We are pleased to announce the winners of the Foundation's 25th Awards of Excellence ceremony.

A colourful and emotional event, the ceremony took place on June 6 in the Hospital's P.K. Subban Atrium. The Awards of Excellence are presented to dedicated Hospital staff members and community leaders who are at the forefront of the care and well-being of our young patients.

The recognition ceremony highlighted the exceptional work of the honourees who help The Children's put Quebec's sickest children back on their feet.

This year’s Awards recipients are:

The Complex Pain Care Centre Team, recipient of the AIM Teamwork Award of Excellence.

Dr. Jesse Papenburg, recipient of the National Bank Medical Award of Excellence.

Dr. Catherine Goudie, recipient of the CYLAD Health Innovation Award of Excellence.

Martine Alfonso, recipient of the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation Professional Staff Award of Excellence.

Lena, recipient of the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation Nicolas W. Matossian Junior Community Award of Excellence.

Hélène Bacha, recipient of Le Groupe Maurice Nursing Award of Excellence.

Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan, recipient of the Pfizer Research Award of Excellence.

Isabelle Marcoux, C.M., recipient of the Sun Life Community Leadership and Volunteer Award of Excellence.

Diane Langford, recipient of the MCHF Administrative, Clinical and Technical Support Staff Award of Excellence.

We thank our valued partners, American Iron & Metal (AIM), Le Groupe Maurice, National Bank, CYLAD, Pfizer, Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation, and Sun Life Canada, for making these awards possible. Their confidence in The Children’s allows us to remain on the cutting edge of pediatric care in Quebec.

Congratulations to all!

Nathalie Comtois, Rebecca Pitt, Maria Daniele, Dr. Jonathan Hudon, Lina Osseiran, Dr. Pablo Ingelmo, Nada Mohamed, Dr. Sabrina Carrié, Arielle Sadaka, Louise Johansen, Dr. Lucas G.F. Fonseca, and Debbie Kosorwich Pealow.*Not pictured: Julie Lalande, Nathalie Myara, Luan Tran, and Marie Vigouroux.

Over the past decade, the Edwards Family Interdisciplinary Center for Complex Pain (CCP) has grown from a clinic treating 45 children a year to a comprehensive clinical, educational and research center. With a 17-member team, CCP evaluates over 200 new patients each year and follows over 450.

Led by Dr. Pablo Ingelmo, CCP has achieved remarkable results, including helping more than 75% of its patients complete their treatment without pain or medication, and significantly reducing opioid use and emergency room visits.

The CCP is recognized worldwide as one of the leading centers for the treatment of complex pain in children.

Pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist,Dr. Jesse Papenburg is a leader in the field of pediatric infectious diseases in Canada. . When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, his workload increased dramatically.

In addition to his clinical responsibilities, he has led national studies on influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19, contributed to provincial and national guidelines on influenza treatment and COVID-19, developed vaccine recommendations... and become a well-known media figure!

He also used instruments acquired during the pandemic to implement molecular diagnosis of meningoencephalitis, reducing diagnostic time from days to hours.

Dr. Catherine Goudie, pediatric hemato-oncologist and clinician-researcher, is a leading figure in the field of pediatric oncology. Her main innovation, the MIPOGG (McGill Interactive Pediatric OncoGenetic Guidelines) application, revolutionizes screening for genetic predisposition syndromes in children.

This tool allows to rapidly assess the likelihood of genetic predisposition, facilitating rapid, targeted interventions. MIPOGG, with over 2,300 users in 85 countries, is recommended by leading pediatric oncology organizations.

In addition to her clinical innovations, Dr. Goudie co-directs a fellowship program in pediatric onco-genetics at McGill University.

Her work and expertise are internationally recognized.

After fourteen years of practice in physiotherapy, Martine Alfonso decided to take on a new professional. Over a period of fifteen years at the MUCH, she rose through the ranks to become Associate President and CEO.

Martine Alfonso has fostered collaboration between organizations, management and team members, while reinforcing a sense of belonging to the organization, with constant attention to patient needs.

In collaboration with the clinical teams, she has contributed to obtaining new , thus expanding the range of services offered by the Hospital.

Ms. Alfonso has maintained The Children's and the MUHC's reputation for excellence provincially, nationally, and internationally.

Lena was 21 months old when she was diagnosed with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Three days later, she began chemotherapy, a treatment that would last 854 days. Despite the difficult times, her joie de vivre and resilience were a source of hope for her parents, Christina and Nick.

Touched by the exceptional care they received, Christina and Sophia, Lena's aunt, created The Lena Fund to finance research projects on these diseases at The Children's. Together with her parents, Lena also takes part in fund-raising activities.

Officially in remission since January 7, 2022, "Supergirl" will begin her first year of school this September.

Hélène Bacha is an ambulatory care nurse clinician in pediatric gastroenterology. She cares for patients with chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease or esophageal atresia, while coordinating their care to the Genesis integration program, which helps support new nurses.

She developed her management skills and since 2022, she has been assisting her interim manager, giving her an initiation to management.

Hélène is appreciated for her availability and energy in finding solutions for her patients and colleagues. She is recognized as a pillar of her department and a source of inspiration for her colleagues.

Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan is a renowned specialist in pediatric allergy and immunology, recognized worldwide for his advances in the treatment of food allergies in children. He was the first clinician in Canada to perform milk protein desensitization, and to collaborate with the U.S. on peanut desensitization, successfully treating thousands of children.

He co-directed Quebec's first oral immunotherapy food desensitization program in 2011, with an impressive success rate. He aspires to enable children to grow up without fear of life-threatening reactions to various foods.

His work on penicillin allergy suppression has revolutionized clinical practice.

Isabelle Marcoux, Executive Chair of the Board of Transcontinental Inc. has developed a close relationship with The Children’s since her son received specialized neonatal and cardiac care in 2000. Grateful, she made her first major donation to the Stature-ponderal Delay Clinic.

Ms Marcoux has been an active member of the board of directors of the Foundation. In 2019, she successfully co-chaired The Children's Foundation's $200 million fundraising campaign.

Ms. Marcoux continued to multiply her efforts in support of the esophageal atresia program. Together with TC Transcontinental, the Marcoux family also helped fund the Multimedia Donor Wall.

By co-chairing The Children's Ball twice (in 2013 and 2023), Ms. Marcoux has helped generate a crucial source of funds for the Hospital most urgent needs.

Diane arrived at The Children's as a one-month replacement thirty-nine years ago, and still works there today. She is the administrative backbone of the endocrinology clinic. Diane interacts with 5 to 15 patients a day, building a relationship of trust with them and their families.

Diane stands out for her ability to listen and her empathy. She reassures patients and families, explains procedures to new patients, and talks to doctors to bring forward appointments if necessary. Her devotion to patient care is incomparable.

She finds great satisfaction in her day-to-day work and in helping patients and their families.