It was a no brainer for a Niagara doctor and her brother to give back to their local Niagara community through the establishment of the Pringle Family Health Research Award.

Shira Brown, an emergency physician and physician lead for the South Niagara Hospital project for Niagara Health, and her brother Wes Pringle, head of portfolio operations at investment company Onex, have established the award through the Niagara Regional Campus of McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

The award is in recognition of their parents Alistaire and Beryl Pringle, residents of the Niagara region, and in appreciation for the health care they have received in Niagara.

"We are so grateful to give back to Niagara's medical community where our family has received exceptional care. By enhancing medical research and academics in our region, we can ensure all patients receive world class care right here at home in Niagara,” said Brown.

Amanda Bell, regional assistant dean of Niagara Regional Campus of the medical school, said she feels this award will inspire a future generation of clinician researchers in the community.

“This award exemplifies the significant impact of philanthropy on the wellness of the Niagara community, and we hope it inspire others to consider how they can positively impact those who need care the most through individual and collective action,” said Bell.

The annual award of $5,000 is granted to researchers working with medical students and residents of the Niagara Regional Campus, who demonstrate innovation in the field of emergency medicine, advancing knowledge and of benefit to society.

Niagara Health emergency medicine physicians Craig Brick and Oliver Shaw are the inaugural award recipients with their research project on optimizing acute low back pain care in the emergency department of Niagara Health.

“We are both very grateful and humbled to receive the Pringle Family Health Research Award. This donation will help support the Emergency Medicine Researchers of Niagara including residents and learners,” said Shaw.

Brown believes this annual award could have long-lasting positive impacts in the community.

“We hope this will inspire others to support emergency medicine research in our region and to help save lives."