This award is named in honor of Mr. Allen Rouse, one of the founding members of the MMSF.

Mr. Rouse worked diligently to lead and serve the Foundation for the benefit of all Manitobans. Before retiring he served the MMSF as a volunteer Board Member for 41 years with 36 of those years as its respected Chair. His guidance, leadership, and dedication to volunteerism carried the Foundation forward from inception in 1971 into the 21st Century.

The annual amount of salary support was increased in 2021 from $50,000 to $55,000* annually.* To date the MMSF has provided support for this award totaling $1,342,500.

Award Guidelines

• The award is given for a period of 3 years during which the MMSF will contribute $55,000* per year towards the salary (including benefits) of the awardee. A one-year term grant-in-aid to the appointee of up to $20,000 may be made during the first year of the appointment.
• Candidates must have a faculty appointment at the University of Manitoba and must be engaged in basic research related to the health field. During the tenure of the award, the awardee must guarantee a 75% time commitment to research.
• To be successful in this competition, a candidate must be judged to be in the early stages of a productive research career. The candidate should have been engaged in independent research for not more than 7 years, should have received one or more grants from a national granting agency, such as the Canadian Institute of Health Research, and should have a satisfactory publication record in peer reviewed journals. This judgment will also include a review of the candidate’s training qualifications and experience and the support of letters of reference. A candidate will also be judged on clarity and communications of both a written research submission and a brief presentation and response to questions with the Award review panel.
• The intent of the award is to support the awardee to become a strong candidate for a senior national personal research award and for the general benefit of health research in Manitoba.
• An awardee is not eligible for the MMSF Allen Rouse Basic Science Career Development Research Award for a second 3-year term.
• The award cannot be held concurrently with another personal career award.
• An awardee who receives the MMSF Allen Rouse Basic Science Career Development Research Award is not eligible for other MMSF Salary awards.

*The salary increases from $50,000 to $55,000 per year became effective with the commencement of new appointments awarded after April 15, 2021. The salary increase did not apply to ongoing career awards appointed prior to April 15, 2021.

Previously the MMSF Dr. F. W. Du Val Clinical Research Professorship, this award was renamed in 2021 to the MMSF Dr. F. W. Du Val and John Henson Clinical Research Professorship. This award commemorates the legacies of the late Dr. Fred Du Val and John Henson. The annual amount of salary support was increased in 2021 from $50,000 to $55,000* annually.

Dr. Du Val served on the MMSF Board from 1976 until his death on May 14, 2002. He was a much respected surgeon, professor, teacher, and philanthropist who co-founded the Surgery Can Be Fun Club in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Du Val’s involvement in the health field was extensive, including Chair of the Board of Manitoba Blue Cross, Director of Blue Cross Life Insurance of Canada, Secretary to the Manitoba Medical Association, President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and Treasurer and member of the Executive of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

John Henson was CFO and VP at Manitoba Blue Cross for many years. He was an avid supporter of the Foundation and provided many years of valued financial and business advice.

Both Fred and John believed strongly in improving the health and well-being of all Manitobans, and this professorship supports their beliefs.

To date, the MMSF has provided support for this award totaling $1,655,000.

Award Guidelines

• The award is given for a period of 3 years during which the MMSF will contribute $55,000* per year towards the salary (including benefits) of the awardee. A three-year term grant-in-aid to the appointee of up to $20,000 may be made during the first year of the appointment.
• Candidates must be physicians or health care professionals licensed to practice in Manitoba with a faculty appointment at the University of Manitoba. Applicants must be engaged in research related to the health field. During the tenure of the award the awardee must guarantee a 50 per cent time commitment to research.
• To be successful in this competition, a candidate must be judged to be in the early stages of a productive research career as a health care professional. The candidate should have been engaged in independent research for not more than seven years since an academic appointment with the University of Manitoba, should have received one or more grants from a national granting agency – such as the Canadian Institute of Health Research – and should have a satisfactory publication record in peer reviewed journals. This judgment will also include a review of the candidate’s training, qualifications and experience, and the support of letters of reference. A candidate will also be judged on clarity and communications through a written research submission and a brief presentation and response to questions with the Award review panel.
• The intent of the award is to promote clinical research at the University of Manitoba for the general benefit of health research in Manitoba and to advance the research career of the awardee.
• An awardee is not eligible for the MMSF Dr. F. W. Du Val and John Henson Clinical Research Professorship Award for a second three-year term.
• The award cannot be held concurrently with another personal career award.
• An awardee who receives the MMSF Dr. F. W. Du Val and John Henson Clinical Research Professorship Award is not eligible for other MMSF Salary awards.

