Dr. Kelly McNagny has been awarded a 2021 Michelle Harkness Mentorship Excellence Award (MHMA) for an established academic researcher.
Dr. McNagny, a professor in the faculty of medicine’s department of medical genetics, is one of the exemplars of mentorship excellence from across the country who are being recognized with MHMA awards, which are presented by AllerGen Inc.
Dr. Kelly McNagny
Dr. McNagny, also a Senior Scholar of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, says the award is very meaningful.
“Michelle Harkness was the Trainee Coordinator for Canadian AllerGen Network Centre of Excellence,” he says. “She was one of the most tireless, selfless, caring, and above all, empathetic, people I’ve ever known. Receiving this award in her name, and through a nomination by my own present and past trainees, makes it the most valuable award I’ve received in my career – truly priceless.”
Michael Hughes, a UBC faculty of medicine research associate and one of the people who nominated Dr. McNagny for the award, values his mentor’s impact on young scientists.
“Undergraduates seek out a research position in Dr. McNagny’s lab after experiencing his passionate class lectures. Everyone wants to be in an environment where their work is valued. I don’t think I could find a more supportive, creative or fulfilling environment,” Hughes said. “When trainees leave the lab, Dr. McNagny continues to support their development through collaborative scientific research and training.”
MHMA recognition awards are bestowed upon Canadian allergy and immunology researchers, practitioners and advocates who are nominated by their peers and/or mentees, and whose mentorship contributions are adjudicated by mentorship practitioners. MHMA mentorship development grants support relevant training or experiential activities undertaken by aspiring mentors in the Canadian allergy and immunology community.
“Every year, the MHMA awards remind us of the value of role models in our lives, and they lead us to appreciate the generosity and goodwill of those who make the extra effort to help others to thrive and achieve their best,” said AllerGen’s president and CEO, Dr. Diana Royce in a release. “Again this year, our MHMA recipients truly do justice to Michelle’s ideals. We congratulate and thank them all!”
A version of this story originally appeared on the AllerGen website.