Helen Kathleen Mussallem
C.C., D.St.J., B.N., M.A., Ed.D., LLD, Dsc., D.U., F.R.C.N..
Educational Background
Diploma – Vancouver General Hospital
Diploma – Teaching, Supervision and Administration – University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Bachelor of Nursing – McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Master of Arts – Teacher’s College, Columbia University, New York
Doctor of Education – Columbia University, New York
(Honorary Degrees listed under “Major Awards”)
Professional Positions
1943-1946 Active Service, Lieutenant (Nursing Officer) Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps: Canada and Overseas
Staff Nurse, Head Nurse and Supervisor, Vancouver General Hospital
1947-1957 Instructor, Senior Instructor, Director of Nursing Education – Vancouver General Hospital, School of Nursing,
1957-1960 Director, Pilot Project for Evaluation of Schools of Nursing in Canada, Canadian Nurses Association
1960-1963 Director of Special Studies, Canadian Nurses Association
1962-1963 Seconded to Royal Commission on Health Services for Study of Nursing Education in Canada
1963-1981 Executive Director, Canadian Nurses Association
1966-1981 Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Nurses Foundation
1980-1985 Project Director of International Study on “Group Action by Nurses”
1981-1985 Member of Board of Directors of International Council of Nurses
1981-1999 Special Adviser to National and International Health Organizations
Major Awards
Rockefeller Foundation Travelling Scholarship, 1957
Centennial Medal, 1967
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) – University of New Brunswick, 1968
Officer, Order of Canada, 1969
Doctor of Science (honoris causa) – Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1969
Special Citation of Recognition, Canadian Red Cross Society, 1974
Fellow, Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom, 1976
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977
Award of Distinguished Achievement in Nursing Research & Scholarship, Columbia University, New York, 1977
Medal for Distinguished Service, Columbia University, 1979
Canada’s National Nursing Library designated “The Helen K. Mussallem Library”, CNA House, June 1980
Florence Nightingale Medal, International Red Cross, 1981
Commonwealth Foundation Lectureship Award to Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Malta and Cyprus, 1981
Jeanne Mance Award of the Canadian Nurses Association, 1981
Dame of Grace, Order of St.John, 1982
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) – Queen’s University, 1983
Award of Merit, Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia, 1983
Miembro de Honor, Cuban Nurses Society, 1984
International Council of Nurses, Award for Service, 1988
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) – McMaster University, 1989
Companion, Order of Canada, 1992 (promotion within the Order)
Medal, 125th Anniversary of Confederation, 1992
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) – University of British Columbia, 1994
Dame of Justice, Order of St.John, 1997
Doctor of the University, University of Ottawa, 1998
Ross Award for Nursing Leadership, Canadian Nurses Foundation, 1991
Nursing Hall of Fame, Columbia University, 1999
Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, 2002
R. Louise McManus Medal for Distinguished Service to Nursing, Teachers College, Columbia University, 2003
Capilano Herald of Arms Extraordinary, Canadian Heraldic Authority, 2006
Doctor of Science (honoris causa) – McGill University, 2006
Lady Ishbel Aberdeen Award, Victorian Order of Nurses Canada, 2007
Notations in Who’s Who in Canada and Who’s Who Outstanding Women of the 20th Century
Honorary Life Member
Association of Nurses of Prince Edward Island, 1971
Alberta Association of Registered Nurses, 1980
Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, 1980
Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association, 1980
New Brunswick Association of Registered Nurses, 1980
Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, 1981
Canadian Council of Health Service Executives, 1981
Canadian College of Health Services Executives, 1982
Northwest Territories Registered Nurses Association, 1982
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, 1988
Canadian Nurses Foundation, 1990
Canadian Nursing Students Association, 1992
Canadian Public Health Association, Life Member, 1994
The University of British Columbia Alumni Association, 1994
Victorian Order of Nurses, 1996
Honor Society of Nursing, University of Ottawa
Major International Assignments and Missions
Chairman, First Scientific Group on Research in Nursing of World Health Organization, Geneva, 1963
Canadian Representative at the 350th Anniversary Meeting of the International Red Cross, Lausanne. Switzerland, 1963
Chairman of Expert Committee to advise on the program for the International School of Advanced Nursing Education, University of Edinburgh, for World Health Organization, 1964
Survey of Nursing and Nursing Education in Lebanon for World Health Organization, 1964
Short-term consultant on Survey of Schools of Nursing in the Caribbean for Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, 1964, 1965
Member of Canadian Delegation to Commonwealth Medical Conference, Edinburgh, 1965
Consultant to Seminar on Nursing Education, West Indies, for Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, 1966, 1967 and 1968
