UCalgary Nursing professor receives Alberta Medical Association Medal of Honour

Dr. Shane Sinclair, PhD’09, UCalgary Nursing professor and director of the Compassion Research Lab, has been selected as the recipient of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Medal of Honour.  

The AMA Medal of Honour is the only award given to a non-physician. Medal of Honor recipients are often influential figures within the Alberta health-care system who have made an outstanding personal contribution to the people of Alberta by raising the standards of health care in the province. 

“He is a truly deserving recipient of the Alberta Medical Association's Medal of Honour for a non-physician,” says Dr. Abhay Lodha, chair of the AMA Achievement Awards committee. 

“Shane’s groundbreaking work in advancing the psycho-social and spiritual aspects of health has significantly elevated the standard of care in Alberta. In today’s complex world, his efforts are a powerful testament to the impact of compassion. Dr. Sinclair is a leader in addressing a critical health-care challenge — alleviating suffering through evidence-based, patient-centered compassion research."

"He has reshaped the field of compassion scholarship with innovative research, leadership, and practical, accessible resources. His contributions have made a lasting impact at every level, from the bench to the bedside and the boardroom, improving care for Albertans, Canadians and beyond.”

Sinclair is also an adjunct professor with UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and an international expert on the topic of compassion. 

“I see [this award] as giving credence to not only our work but the importance of compassion and something that has really been at the heart of nursing since its inception — that makes me proud and excited,” says Sinclair. “To see the transdisciplinary acknowledgment of this topic and its importance to patients and families is very encouraging.”  

Dr. Susan Kuhn, associate professor with the Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases adds, “Thanks to Dr. Sinclair’s deep dive into understanding compassion, we may soon be able to incorporate it more intentionally into all aspects of health-care organization and delivery. I can't think of a more powerful and broadly impactful contribution to health care. 

"The ripple effect of his work is extending far beyond our institution and even our borders. Well-known researcher and podcaster Brene Brown’s efforts to map meaningful connection in her book Atlas of Heart illustrates the impact of an evidence-based understanding of important human experiences. In the section on compassion, it is Dr. Sinclair’s work that is cited.” 

In addition to the Sinclair Compassion Questionnaire (SCQ), a patient-reported compassion measure scale, his Compassion Research Lab offers a training program called EnACT for health-care providers. It will be accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, with continuing education credits being transferrable to the Canadian Nurses Association.  

“It's evidence-informed, competency-based, clinically relevant accredited compassion training,” says Sinclair. The training is delivered both in-person and online and Sinclair says new online modules will be released on the website early 2025.