A ceremony honouring recipients of the 2010 SickKids Humanitarian Awards took place last night at The John & Myrna Daniels Hollywood Theatre at The Hospital for Sick Children.

The Humanitarian Awards honour students, staff, and volunteers at SickKids who exemplify qualities of compassion and humanitarianism in providing care to children and families. Individuals are nominated by their colleagues or by patient families.

Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:

Dr. Juan Pablo Appendino, Epilepsy Fellow, Division of Neurology, is this year’s recipient of The Student Humanitarian Award. This award honours students who have consistently demonstrated the qualities of compassion and humanitarianism in the patient and family care they provide and through the respect and kindness with which they treat colleagues and team members.

Ashley Gelleny, Volunteer, Volunteer Resources, is this year’s recipient of The Volunteer Humanitarian Award. This award recognizes and honours some of the volunteers who consistently demonstrate qualities of compassion and humanitarianism while providing assistance to patients and families.

Dr. Elizabeth Stephenson, Staff Cardiologist, Heart Centre - Cardiology Division, is this year’s recipient of The Family-Centred Care Advisory Council Award. This award honours individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the family-centred care philosophy while providing direct care to patients.

Nimrita Aujla, Social Worker, Consultation Clinic/Dermatology Clinic, and Dr. Christine Newman, Staff Physician, Palliative & Bereavement Care Service, are this year’s recipients of The Robert Salter Humanitarian Award. This award recognizes and honours medical health professionals or support staff who exemplify the qualities of compassion and humanitarianism in the provision of patient and family-centred care.

Dr. Denis Geary, Nephrologist, Division of Nephrology, is this year’s recipient of The Claus Wirsig Humanitarian Award. The recipient of this award is recognized for an ability to model and communicate the values and qualities of compassion and humanitarianism.

“With the numerous types of HIV mutations, would an HIV vaccine really be effective?” ~ Tommy - age 21, Toronto, ON.

Click here to see the answer from Dr. Sean (Ari) Bitnun, a physician and consultant in Infectious Diseases and an assistant professor in Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.

The scientists at SickKids are experts in most areas of health and life science. They spend their days asking tough questions and searching out the answers. Now it is your turn to ask them the tough questions.

Have you ever had a burning question about your body or about your health and didn’t know how to find the answer? This might just be the opportunity to get to the bottom of it!

You have the chance to submit your question and it will be answered by a scientist who specializes in that area. The best questions and answers will be featured on the Research Institute website: http://www.sickkids.ca/research.

Check the website often to see if your question gets posted. You can learn about what others want to know and if you read enough answers, you may even become a health expert yourself!

According to our friends at Wikipedia, Father’s Day is celebrated on the same day in more than 55 countries around the world. That’s a lot of fatherly love.

And while the dads in your life would surely appreciate a new tie, cufflinks or shirt on their special day, why not mix it up a little and try something new.

This Father’s Day, SickKids Foundation is giving you some cool, thoughtful gift ideas for dad with its SickKids Get Better Gifts giving catalogue. Choose from a number of meaningful gifts that will help brighten the lives of children at The Hospital for Sick Children.

Help ease a parent’s worries and reduce sleepless nights with a digital thermometer ($25). Keep a child nice and cozy with a post operation blanket warmer ($75). Let a parent stay with their child throughout the night by purchasing a sleeper chair ($40).

Know that whatever gift you choose you are making a difference to the lives of children and their families at SickKids. Browse through the catalogue to see what you can give.

With your gift, you will have the opportunity to send a personalized message with a traditional card or e-card.

If you would simply like to send a Father’s Day e-card or traditional card, SickKids Foundation has those, too. Click here to select a card.

We wish a very happy (and early) Father’s Day to the dads out there.

P.S. With the end of the school year just around the corner, we have some great gift ideas to help you say “Thank You” to your child’s teachers. Check them out!