University of Waterloo - Faculty of Health

🎉 Congratulations to Professor Vanwyck for receiving the 2025 Student Mentorship Award from Therapeutic Recreation Ontario! 👏💛🖤

Her dedication to creating empowering, inclusive spaces for students in the Therapeutic Recreation program at UW continues to make a lasting impact. We’re so proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Dr. Elena Neiterman from the School of Public Health Sciences for receiving a 2025 Distinguished Teacher Award! 🎉

Neiterman is known for creating inclusive, welcoming learning spaces, where she goes the extra mile to ensure students feel supported and engaged when tackling challenging discussions. "Elena Neiterman is truly an exceptional teacher who has played a pivotal role in both who and where I am today," one student shared.

These awards recognize outstanding teaching across the University of Waterloo. Thank you, Dr. Neiterman, for the care, passion and excellence you bring to teaching at ! 🩵

After an unconventional journey into grad studies, an opportune connection with a Waterloo professor brought hockey enthusiast Joe Villanueva from Long Beach, California to Waterloo.

Now, he’s completing his PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies and becoming a cultural innovator as he researches the ways programs run by professional sports organizations generate positive community impacts while inspiring an organic interest in hockey. 🏒

Learn more about Joe's journey and work: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-graduate-students/catalogs/gradimpact/joe-villanueva-phd-candidate-recreation-leisure-studies |

May 15 is UWaterloo's first Giving Day! From now until then, eligible donations between $20 to $1,000 will be matched dollar for dollar until funds run out – so donate early to ensure you double your impact in the area that’s most meaningful to you! Whether it’s toward the Faculty's Healthy Waterloo Initiative, CCCARE or another fund, any amount is appreciated!
Donate here: https://imodules.uwaterloo.ca/s/1802/bp24/interior.aspx?sid=1802&gid=2&pgid=3490

In this episode of Nish Vibes, Elder Myeengun Henry sits down with Amanda St. Marie, the Indigenous Initiatives Manager at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment. St. Marie brings over a decade of experience in marketing and communications, having worked across a range of sectors, including insurance, technology and higher education. Now, she’s applying her professional expertise to help guide Environment in developing its Indigenous Strategic Action Plan, rooted in a strong commitment to truth, reconciliation and decolonization.

Listen now:

Nish Vibes - Environment and Reconciliation In this episode of Nish Vibes, Elder Myeengun Henry sits down with Amanda St. Marie, the Indigenous Initiatives Manager at the University of Waterloo’s Facul...

Do you have a solution to reduce emergency room wait times?

Like many hospitals across Ontario, the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) faces emergency department wait time challenges. Over the years, the Hospital has implemented various strategies, however wait times for non-admitted patients remain challenging.

In an effort to improve emergency department flow and transform patient care, the WRHN is partnering with the University of Waterloo to launch the Innovation Challenge.

The challenge is open to members of the University and the broader community including:
▪️ Non-profits and public entities
▪️ Innovators and solution developers
▪️ Technology companies
▪️ Interdisciplinary teams

If you’re passionate about health-care optimization, we invite you to submit a proposal. The deadline to apply is April 23 at midnight.

More: https://uwaterloo.ca/community/innovation-challenge

Congratulations to Dr. Ellen MacEachen, director of the UWaterloo School of Public Health Sciences, on receiving a 2025 University of Waterloo Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision!

As a dedicated mentor, advocate and leader, MacEachen has been shaping the future for graduate students since 2014. She shared that “seeing my students grow and thrive is the best part of my career.”

Thank you, Dr. MacEachen for your unwavering commitment to mentorship and student success and for fostering a supportive and inspiring environment!

Read more: https://uwaterloo.ca/public-health-sciences/news/dr-ellen-maceachen-honoured-excellence-graduate-supervision

As a graduate strength and conditioning coach with the Waterloo Warriors , Master of Kinesiology (coursework) student Spencer Marshall Jaschkowski plays a crucial role in supporting varsity teams: designing training programs, supervising athletes, mentoring junior coaches, and ensuring smooth team and individual training sessions.

“I aspire to educate athletes and others on performance training — not just for sports, but for life," says Spencer. “The science behind strength and conditioning is what got me into this field, and it’s something I’ll continue to learn about and share for years to come.”

Learn more about Spencer's journey to the MKin program: https://uwaterloo.ca/kinesiology-health-sciences/profiles/spencer-marshall-jaschkowski |