Dean’s Awards – Faculty of Health Sciences 2026

On Friday 3 July, the Faculty of Health Sciences held its annual Dean’s Awards ceremony to honour staff, students, alumni and distinguished guests by celebrating excellence, dedication and outstanding contributions across the Faculty. The event highlighted academic achievement, professional commitment, mentorship and service to society.

The evening commenced with a welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, Professor Paulann Grech, who greeted the guests, and was followed by an address by the Dean, Professor Stephen Lungaro Mifsud.

The first awards to be issued were for academic excellence for the 2024/2025 academic year. Academic Achievement Awards were presented to the best performing undergraduate students in the first, second and third years of study, and the Greatest Academic Improvement Award was given to the student who showed the greatest improvement between the first and second years of study. Postgraduate Academic Achievement Awards were also given to the top students in the mainly taught Master’s programmes and the MSc by Research programme.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of the Student Nominated Awards, honouring members of the Faculty community who have made an exceptional impact on students. Congratulations to Dr Anabel Sciriha who received the Dean’s Award for Student Nominated Academic Member of Staff of the Year in recognition of her outstanding teaching, mentorship and support of students. Mr Alistair Chetcuti received the Dean’s Award for Student Nominated Clinical Mentor of the Year for his commitment to clinical education and Ms Marika Spagnol received the Dean’s Award for Student Nominated Administrative Member of Staff of the Year for her outstanding professionalism and ongoing support of students and staff.

Ms Sophie Marie Vincenti was presented with the Dean’s Award for Altruistic Contribution to Society for her voluntary work in Ethiopia, where she supported vulnerable communities through healthcare initiatives and coordinated the donation of healthcare supplies from members of the Faculty.

The evening was rounded off with the presentation of Dean’s Awards for Special Mention. These prestigious awards recognised Ms Miriam Avellino for her many years of dedicated service and continued dedication to the Faculty post-retirement; Ms Jessica Vella for her outstanding accomplishments in representing Malta in karate at both national and international levels while successfully pursuing her studies in Physiotherapy; and Her Excellency President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in recognition of her exceptional and lifelong dedication to compassion, social justice, inclusion and service to humanity.

The ceremony showcased the Faculty’s commitment to recognising excellence, not only in academic achievement, but in leadership, mentorship, service and compassion: the qualities that are at the core of the health professions and that continue to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Congratulations to all the award winners for their outstanding achievements and valuable contribution to the Faculty of Health Sciences and the wider community.

Special thanks to Mayor John Boxall and the Birgu Local Council for hosting the event, to CareMalta for their generous contribution of catering, to Mr Nicolai Schembri, Mr Lane Anthony Pollina and Mr Kieran Delia for providing the sound system and IT support, to Ms Magdalene Spiteri and Ms Roseanne Fenech for their help in transporting and setting up equipment and to Dr Roderick Bugeja, Mr Thomas Spagnol and Ms Maria Navarro for their logistical support. Finally, sincere thanks to Ms Marthese Gauci from the Dean’s Office for her excellent coordination and meticulous organisation of the event and to Faculty Manager Ms Anne Marie Debono Hollyoak for her ongoing support to the Faculty’s administrative team. Their combined efforts made this memorable celebration a success.

Academic Achievement Awards Presentations for Academic Year 2024/25

First Year:

• Borg Estelle (Radiography)
• Bezzina Amalia (Mental Health)
• Magri Courtney (Nursing)

Second Year:

• Bezzina Benjamin (Radiography)
• Zammit Larissa (Nursing)
• Tabone Celine (Communication Therapy)

Third Year*:

• El Gamei Dania (Midwifery)
• Galea Daniel (Medical Physics)
• Micallef Francesca (Applied Biomedical Science)

Undergraduate Greatest Academic Improvement Award:

• Amy Emanuela Agius (Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics)

Postgraduate Greatest Academic Achievement Award:

• Samuel Grima (Medical Physics Unit) – MSc Mainly Taught
• Jasmine Spiteri (Applied Biomedical Science) – MSc by Research

Dean’s Award for Student Nominated Academic Member of Staff of the Year:

• Dr Anabel Sciriha

Dean’s Award for Student Nominated Clinical Mentor of the Year:

• Mr Alistair Chetcuti

Dean’s Award for Student Nominated Administrative Member of Staff of the Year:

• Ms Marika Spagnol

Dean’s Award for Altruistic Contribution to Society:

• Ms Sophi Marie Vincenti

Dean’s Award for Special Mention:

• Ms Miriam Avellino
• Ms Jessica Vella
• President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca