2025 Award Recipients

PhD, Nursing

From leading UCalgary’s Alumni Association to shaping national conversations in pediatric palliative care, Dr. Kate Wong exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose, compassion and vision.

Kate is graduating with a PhD from the Faculty of Nursing, where her research focus explores how children with serious illness communicate through art, metaphor and silence. Her scholarly impact has been recognized internationally and is rooted in over a decade of experience as a pediatric palliative care nurse. “What’s most important to me is that my actions result in ‘better’,” says Kate. “I don’t have to change the world, but I should [at least] strive to make it better.”

She fast-tracked from a master’s program into a PhD and successfully defended a dissertation deemed “worthy of international recognition.” Her research brings visibility to the inner experiences of children navigating life-shortening (i.e. terminal) illness and challenges traditional models of pediatric care. She credits the UCalgary community—and especially her supervisor, Dr. Nancy Moules—with supporting her growth. “I remember walking out of her class as an undergraduate student and thinking, ‘I want to be the next Nancy Moules,’” says Kate. “It was 14 years of continuous encouragement and support from Dr. Moules that helped me get to where I am today.”

Kate’s leadership has extended far beyond the classroom and bedside. As President and Chair of the UCalgary Alumni Association, she has led with a strong focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility—modernizing governance processes and expanding representation across age, background and geography. She also co-led the establishment of the Student Food Security Fund with Chancellor Jon Cornish, helping raise more than $24,000 in its first Giving Day campaign. “We know UCalgary is a great place to ‘start something,’ but I know our campus community and alumni maintain that momentum to drive lasting change—I’ll always want to be a part of that,” she says.

A committed mentor, Kate has supported Chancellor’s Scholars, graduate peers, and undergraduate students pursuing volunteer and research opportunities in health and community service. Several of her former preceptor students now work alongside her as nurses in pediatric palliative care. Her mentorship is characterized by care, encouragement and advocacy—the same qualities that define her teaching and clinical work.

In recognition of her transformative contributions as a scholar, nurse, and engaged alumna, Kate has recently been appointed Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing. She continues to shape the future of nursing through her teaching, mentorship, and research, including a current study on how families navigate the transition from pediatric to adult palliative care—an emerging challenge for young adults with life-shortening illnesses. As she looks ahead to this next chapter, Kate remains grounded in the values that have defined her journey: compassion, curiosity, and action. “If I don’t show up, if I don’t intentionally place myself in a position to act, I can’t live my values.”