Health care worker receives scholarship

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It was with modesty that Christine Henry accepted the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership, established by the Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year Award program. The scholarship honors and mentors 10 Canadian university business students by providing funds to further their educational ambitions.

"I'm not looking for accolades from others," said Henry. "It's almost a double-edged sword, because I work quietly in the background. It's difficult, culturally speaking."

Henry graduated from Athabasca University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Administration (Health Administration).

"It's pretty amazing to get this award," she said. "It was a surprise, a pleasant surprise."

Receiving the award and the $5,000 that goes along with it will allow Henry to pursue her Masters of Health Studies degree this January.

"You look at [the Masters degree]. You say it would be great, but very expensive," said Henry. "Knowing that the Masters will give me the extra knowledge in my work that I need and with this money, I can do that now."

Henry was selected by Athabasca University for the award because of the high degree of excellence she's achieved both in academics and community leadership.

Pam Patten, communications officer with Athabasca University, said 14 students from the Business program were invited to submit their names with supporting documentation for the award.

Henry, who is a member of the Mohawk Nation, moved from St. Catherines, Ont., to Alberta in 1986. She presently works for the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton where she spends her time in the women's pavilion in pre-natal and maternity care, primarily counselling Native women.

It's through this work that Henry has discovered a lapse not only in health services available on northern reserves and in nearby communities, but the lack of communication between available services and the women who need them.

Henry has put in a proposal to Alberta Health's Aboriginal Health Strategies Fund to see what can be done for Aboriginal women while they're pregnant and after they've delivered their children.

"Part of the problem is the lack of knowledge being transferred back and forth," said Henry. "Some of our reserves are isolated. Part of this initiative is to see what can we do to start making [pre-natal and post-natal] care possible in the community."

This initiative, said Patten, is only one reason why Henry was chosen as a recipient for the award. Her high academic standing was another factor.

"This award tells whoever that I worked very, very hard to get this," said Henry. "And I did."