Faculty of Medicine home to one of Canada’s Most Powerful women

By Andrea Di Ubaldo

Dr. Jennifer Hatfield: Photo provided

How does one make their way onto a list of the top 100 most powerful women in Canada?

Well, it doesn’t hurt to have talent, but for Dr. Jennifer Hatfield, named one of the Women’s Executive Network’s (WXN) Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 this year, it’s about learning from those who have helped her along the way.

The award is given to those who “have had a major impact or made a great contribution to Canadian society.”

“When I heard the news I felt very grateful for the support and mentorship I have had from fellow faculty members at the university. I have been given remarkable opportunities to pursue rewarding work here in Canada and overseas.”

Hatfield, director of both the Health and Society and the Global Health Program at the O’Brien Centre for the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) program at UCalgary and former psychology clinician, is leading many innovative research projects around the world on behalf of Canada and the University of Calgary.

“My colleagues at UCalgary really enable and support each other and open up opportunities to take a leadership role,” Hatfield says. “People like Dr. Billie Thurston, Dr. Tom Noseworthy and Dr. Benedikt Hallgrímsson have been incredible supporters as has the Faculty of Medicine, which has allowed me to follow my passion for undergraduate education and global health research.”

“Powerful” accomplishments

Hatfield continues to be a leader and contributor in the global health community. Her many roles have certainly earned her the title of one of the Top 100, a list published annually in the Globe and Mail:

• Mentor, UNITAR
  As a mentor for a division of the United Nations called UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research), Hatfield has participated in post-conflict reconstruction leadership development projects for civil service and NGO professionals in Afghanistan for the past three years along with a team from UCalgary; this year she traveled to India and Japan to mentor a new group focused on gender and equity, supporting women leaders in the country.

• Leader and facilitator, BHSc program
  Her work in global health research, education and training at UCalgary where she is leader of the Health and Society Major and facilitator of the development of the BHSc Global Health Program, a new and innovative program; the first of its kind in Canada.

• Co-chair, Canadian Global Health Coalition Task Group
  As co-chair of the Canadian Global Health Coalition Task Group on Global Health Research Partnerships, funded by the International Development Research Council, Hatfield is responsible for leading and facilitating an international team of researchers who are working toward promoting and improving partnerships between researchers in Canadian and low and middle income countries.

A thoughtful mentor

Hatfield’s work mentoring young men and women with leadership aspirations from Canada and abroad is very rewarding for her. She works with them on a variety of research, capacity building and training projects focusing on malaria and HIV in Tanzania and Ethiopia.

“I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to build and work with a team of outstanding young researchers, Lisa Allen and Erin Hetherington in particular, working with students to build their understanding in the field,” she smiles.

“I attribute my opportunity to lead these students to the O’Brien’s – David and his wife Gail,” Hatfield says proudly. “They are leaders in creating leaders in global health research. It would not be possible for me to demonstrate this leadership without all of these leaders around me.”

About the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary

The U of C’s Faculty of Medicine is a national leader in health research with an international reputation for excellence and innovation in health care research, education and delivery. Through its educational programs, the Faculty of Medicine trains the physicians and scientists who will lead the next generation of health practitioners. Through its clinical work, continuing medical education programs, and close relationship with the Calgary Health Region, the Faculty of Medicine moves new treatments and diagnostic techniques from the laboratory bench to the hospital bedside efficiently and effectively, improving patient care.

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