About Betty Ann Schwartz

Betty Ann Schwartz was born in 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to parents who had immigrated from Russia and Romania. She was raised in Pittsburgh, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology. She then pursued a master’s degree in social work at the University of Pennsylvania and became a licensed clinical social worker.

Her professional career took her to Baltimore, Maryland, where she started as a social worker. She was eventually promoted to the role of executive director of the Florence Crittenton Home, a non-profit organization focused on the needs of unwed mothers.

While in Baltimore, she also served on the faculty of the Training Institute of Planned Parenthood and was an advisor to Parents Without Partners. She was a sought-after speaker and workshop leader. In the early 1970s, Betty was recruited to assume the position of executive director of the Children’s Aid Society of Winnipeg. She retired from that role many years later.

Betty was a lifelong champion for children’s and women’s rights. She served on numerous boards, including the boards of Manitoba Blue Cross and the Mount Carmel Clinic.

Betty was the consummate “people person.” She loved conversation with anyone, anywhere, and was known for her wry sense of humor, her progressive political views, and her love of completing the New York Times crossword puzzles. She enjoyed attending plays, operas and the movies. She also loved to travel – her favorite places included Alaska, Greece, Curaçao and Las Cruces, New Mexico. An avid sports fan, Betty was devoted to the Winnipeg Jets and the Baltimore Orioles.

While Betty remained a citizen of the United States, she loved Winnipeg and made it her home for over 40 years. Her greatest joy was her summer home in Gimli on Lake Winnipeg. It was her source of peace, entertainment, and wonderful friendships with her neighbors. It was also the place she considered her “true home.” Betty passed on December 5, 2020, after a series of long illnesses.

Betty was a firm believer in giving back and donated her time as a board member to Manitoba Blue Cross. Her personal journey with illness led her to have a keen interest in medical research and scientific advances, which prompted her commitment to the work of the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation. She often expressed her support for the Foundation to family members, and she had a particular interest in the many projects the MMSF supported.

The nature of Betty’s illnesses, as well as a serious traumatic injury as a child, involved a great deal of personal physical pain. As she navigated her own journey of pain management, she became committed to the exploration and research of novel approaches to managing pain and pain-related illnesses. A trooper to the end, Betty would often share stories of how she used humor to help deflect her own experience of pain. She was known by the nurses and doctors in the hospitals she was frequently in as “the funny woman” on the ward, telling jokes and humorous stories to staff members who attended to her. Even in the midst of great pain, her humor and keen interest in others shone through, and she was a beacon to many about the strength of the human spirit.

To apply, visit our Operating Grant section to access the MMSF Operating Grant Guidelines and Application Form.

For many years the McLaughlin Foundation (MF) has funded senior medical residents or completing residents with research fellowships to facilitate the advancement of research skills. It has become a very prestigious recognition to have been appointed a McLaughlin Fellow. In 2000, the McLaughlin Foundation decided to discontinue its program and in shutting down, granted Canada's medical schools a lump sum payment intended to continue a program of clinical research development for senior/graduating residents.

The University of Manitoba was granted $500,000. This provides, as an endowment, an award of $25,000 annually in support of a senior resident's salary. The MMSF agreed, at their Board meeting in May 2002, to match the $25,000 (this award is approved annually by the MMSF board) to allow an award of $50,000 per year to a deserving resident showing promise of an academic career based on research activity.

To date the MMSF has provided contributions totaling $375,000 in support of this award. Additional funds provided by the University of Manitoba, through the Dean’s Fund, have increased the value of this award to $75,000 annually in recent years.

(MMSF Share is $25,000/year - July 1st - June 30th)

This award is made possible through donations and support of the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation, friends and family of Richard Hoeschen, Manitoba Blue Cross and the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre.

History of Award

The Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (MMSF) and the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre (SBRC) sponsor this award annually in the name of Richard Hoeschen to commemorate his creative and innovative spirit. The award is currently valued at $4,000 annually with $2,000 contributed by MMSF and $2,000 contributed by SBRC. The contributions are approved annually by the respective Boards, with each organization administering their contributions directly to the University of Manitoba. Together, the MMSF and SBRC have contributed $72,000 in support of this award.

The Richard Hoeschen Memorial Award and Fund was established by the MMSF in 2003 with the first awardee named in 2004. Manitoba Blue Cross was a major contributor to the fund by matching the original donations in the amount of $10,000. Annual donations continue to be received by Richard’s friends towards this fund. Through donations and interest on investments, our combined vision is allowing this fund to extend longer than originally anticipated. It is the goal of the MMSF to maintain this fund and provide this memorial award as far into the future as possible, honouring the memory of Richard Hoeschen.

Richard Hoeschen was the son of Dr. Bob Hoeschen and Claire Hoeschen (daughter of Dr. MacMaster). Dr. Bob Hoeschen was the former Head of Cardiology at St. Boniface Hospital. Richard was the grandson of Dr. John C. MacMaster, who was one of the founding members of the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation.