Senior Consultant and Chief Rapporteur on First Travelling Seminar on Nursing in USSR for World Health Organization, 1966
Consultant to Seminar for Senior Tutors in the Caribbean, Guyana, South America, 1968
Chairman, PAHO/WHO Technical Advisory Committee on Nursing in Middle andLatin America, Washington, USA, 1968
Project Director for meeting of Commonwealth Caribbean Nurses sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation, Barbados, 1970
WHO Consultant on project for accreditation of university and diploma schools of nursing in the Philippines, 1970
WHO Consultant, Survey of Nursing Education in the Commonwealth Caribbean, 1971
Member, Founding Board of Directors, Commonwealth Nurses Federation, London, England, 1971
Canadian Coordinator of Summit Seminar for Nurses, London, England, 1972, 1974, 1976
Consultant to Seminar on Nursing Education in Latin America (middle level) (PAHO/WHO) Caracas, Venezuela, 1972
Short-term consultant to nursing education project, University School of Nursing, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1973
Consultant to Commonwealth Caribbean Regional Nursing Body, Antigua, W.J., 1973-1977
Consultant to Participant in First All African Seminar of Nurses, Ghana, 1974
Chairman, Committee on Liaison with Professional Associations, IXth International Conference on Health Education, Ottawa, 1976
Keynote Speaker and Conference Consultant, Royal Australian Nursing Federation Conference on Goals in Nursing Education, Melbourne, Australia and Consultant to nurses in Queensland, Tasmania, and Southern Australia, 1977
Member of Canadian Government Delegation, 30th World Health Assembly, Geneva Switzerland 1977
Address to World Federation of Public Health Associations, Geneva Switzerland, 1977
Keynote Speaker and Consultant to Seminar, 10th Anniversary Meeting, Bermuda Nurses Association, Hamilton, Bermuda
Planning Committee & Speaker, Second Congress, World Federation of Public Health Associations, 1978
World Health Organization Study of Nursing Services in Cyprus, 1980
Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom, Seminar, Presentation on Accountability in Nursing, Leeds Castle, Kent, England 1980
Special Advisor to World Health Organization and Official Representative of the International Council of Nurses to the First Congress of the Cuban Nurses Society, Havana, Cuba 1980
Commonwealth Foundation Lectureship to Nigeria, Liberia, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Malta, and Cyprus, 1981
Consultant on Nursing and Health to Cuban Government, sponsored by Governments of Canada and Cuba (Memorandum of Understanding) 1973, 1976, 1977, 1981
Official Representative, International Council of Nurses to 2nd World Nurses Congress, Cuba, 1984
Special Adviser to Canadian nurse delegation and Canadian Nurses Association officers at meetings of their international body known as International Council of Nurses (ICN) and its
Council of National Representatives in: Geneva, 1963; Frankfurt, 1965; Evian, 1967; Montreal, 1969; Dublin, 1971; Mexico, 1973; Tokyo, 1977; Nairobi, 1979.
Speaker or Chairman of Special Sessions at ICN Congresses in Frankfurt, 1965; Montreal 1969 (Chairman, host association planning committee); Mexico, 1973; Tokyo, 1977; Nairobi, 1979; Los Angeles, 1981; Tel Aviv Israel, 1985; Seoul, 1989; Madrid, 1993
Chair, Plenary Session, World Federation of Public Health, Mexico, 1987
Board, Committee Member, or Advisor to Organizations including:
Canadian Association for the Prevention of Crime
Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing
Canadian Cancer Society, Fellowship Committee
Canadian Committee on Five Days of Peace, Board of Directors
Canadian Council on Social Development
Canadian Federation of University Women
Canadian International Development Agency (NGO division)
Canadian Lung Association
Canadian Nurses Association
Canadian Nurses Foundation, Patron
Canadian Nurses Education Interest Group (CNEIG), Consultant
Canadian Public Health Association, International Review and Evaluation Committee
Canadian Society of Association Executives
Canadian University Service Overseas
Caribbean Public Health Association, Founding member
Caribbean Registered Nurses Body
Centre for Days of Peace, Board of Directors
Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations, Board of Directors
Commonwealth Nurses Federation
Eastern, Central and Southern African College of Nursing
Economic Council of Canada (1971-1990)
Friends of National Gallery of Canada
Friends of National Museum of Civilization
Friends of National Arts Centre
Health and Welfare Canada, Fellowship Selections Committee
Human Rights Institute for Canada, Board of Directors
International Council of Nurses
International Association of Adult Education
Law Reform Commission of Canada
Nursing Officers Association of Canada
Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association, Certification Advisory Committee
Orpheus Society, Patron
Pan American Health Organization
Premier’s Council on Health Strategy, 1990
Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia
Royal Society of Health
St. John Ambulance Society, Special Adviser to Chancellor of St. John Ambulance on Public Affairs, 1989
UNICEF National Committee
Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, Past President
West African College of Nursing
World Federation of Public Health
World Health Organization
YM/YWCA Discussion Club, Consultant