Discovery Awards showcase Nova Scotia science, innovation and social impact 

Dr. Robert Bortolussi said clinicians should go “digging down into some of the patient problems that we have,” during his acceptance speech at the Discovery Awards on Tuesday night.  

The Discovery Centre hosted leaders in science, industry and government to announce its annual Discovery Award winners. Each year, a leader in science and technology is inducted into the Discovery Centre Hall of Fame.  

Dr. Bortolussi, the vice-president of research at the IWK Health Centre from 1991 to 2007, was inducted into the hall of fame this year for his work training clinicians to become scientists.  

He developed the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program in 2002, equipping clinicians, such as physicians or nurse practitioners, to identify and study their patients’ most pressing problems. 

Dr. Bortolussi and his colleagues then adapted the training program for use in low-income countries, and they have trained clinician-scientists in Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya. 

“Do your job as best you can and . . . make it better for others,” he said during the event, which was held at the Westin Nova Scotian hotel. 

Research in Nova Scotia growing

The annual Discovery Awards highlight the impact of local research, both in Nova Scotia and beyond. 

“There’s really interesting stuff happening in this province, and sometimes we don’t get that information out enough,” said Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia.  

Dalhousie University and IWK Health, major research institutions in Nova Scotia, brought in over $288 million in research funding last year.  

Additional award winners selected in six categories

Alongside the lifetime achievement award, recipients were awarded for achievement in innovation and public health.  

Student Avalon Lively, now studying at McGill University, was recognized for her work on neuroimaging and anorexia treatment. Israat Haque, a professor at Dalhousie University, was awarded for her research on security and digital infrastructure.  

Justine Dol, a researcher at IWK Health, received the emerging professional award for her research on health communication. Sheheryar Khan, the founder and CEO of Alaagi Inc., received an innovation award for reducing the use of plastic in food packaging, replacing it with a multi-layer seaweed film.  

Jason Loxton, a senior instructor at Cape Breton University, received an award for increasing student opportunities at the Cape Breton Fossil Centre in Sydney Mines. Rita Orji, a professor at Dalhousie University, was awarded the public impact award for her digital health innovations, including the LifeLink app designed to improve care for patients at risk of suicide.