Vancouver Coastal Health Hero: Karen O'Shannacery

Executive Director Karen O'Shannacery was recently recognized as a Healthcare Hero at the annual Excellence in BC Healthcare Awards 2009.

There are thousands of healthcare successes every day.

The Excellence in BC Healthcare Awards were created in 2007 to celebrate these successes and to thank those who are often too busy to stop and take in what they have accomplished.

A wide array of people play a vital role in delivering health services in BC. Some of them you meet face-to-face in your community but many more work behind the scenes. All play an important role and collaborate to create quality healthcare in BC.

Presented by the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC), the Excellence in BC Healthcare Awards recognize the efforts of healthcare employees who provide quality care and support to the people of this province. These provincial awards also recognize excellence and innovation in publicly-funded healthcare.

Award winners are recognized with a glass sculpture in the shape of a gold apple. The gold apple was chosen as the symbol of the awards because it reflects the combination of excellence and education that is demonstrated by many professionals who work in healthcare. Two Awards of Merit will also be given out in each of the award categories, with the exception of the Healthcare Hero category, in which there will be no Awards of Merit.