Kelly Foss

Congratulations to Stephanie Herlidan, Discipline of Anesthesia, on receiving the 2024 Program Administrator Award for Excellence from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

This award is given to a residency program administrator who has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing residency education as evidenced by innovation and excellence beyond their program. 

“Stephanie received the award for her dedication to the success and well-being of the Anesthesia residents,” said Dr. Geoff Zbitnew, chair of Anesthesia. “She goes out of her way to assist the residents and make them feel at home. We are fortunate to have her in the discipline she truly goes out of her way to help.”

Ms. Herlidan holds a Business Administration certificate from the College of the North Atlantic and a Bachelor of Education degree from Memorial University.

As program administrator, she works closely with the program director and resident learners. Ms. Herlidan describes herself as a lifelong learner with a mission to continuously contribute to residency education and be as helpful as possible.

“I cannot describe the wave of emotions I felt when I discovered I was the recipient of this year’s Program Administrator Award for Excellence,” said Ms. Herlidan. “Learning my program director and the anesthesia residents feel that I possess the qualities necessary to be selected for this award is truly the greatest honor.”

“I have the utmost respect for each resident and I genuinely care about them,” she said. “Their training and well-being are at the forefront of everything I do. I take pride in being a resident advocate and someone that they are comfortable confiding in. Creating an environment where they feel safe and welcomed is a priority of mine. They are my compass and I know I am heading in the right direction when they feel supported.”

Ms. Herlidan says she believes each resident learner is unique and her goal is to support them in ways that meet their individualized need. She enjoys getting to know the residents professionally and personally; she sees herself as their biggest fan.

“It takes an entire institution to support our resident learners,” said Ms. Herlidan. “ I can do my job effectively because I am very well supported by Memorial University’s, Faculty of Medicine – the Dean’s Office; the Postgraduate Medical Education office; my academic discipline chair of Anesthesia, Dr. Geoff Zbitnew; my colleagues within my own discipline and other disciplines within the Faculty of Medicine; and my program director, Dr. Peter Collins, who is the beating heart of our discipline.  It truly is a team effort to build an environment that supports residency education and continues to move it forward.”

Dr. Collins says it’s difficult to articulate just how critical program administrators are to successful residency training programs.

“There has never been a more deserving candidate than Stephanie Herlidan for this prestigious national award as she exemplifies every facet of the CanMEDS ATA roles for program administrators,” he said. “If we have a strength as a clinical discipline, it's our culture of resident support and community. This culture has been diligently built and maintained by the tireless work of Ms. Herlidan. She is the heart of Memorial University's Anesthesia training program.”

The award was presented at the 2024 International Conference on Residency Education on Sept. 21, 2024.