The Waterloo Pharmacy Excellence in Pharmacy Teaching Award is an annual award that recognizes instructors who have demonstrated high quality teaching and a commitment to excellence in education.
Lisa Walsh, anatomy and physiology course lab instructor at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, was unanimously voted for the 2024 Excellence in Pharmacy Teaching Award in recognition of her student-focused approach to instruction. She teaches and coordinates the anatomy, physiology and histology labs: Systems Approach to the Study of the Human Body 1 and 2 (PHARM 110 and PHARM 111) and Teacher Assistant Training.
Walsh joined the School in late 2010 after completing her Masters in Human Anatomy with a focus in teaching and learning at Queens University. She finds joy in getting others excited about the same things she finds interesting, and this excitement lends itself well to teaching.
My favourite part about teaching is seeing the students get excited about learning and the pride they take in understanding the material. The moment of discovery where the pieces click together and they can move beyond reciting notes is a pleasure to witness. Learning is hard, but we can do the hard things.
Walsh’s passion for teaching shines when you hear her speak about her courses and students. She focuses on implementing different teaching methods, to reach different learners in different ways, to help students grow into the best versions of themselves.
“Lisa’s teaching is very conscious of students’ mental health and strives to provide a supportive environment where students’ anxiety is taken into consideration,” Brett Barrett says, clinical lecturer and teaching fellow. Her commitment to student success is appreciated by Waterloo Pharmacy students when they express how much they enjoy her courses.
Walsh further enjoys sharing her successful teaching strategies with other instructors and has run two lunch and learns focused on student mental health and running exams. Her commitment to the School goes beyond the classroom, she worked to improve exam administration processes to benefit both instructors and students. Walsh has spearheaded the School’s Teaching Assistant training to ensure the School’s methods are up to date.
Walsh is an active member of the School’s Green Team. One of her values is to make things better for others, to be a good steward of the Earth to help maintain a future of her kids and the next generation. She is also the volunteer director with the Williamsburg Community Garden Project that they built this spring as an opportunity to help make the community better.
Congratulations, Lisa!