Dr Shela Hirani was recognized with over 50 honors for making a significant difference in the community.

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• King Charles III Coronation Medal from the Canadian Nurses Association. 2025

• WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women-Top 100. 2024 [Category: Community Impact]

• Best Paper Award in the Empirical Category from the Global Qualitative Nursing Research Journal. 2023. (I am the First author on this ‘Breastfeeding in Disaster Paper’)

• Certificate of Recognition from the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) for dedication and commitment to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and the infant feeding goals of families. 2024.

• Honored Listee, Marquis Who’s Who® for contribution to breastfeeding mothers and nursing. 2023.

• Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal from the Government of Saskatchewan, Canada. 2023.

• Saskatchewan Multicultural Leadership Award from the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan. 2022

• YWCA Nutrien Women of Distinction Award (Category: Research, The Science & Technology), Canada. 2022

• Recognized as one of the Top 50 finalists of the Canadian Immigrant Awards, Canada. 2022

• Recognized by the World Health Organization as Top 100 outstanding women nurse and midwife leaders from around the world [Category: Community Hero]. 2020.

• Emerging Nurse Researcher Award from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, USA. 2020

• Nila Cushman Memorial Graduate Scholarship from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2019.

• Dr. Christine Newburn-Cook International Graduate Award in Nursing from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2018

• Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate Prize from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2018.

• Janeetta MacPhail Award from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2017.

• Alice R Thomas & Bryan Campbell-Hope International Graduate Scholarship in Nursing from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2016.

• Dorothy J Killam Memorial Graduate Prize (awarded to top 4 most outstanding Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship Recipients) from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2016.

• President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2016.

• Vanier Graduate Scholarship Award (CIHR) from the Government of Canada. 2016-2019

• Honorary Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship from the University of Alberta. 2016-2018.

• Helen E Penhale Graduate Research Travel Award from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2016.

• Isobel Secord Graduate Scholarship Award from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2015.

• Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship Award from the University of Alberta, Canada. 2015.

• Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Award from Aga Khan Foundation, Geneva. 2015.

• Trudi Szallasi Memorial Scholarship Award from Health-e-learning: Institute of Human Lactation. 2012.

• Omicron Delta Leadership Education Grant from Sigma Theta Tau International, USA. 2012.

• Edith Anderson Leadership Education Grant from Sigma Theta Tau International, USA. 2011.

• An overall distinction in the Masters of Science in Nursing program and thesis distinction from Aga Khan University, Pakistan. 2010.

• Neonatal Nurse Distinguished Scholarship Award from Academy of Neonatal Nursing, USA. 2007.

• Outstanding Teacher Award from Aga Khan University, Pakistan. 2007.

• Start Laureate Award and Sir Syed Gold Medal from South Asia Publications, Pakistan. 2004.

• Best Graduate Award, Nursing Practice Award, distinctions, Humanities and Science Award from Aga Khan University, Pakistan. 2003.