School of Nursing

Salwa Siddiqui is graduating from the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BScN) program. Salwa has improved the educational experience at McMaster by working as a peer tutor and celebrating the student body as Executive then Finance Chairperson of McMaster Undergraduate Nursing Students Society. Salwa has worked in the Aging, Community and Health Research Unit, specifically with the EMBOLDEN study outlining methods to implement and evaluate an innovative community-based intervention with the goal to improve physical and community mobility under the supervision of Dr. Rebecca Ganann. Beyond her studies, Salwa was happy to volunteer for events like May at Mac and Discovery Week  to encourage students who may be interested in Nursing. In recognition of her dedication to strengthening the local and broader community, Salwa has received the “Leadership in Nursing” and “Level 4 Distinction Award”. Salwa is grateful for the support of her family, friends and professors. 

Pat Mandy is an exceptional health care leader with more than 40 years of leadership, a nurse, teacher, mentor, champion for inclusion, a community volunteer, and is a member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. She has a long and distinguished career in health care, particularly Indigenous health care at the local, provincial and national level. She has contributed to research and education at McMaster University and throughout her career demonstrating the values of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Mandy’s impressive career demonstrates her willingness to take on challenging opportunities includes her involvement in the formation of the first Nurses Union in Hamilton, the first Indigenous President of the College of Nurses, the first Vice Preside of Community Care at HHS, a founding member of the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, a founding member of the Aboriginal Health Advocacy Committee and the first CEO of the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network.  

She currently serves as chair of the Biindigne Well-Being Centre Steering Committee and Board Chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board (2021). She has served as Chair of the De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre.  

When retiring from Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) in 2005 as the Vice President of Community Care, HHS established the Pat Mandy Inclusion Award – an annual award recognizing an HHS staff member or physician for outstanding work towards inclusion.  

She has earned the Indspire Award – Health (2016), the McMaster University Sibley Award for dedication to teaching health care professionals (2005), the Paul Harris Fellow Community Service Award (2005), the Hamilton Health Sciences Cornerstone Award of Excellence (2004), Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Dedication to the Aboriginal Community of Hamilton (2003), Hamilton Status of Woman Committee’s Woman of the Year Award for Women Who Mentor (2002), Certificate of Merit from the Mayor’s Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (1995) and the ONA Local 70 Management Person of the Year (1985).