[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/JoannaSantaBarbara.jpg” caption=”Joanna Santa Barbara”]A McMaster child psychiatrist, who has mentored medical students regarding issues releted to international health and written books for Afghan children dealing with war, has received an award for her extensive accomplishments and commitment to health care education.

Joanna Santa Barbara, a member of the psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences department, is the recipient of this year's John C. Sibley Award for part-time faculty from the Faculty of Health Sciences.

“Recipients are selected based on activities that reflect initiative and sustained commitment and have a lasting impact on teaching and learning in the Faculty,” said Susan Denburg, associate dean, academic.

The Sibley Award was named for John C. Sibley, one of the founders of McMaster Medical School. He was known for his interdisciplinary approach to community health both locally and internationally.

“I've learned a lot about teaching from wonderful colleagues,” said Santa Barbara. “It always feels like a privilege to participate in learning situations.”

Santa Barbara joined the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1979. Her accomplishments in education, peace studies and clinical practice are numerous.

As a child psychiatrist for more than 30 years, she has played an important role at the Chedoke Child and Family Centre and the Hamilton District School Board. She regularly supervises medical students learning psychiatric assessment skills and is a mentor for medical students and other health science students who have an interest in peace and health.

As well, Santa Barbara helped design the world's first undergraduate course in Peace through Health and helped establish the world's first Chair in Peace through Health, which is a collaborative effort involving the faculties of Health Sciences and Humanities, the Centre for Peace Studies and the Institute for Population Health Research. She has served on McMaster's President's Committee on Peace Studies and has been an active supporter of the Student International Health Initiative.

Santa Barbara is invited frequently to speak on the education of health professionals in peace building and on the effects of war on physical and psychological health. In collaboration with the Centre for Peace Studies and with support from Health Canada and UNICEF, she has played a central role in fostering projects in war zones focused on the psychological health of school children.

She has helped to create a series of storybooks, which are being distributed in Afghanistan, which help children and their families deal with the emotional and psychological effects of war. For her work in peace studies at McMaster, she was awarded the Order of Ontario in 2003.

Susan Denburg will present Santa Barbara with her award at a September meeting of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences.

In addition to Santa Barbara, four part-time faculty members were nominated for this prestigious award to express appreciation for their excellent contributions and sustained commitment to Faculty programs and students. They are:

Greg Peachey — Department of Anesthesia

Madan Roy — Department of Pediatrics

JEM (Ted) Young — Department of Surgery

Alan Tanaguchi — Department of Family Medicine