The University of Lethbridge Faculty of Health Sciences has named Dr. Chris Hosgood as the winner of this year's Friend of Health Sciences Award. (Photo supplied by University of Lethbridge)

By Justin Goulet

Former U of L Faculty of Health Sciences dean to receive award

May 2, 2024 | 1:57 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge (U of L) has selected the winner of this year’s Friend of Health Sciences Award.

Former dean Dr. Chris Hosgood is this year’s recipient of the award, which he in fact instituted.

“I was a little embarrassed when I learned I was to be named this year’s recipient because I was the person who started the award,” he says.

“But I have to be honest — it felt really good because being Dean of Health Sciences was something that meant a great deal to me.”

Hosgood was born in the United Kingdom and moved to Canada when he was a child. He joined the U of L history department in 1988 with a specialty in British history. After teaching for a decade, he switched to the administrative area and worked as associate dean in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

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From there, Hosgood took on the role of interim dean in the School of Health Sciences, being fully appointed to the position in 2005.

The U of L says at that time, the School of Health Sciences was focused on its nursing program, which had teamed up with Lethbridge College on the delivery of the Bachelor of Nursing. The addictions counselling program was added on and under Hosgood’s leadership, the school became the Faculty of Health Sciences. Programming was expanded to include a Bachelor of Nursing After-Degree program, a Master of Nursing, Public Health, Aboriginal Health, Master of Science, Master of Health Services Management and a PhD in Population Studies in Health. More recently, the Therapeutic Recreation program was added.

“There are all sorts of different ways to be a dean, but for me, it was about talking to people. We always had healthy discussions at Faculty Council, which helped bring people together. In Health Sciences, we tried to create a kind of culture where everyone had a say,” Hosgood says.

“I think there was an environment where people felt able to speak their minds in a respectful way. I believe very strongly in collegial governance.”

Hosgood will be celebrated at the Friends of Health Sciences Dinner on May 23, 2024.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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