* The salary of $55,000 per year became effective with the commencement of new appointments awarded after April 15, 2021. The salary increase did not apply to ongoing career awards appointed prior to April 15, 2021.

**The Manitoba Medical Service Foundation and the Manitoba Health Research Council cooperatively funded the 2010-2013 and the 2011-2014 Clinical Research Professorships in Population Health.

Previously the MMSF John Henson Clinical Research Professorship in Population Health, this award was renamed in 2021 to the MMSF Shaun Lamoureux and Kerry Bittner Clinical Research Professorship in Population Health. This award commemorates the legacies of the late Shaun Lamoureux and Kerry Bittner. The annual amount of salary support was also increased in 2021 from $50,000 to $55,000* annually.

Shaun Lamoureux will be remembered for his strong leadership and his dedication to Manitoba Blue Cross and the MMSF. He was Chief Financial and Technology Officer and Vice President at Manitoba Blue Cross for many years. In 2018, he was appointed President and CEO.

Over his 18 years with Manitoba Blue Cross, Shaun’s business acumen, strategic vision and commitment to excellence played a significant role in the growth and development of the company. He was an avid supporter of the Foundation and provided many years of valued financial and business advice.

Kerry Bittner started his career with Manitoba Blue Cross in 1976 working in the sales department. He served as President and CEO from 1983 until his retirement in 2003. He also served on the MMSF Board of Directors for 33 years.

Kerry was an exceptionally kind man – a true leader who had the ability to make everyone comfortable. He will be fondly remembered for being a true ambassador for the Colour of Caring and a generous supporter of the Foundation.

Both Shaun and Kerry believed strongly in improving the health and well-being of all Manitobans, and this professorship supports their beliefs.

To date, the MMSF has provided support for this award totaling $1,030,000.

Award Guidelines

• The award is given for a period of three years, during which the MMSF will contribute $55,000* per year towards the salary (including benefits) of the awardee. A one-year term grant-in-aid to the appointee of up to $40,000 may be made during the first year of the appointment.
• Candidates must be physicians or health care professionals licensed to practice in Manitoba and have a faculty appointment at the University of Manitoba. Applicants must be engaged in research related to population health in Manitoba. During the tenure of the award, the awardee must guarantee a 50 per cent time commitment to research.
• To be successful in this competition, a candidate must be judged to be in the early stages of a productive research career as a health clinician or scientist studying population health issues. The candidate should have been engaged in independent research for not more than seven years since an academic appointment with the University of Manitoba, should have received one or more grants from a national granting agency – such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – and should have a satisfactory publication record in peer-reviewed journals. This judgment will also include a review of the candidate’s training, qualifications and experience, and the support of letters of reference. A candidate will also be judged on clarity and communication through a written research submission and a brief presentation and response to questions with the Award review panel.
• The intent of the award is to attract and retain clinicians into population health research at the University of Manitoba for the general benefit of health research in Manitoba and to advance the research career of the awardee
• An awardee is not eligible for the MMSF Shaun Lamoureux and Kerry Bittner Clinical Research Professorship Award in Population Medicine for a second three-year term.
• The award cannot be held concurrently with another personal career award.
• An awardee who receives the MMSF Shaun Lamoureux and Kerry Bittner Clinical Research in Population Medicine Award is not eligible for other MMSF Salary awards.

*The salary increases from $50,000 to $55,000 per year became effective with the commencement of new appointments awarded after April 15, 2021. The salary increase did not apply to ongoing career awards appointed prior to April 15, 2021.

**The Manitoba Medical Service Foundation and the Manitoba Health Research Council cooperatively funded the 2010-2013 and the 2011-2014 Clinical Research Professorships in Population Health.