GroYourBiz names three Canadian clinicians as 2026 Champions of Change

GroYourBiz on June 17, 2026, recognized three Canadian clinical leaders for advancing infection-prevention practices and patient outcomes at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Alberta. Their work has cut infections, reduced antibiotic use and drawn interest from other health systems in Canada and abroad. Why it matters: - The award spotlights clinical leadership that is changing hospital practice, not just honoring individual achievement. - The honourees’ infection-prevention work has produced measurable gains in patient safety, lower antibiotic use and fewer readmissions. - The results add momentum to wider efforts to reduce antimicrobial resistance and improve surgical infection prevention. What happened: - GroYourBiz announced its 2026 Champion of Change Award recipients on June 17, 2026. - The honourees are Professor Stephanie Smith, Dr. Claudia Malic and Kate Duke, RN. - Professor Smith is a professor in infectious diseases at the University of Alberta and director of hospital infection prevention and control at the University of Alberta Hospital and Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. - Dr. Malic is a plastic surgeon at The Ottawa Hospital and an associate professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine. - Kate Duke is director of perioperative services and surgical care at The Ottawa Hospital. - Professor Smith received her award at a GroYourBiz event in Calgary. - Dr. Malic and Duke were recognized in Ottawa during The Ottawa Hospital’s Collins Day celebration. The details: - Ondine Biomedical nominated the three leaders for advancing infection-prevention protocols within their institutions. - Professor Smith led the switch from a traditional five-day pre-surgical antibiotic treatment to a five-minute light-based nasal treatment called Steriwave® before surgery. - At the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, that change produced a 32% reduction in infections after cardiac surgery. - The protocol also reduced reliance on antibiotics, improved patient safety and lowered costs. - At The Ottawa Hospital, Dr. Malic and Duke helped integrate the same protocol. - Their work cut length of stay and readmission rates by approximately half. - Their team also recorded substantial decreases in antibiotic use and emergency room visits. - GroYourBiz said the recipients generated clinical data that improved outcomes locally and helped shape best practices beyond their own hospitals. - The organization describes the award as recognizing women who challenge convention, lead with evidence and create lasting impact in complex environments. Between the lines: - The awards underscore how operational changes inside hospitals can scale into broader policy and practice discussions. - The results are likely to draw attention because they connect infection prevention with cost control, capacity management and antibiotic stewardship. - Carolyn Cross, founder and CEO of Ondine Biomedical, said the hospitals’ work is helping inform healthcare systems in Canada and abroad. - Barbara Mowat, president of GroYourBiz, said the honourees exemplify leadership that turns sound solutions into evidence other institutions can follow. What’s next: - The clinical data from the three honourees is continuing to fuel interest in similar infection-prevention approaches across Canada and internationally. - GroYourBiz said the honourees’ work is opening doors for collaboration, research and improved patient care across healthcare systems. - More information is available from GroYourBiz. The bottom line: - GroYourBiz used its 2026 awards to highlight a practical kind of healthcare leadership: clinical innovation that measurably improves outcomes and can spread beyond one hospital.