Dr. Vivien Suttorp (Photo: University of Lethbridge)

By Justin Goulet

U of L to present Friends of Health Sciences award to Dr. Vivien Suttorp

Sep 25, 2019 | 2:28 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A local medical officer of health (MOH) has been recognized by the U of L.

Dr. Vivien Suttorp is the lead MOH for the South Zone with Alberta Health Services. The University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Health Sciences has bestowed upon her the Friends of Health Sciences award.

In addition to her role as the lead MOH for the South Zone, Suttorp is an occupational health consultant and medical lead for infection prevention and control in the zone.

The post-secondary institution says she’s supervised 16 U of L practicum students since 2011, as well as many graduate and medical students from other schools.

“Dr. Vivien Suttorp is someone who fully exemplifies the values of her profession and who teaches the principle that everyone owns public health,” Dr. Robert Wood, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, said in a school-issued release.

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“We are delighted to acknowledge the immense investments Dr. Suttorp has made in health care, to our public health students and to our faculty.”

Suttorp was quoted as saying that the South Zone is small but offers many diverse opportunities. When she first arrived in southern Alberta in July of 2008, she worked for the Chinook Health Region.

Less than a year later, Alberta Health Services was born, and her coverage area expanded to include the southern portion of the province from British Columbia to Saskatchewan, with Granum, Brooks and Oyen defining the northernmost points.

She said she is “delighted and honoured to receive this award” while acknowledging the efforts of teams she’s worked with in the past.

“I will accept the award on behalf of all the great teams that I have the privilege to work with in public health and other programs who support our students in learning applied public health,” she said.

Suttorp is a regular guest lecturer at the U of L, speaking with students on how public health theory is applied by bringing real-life scenarios into the classroom.

“In medicine, we learn through case presentations,” she said.

“That’s what’s exciting and what makes it stick. I think it creates energy and enthusiasm in the class and helps to apply basic theory into practice.”

She also serves as a member of the advisory committee for the U of L’s public health program and conducts research with faculty members.

The 2019 Friends of Health Sciences Award will be presented on Thursday, October 10 at a reception and dinner at the U of L’s Markin Hall atrium.