Samantha Nutt
Encyclopedia
Samantha Joan Nutt, C.M.
, O.Ont.
, LL.D., FRCPC, CCFP, is a co-founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada. She is a physician
with more than thirteen years of experience working in war zones. Since the beginning of her career, Nutt has focused on providing assistance to war-affected women and children. While working at War Child Canada, the United Nations
and several other non-governmental organizations, Nutt has travelled to some of the world’s most violent flashpoints including Iraq
, Afghanistan
, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia
, Sierra Leone
, Somalia
, Burundi
, northern Uganda
, Ethiopia
and the Thai-Burmese border.
In addition to her position at War Child Canada, Nutt is also on staff at Women's College Hospital in Toronto and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto
in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She is married to fellow humanitarian and Ontario's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Eric Hoskins
.
Arts & Science Program
. Subsequently, she received her MD
degree from the same university. She also earned an MSc
degree with distinction at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and holds a Fellowship in Community Medicine (FRCPC) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
. She is further certified by the College of Family Practice (CCFP) and completed a sub specialization in women’s health through the University of Toronto
as a Women’s Health Scholar. Nutt has received honorary doctorates from Niagara University
and Brock University
(Doctor of Humane Letters
), Nova South Western University in Florida and McMaster University
(Doctor of Laws). In 2009, she was awarded an honourary doctorate from the University of Lethbridge
and St Mary's University in Halifax
, while in 2010 she was awarded additional honorary doctorates, this time from The University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa
.
. In 2010, Nutt was appointed to the Order of Ontario, the highest official honour in the province of Ontario. In the same year, Nutt was recognized as one of 25 "Transformational Canadians" as part of a program run by the Globe and Mail, CTV and Cyberpresse to celebrate Canadians who have sought to make a difference. In 2011, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
"for her contributions to improving the plight of young people in the world’s worst conflict zones, notably as a founder of War Child Canada."
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont.
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
, LL.D., FRCPC, CCFP, is a co-founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada. She is a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
with more than thirteen years of experience working in war zones. Since the beginning of her career, Nutt has focused on providing assistance to war-affected women and children. While working at War Child Canada, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and several other non-governmental organizations, Nutt has travelled to some of the world’s most violent flashpoints including Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, northern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and the Thai-Burmese border.
In addition to her position at War Child Canada, Nutt is also on staff at Women's College Hospital in Toronto and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She is married to fellow humanitarian and Ontario's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Dr. Eric Hoskins
Eric Hoskins
Eric William Hoskins, OC, MSC is a Canadian administrator and politician. Hoskins was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in a by-election on September 17, 2009, representing St. Paul's as a member of the Ontario Liberal Party...
.
Education
Nutt graduated Summa Cum Laude from McMaster University'sMcMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
Arts & Science Program
McMaster Arts and Science
The Arts and Science Program is a highly exclusive interdisciplinary undergraduate programme at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario...
. Subsequently, she received her MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree from the same university. She also earned an MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree with distinction at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and holds a Fellowship in Community Medicine (FRCPC) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada ' , French: Collège royal des médecins et chirurgiens du Canada, is a national, private, nonprofit organization established in 1929 by a special Act of Parliament to oversee the medical education of specialists in Canada...
. She is further certified by the College of Family Practice (CCFP) and completed a sub specialization in women’s health through the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
as a Women’s Health Scholar. Nutt has received honorary doctorates from Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
and Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
(Doctor of Humane Letters
Doctor of Humane Letters
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
), Nova South Western University in Florida and McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
(Doctor of Laws). In 2009, she was awarded an honourary doctorate from the University of Lethbridge
University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a publicly-funded comprehensive academic and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with two other urban campuses in Calgary and Edmonton. The main building sits among the coulees on the west side of...
and St Mary's University in Halifax
Saint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
, while in 2010 she was awarded additional honorary doctorates, this time from The University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
.
Honours
Nutt’s work on behalf of war-affected communities around the world has been widely recognized. She has received several awards including "Canada’s Top 40 under 40" award from the Globe and Mail. Time Magazine called her one of "Canada’s Five Leading Activists". Most recently, she was chosen as "Personnalité De La Semaine" by La Presse and was chosen as one of "200 Young Global Leaders" in the world by the World Economic ForumWorld Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
. In 2010, Nutt was appointed to the Order of Ontario, the highest official honour in the province of Ontario. In the same year, Nutt was recognized as one of 25 "Transformational Canadians" as part of a program run by the Globe and Mail, CTV and Cyberpresse to celebrate Canadians who have sought to make a difference. In 2011, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
"for her contributions to improving the plight of young people in the world’s worst conflict zones, notably as a founder of War Child Canada."