.

Presentations will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Plain-Language Communication
  • Impact on Women’s Heart Health
  • Relevance to Women’s Heart Health
  • Presentation Quality