U of T Medicine Staff Member Wins Chancellor’s Award
Tamara Breukelman, inaugural Operations Manager of the Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM), is among the recipients of the University of Toronto’s 2014 Chancellor’s Award for Emerging Leaders. Breukelman was recognized for her “…creative leadership resulting in the development of an efficient and effective administrative and technical team for the Academy.”
“It all comes down to the people. Everything will fall into place if you have the right team,” says Breukelman, who is credited for bringing together a high-calibre administrative and technical team for the Academy, one of the Faculty’s most significant initiatives in recent years. She is also responsible for developing efficient administrative processes that are used by other Faculty departments.
“Tamara is an invaluable part of the Mississauga Academy of Medicine team. Leading by example, she maintains an open, safe and inviting space for students and staff, encouraging a healthy work-life balance and celebrating her colleagues’ achievements. She is truly inspiring,” says Professor Jay Rosenfield, Vice-Dean, Undergraduate Medical Professions Education.
A quintessential people person, Breukelman believes fostering and maintaining positive relationships is the key to successful leadership. She put this mantra into practice when she helped bring MAM into audit compliance with Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) policies, a task that required extensive collaboration with stakeholders from U of T, the Faculty and Trillium Health Partners. She was a key player during the 2012 accreditation of the Faculty’s MD program, which recognized the Academy’s overwhelming success and commitment to student support.
The MAMily—as MAM’s student community affectionately calls itself—also holds Breukelman in high regard. She is a passionate advocate for MAM students, regularly attending town halls, taking meetings with student representatives and fostering open dialogue. She helped students develop and implement a composting program for the MAM area within the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex. She was instrumental in having the MAM shuttle hub relocated to a more convenient spot, making it easier for students traveling between the Mississauga and St. George campuses.
A life-long Mississaugian, she says she feels a true sense of belonging at MAM. “If you know me personally, you know I love the Mississauga Academy of Medicine with a tremendous passion. I feel an enormous amount of gratitude and pride accepting the Chancellor’s Award,” says Breukelman.
The Chancellor’s Award is part of the U of T’s annual Awards of Excellence program, which recognizes outstanding faculty, staff and students who have made meaningful contributions to the University, their communities and the world. A complete list of this year’s recipients and their citations can be viewed on the Awards of Excellence website.
