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Award Winners 2009

2009 Alumni Association Awards: Excellence in Action The Dalhousie Alumni Association is pleased to acknowledge the dedication, contributions and inspiration demonstrated by this year’s award winners.

A. Gordon Archibald Alumni of the Year
Dr. David Precious (DDS’69, MSC’72)

There is very little in the field of dentistry that Dr. David Precious has not accomplished in the course of his impressive 40-year career. From his days as a Dalhousie student, to his work as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, David has been an inspiration to students and colleagues alike. Recognized as one of the world’s foremost authors in his field, he also serves in a leadership role at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry, the IWK Health Centre and Capital Health.

As a founding member of the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation, David has been instrumental in advancing care for some of the world’s youngest and most vulnerable patients. While he travels the globe to perform life-altering cleft surgeries, David also teaches and trains local surgeons in the proper techniques so that they can build capacity and help families in their own communities. His leadership and dedication to this cause was rewarded in 2007 when he was named a Member of the Order of Canada.


Alumni Achievement Award
Dr. Nuala Kenny (MD’72)

As a valued member of the academic, medical and religious communities, Dr. Nuala Kenny has donned many hats over the years. She is, by turn, Sister of Charity, pediatrician, professor, bioethicist, author, deputy minister of health, five-time honourary degree recipient, and Officer of the Order of Canada.

The first Sister of Charity to enter medical school in her day, Nuala has enjoyed an extensive career in pediatrics and medical education. A natural leader, she has served as Head of Pediatrics for Dalhousie, the IWK Health Centre and Queens University; and Director of Medical Education for the Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto. In 1996, she founded Dalhousie’s Department of Bioethics.

Author of over 100 papers and three books, Nuala is internationally recognized as a medical educator and lecturer on fundamental ethics questions in health care. As such, she is regularly involved in policy deliberations around Canadian health care, particularly in relation to values.



Christopher J. Coulter Young Alumnus of the Year Award
Rose Cousins (BScK’97)

When East Coast Music Award-winning singer/songwriter, Rose Cousins, came to Dalhousie, she had ambitions of a career in kinesiology. In the process, she rediscovered her love of music. Rose gave her first performance the same year she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and has since taken the stage with many international artists.

While at Dalhousie, Rose drew on her strengths as a mentor and volunteered much of her time to student government, sport team psychology, and residence life. This commitment to community continued when she joined with musical colleagues to record a collection of Christmas songs and perform a sold-out concert that benefited the Maritime’s food banks.

Rose continues to impress people with her talent . . . she was recently named one of Chatelaine magazine’s “80 Amazing Canadian Women to Watch.”



Award for Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Tracy Taylor-Helmick (MSc’94, PhD’97)

No stranger to large classes from her days a student, Dr. Tracy Taylor-Helmick makes it her mission to reach out to her students, so when they describe her as personable, enthusiastic, passionate, engaging and effective, you know that something is working. For the past 10 years Tracy has been guiding students as an instructor, academic advisor, supervisor and mentor in Dalhousie’s Department of Psychology. Her impact on students has been impressive and her fearlessness in taking on new teaching challenges is admired by even the most seasoned faculty.

As a member of the Graduate Studies Program Committee, Tracy has helped advance the Department’s program over the last decade. She was recently rewarded for this commitment when she was named Chair. Tracy has served on more thesis committees than her years of service would indicate, while continuing a rigorous undergraduate teaching schedule and running her own research lab. Her commitment and dedication to giving students the opportunity to develop academically is evident in the accolades she has received from students and colleagues alike.