Congratulations to UBC Department of Psychiatry members Dr. Cameron Anderson and Elsy Willis, who have won two of the three annual Canadian Organization of Undergraduate Psychiatric Educators (COUPE) awards.
Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Cameron Anderson has been honoured with the 2025 COUPE Teacher Recognition Award. The award recognizes a non-academic track teacher who is actively involved in Undergraduate Medical Education, and demonstrates dedication, enthusiasm, creativity, and innovation to inspire learners in psychiatry. Dr. Anderson is commended for his dedication to teaching and his exceptional ability to inspire and mentor undergraduate students, creating an engaging and supportive learning environment where students feel both challenged and valued. He brings a humanistic perspective to psychiatric patients, enriching the material with personal stories that resonate. One student shared that his lectures on schizophrenia and antipsychotics not only transformed their view of psychiatry but also ignited a lasting passion for the field. His ability to connect clinical topics with students’ personal experiences helps them gain a deep understanding of material.
Elsy Willis, a UBC Medical Student, has won the 2025 COUPE Best Paper Award, for her paper, “The Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy: A Community-Driven Framework for Comprehensive Suicide Prevention.” The award recognizes a student in undergraduate medical training who demonstrates an enhanced level of scholarship and of understanding and interest in a topic related to mental health, and who takes the time and effort to investigate a specific issue relevant to mental health.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Anderson and Ms. Willis on their well-deserved awards.