Purpose

• The award will commemorate the creative and innovative spirit of Richard Hoeschen.
• The award shall contribute to the operating expenses of a BSc (Med) Supervisor at the University of Manitoba to offset operating expenses incurred for the supervision of a BSc (Med) student at the University of Manitoba.
• The priorities might include intensive care/hematology/oncology and cardiovascular but are not restricted to these areas.
• The BSc (Med) Committee will distribute the award(s) as they see fit.
• The award(s) will be up to $4,000/year ($2,000 from MMSF and $2,000 from SBRC).
• A representative of the Hoeschen family or delegate will present the award at the BSc (Med) Awards Day.
• The Richard Hoeschen Fund will be administered by the MMSF.

Eligibility

For Supervisors without other sources of support: Any supervisor interested in applying for this award should be aware that it is intended only for those individual investigators without external grant support or access to departmental or other funds that could be used to offset expenses related to a student’s project.

Award Amount

The Richard Hoeschen Memorial award has a maximum value in the amount of $4,000 per year. The MMSF and SBRC provide matching funds for this award in the amount of $2,000 each.

The award may be shared each year, with the amount of the award to be shared equally between the successful applicants. If the award is made in the first year of a project’s life, there is no guarantee that it will be awarded again for the second year. However, if an award is made in year one (1), it can be distributed over the two (2) years of a project’s life. Any unspent funds remaining after the student completes the program will revert back, equally, to the MMSF and SBRC. The award will be dispersed through an account established by the successful applicant’s department, through the Budgets and Grants Office of the University of Manitoba.

Please note that the award may not be used as a top-up for a student's stipend.

Candidate Selection

The BSc (Med) Awards Selection Committee will review all completed applications and select the appropriate candidate on a yearly basis. The award funding may be deferred if no appropriate applicant is selected.

Application Package

To apply, supervisors should send a letter as an email attachment to the BSc (Med) program coordinator at the University of Manitoba.

The following will be required as part of the candidate’s application package:

• Student’s name and presenting year
• Brief summary of the project
• The amount requested (up to $4,000)
• Outline of how the funds will be spent (budget)
• Statement that neither the supervisor nor co-supervisor holds a research grant or has access to an appropriate level of funding for a student’s project

Governance

The BSc (Med) Awards Committee is chaired by the BSc (Med) coordinator and consists of three individuals. The BSc (Med) Committee will distribute the award(s) as they see fit.

To recognize research excellence by graduating students in the Basic Health Sciences.

To date $58,000 has been contributed to these awards.

The Foundation currently offers nine undergraduate awards to BSc Medicine students and up to three awards to recognize research excellence by graduating students in the basic health sciences (MSc and PhD awards). Two undergraduate awards are in memory of Morris Neaman, one in memory of Dr. Norman and Margaret Corne and one each in memory of Dr. Jack Wilt, Mr. Justice Wilson, Dr. F. W. Du Val, Dr. L. Israels, Dr. W. D. Bowman and Dr. J. C. Haworth.

The winners of the undergraduate awards are chosen by a four-member prize committee chaired by the BSc Medicine Coordinator at the College of Medicine. The decisions are based on students' written reports after completing the first or second summer's work and their supervisors' supporting letters.

The BSc (Med) program was formally introduced in 1948 under the direction of Dr. Joe Doupe. It’s a two-year course designed to provide medical students an opportunity to engage in original research, either basic or clinical, under the supervision of a member of the College of Medicine. The specific aim is to develop skills in experimental design, hypothesis testing, critical evaluation of data, and effective communication of findings.

The program runs for 13 weeks during the summer breaks after first year and second year medical school. All students receive stipendiary support, presently $7,500 annually. Stipend support, from all donors, is distributed evenly between the students enrolled in the program. The MMSF is a major contributor to the support of these students in the amount of $50,000 annually. Since 1974 the MMSF has contributed over $1,757,050 to the BSc Medicine Summer Student Program.

The MMSF is proud of its ongoing support of the program and commends each student on expanding their research skills and knowledge.

The Bachelor of Science in Dentistry Summer Student Program in the College of Dentistry encourages interested dental students to undertake research during their undergraduate careers. The MMSF is a major contributor of funding for this program.

The specific aim is for students to acquire knowledge and skills in research design and methodology, including experimental design, hypothesis testing, critical evaluation of data, and effective communication of findings. Through active participation in a research program, the students are given the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to apply scientific knowledge to dental practices and to develop an interest in dental research. The student carries out research in either the basic sciences or in a clinical area under the supervision of a faculty member.

The program lasts for two summer terms and runs during the summer breaks after first and second year dental school. All students receive stipendiary support, presently $5,000.

The MMSF currently provides stipendiary support to this program. Since 1994 the MMSF has contributed $560,000 to this program.

After the second summer term and completion of his/her research, the student is required to make an oral presentation and to submit a final report. In addition, the program provides the student with an additional qualification that will serve to facilitate entry by the graduate into various advanced degree and specialty programs.