Heidi Fernandes, recipient of the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student, 2019

School of Pharmacy

Heidi Fernandes, a Masters student in the School of Pharmacy, is recognized by her students, peers and faculty members for her leadership, teaching methods, adaptability and passion in teaching. A faculty member remarked that Fernandes “has already become [the] ‘go-to’ person when [instructors] need someone to lead a teaching activity.” Fernandes “thrived” in her role as a tutor for PHARM 422; a challenging course where she guided students in their learning, provided constructive feedback and facilitated class dynamics with excellence. In this course, Fernandes implemented an active teaching strategy of pairing up students to learn and teach from each other, which made a profound difference in her students’ learning. A student remarked that Fernandes had the “ability to take complex topics and explain them in a very clear, structured and simple manner.” Fernandes is consistently making “it a priority to provide [her students] with all the support needed to succeed.” Fernandes served as an assessor for the Objective Structured Clinical Exam series and is a member of the Society of Pharmacy Students. She also completed the Fundamentals of University Teaching certificate offered by the Centre for Teaching Excellence.

Fernandes was a teaching assistant for PHARM 222, PHARM 223, PHARM 422, and lab facilitator for PHARM 229, PHARM 329.  She also guest lectured for PHARM 378, PHARM 472, SWK 601R and was a supervisor for PHARM 401.