On April 16, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions announced the winners of the 2024 MAP Awards: Lena Soje, Anne-Marie Tynan, and Linwei Wang. These annual awards recognize three outstanding MAP staff, students or volunteers who have excelled in their roles and demonstrate a passion and commitment to applying MAP’s values in their work.
Lena Soje (she/her), Research Assistant on Dr. Sean Rourke’s team, is the winner of the MAP Community Partnership Award, awarded to an individual who consistently models exemplary community partnership practices and integration of the perspectives of community and people with lived expertise into their research. Lena plays an essential and pivotal role in coordinating the I’m Ready Peer Navigators program. Members of her team shared that “Lena approaches every interaction with understanding and compassion, making individuals feel heard, present and valued. At the same time, [she] fearlessly stands up for what is right, advocating for equity, justice, and inclusivity in all aspects of her work.”
Linwei Wang (she/her), Senior Data Scientist on Dr. Sharmistha Mishra’s team, is the winner of the MAP Peer Mentor Award, an award to honour an individual who works hard to help colleagues learn, feel valued, and do well at work. Linwei’s colleagues shared that she “never misses a chance to elevate and bring to our attention the important contributions of all team members” and that “she is always ready to guide and answer questions, and her willingness to share her own experiences has made her an invaluable resource to learn from.”
Anne-Marie Tynan (she/her), Research Manager on Dr. Rick Glazier’s team, is the winner of the MAP Values in Practice Award, an award to recognize an individual who exemplifies and advocates for MAP values in their work and interactions. Her team shared that “she takes the time to listen to her team members and ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. Her actions reflect a genuine belief in the importance of diversity and inclusivity, setting a positive example for all of us.” Another colleague noted, “Anne-Marie is always there ready to help and solve seemingly unsolvable problems.”
Congratulations to the winners, and to all of the 2024 MAP Award nominees!