The BC Cancer Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to shine a light on the inspiring people and teams who help ensure that British Columbians receive world-class, patient-centered cancer screening, treatment and support, and benefit from new discoveries that are helping change the face of cancer.

Anika Patel is a manager for Provincial Programs. She is the winner of this year's BC Cancer Excellence Award in the category of Workplace Inspiration.

The Workplace Inspiration award recognizes a person with an unyielding ability to inspire those around them. This is a person colleagues look to for encouragement and motivation.

Anika is a true leader who embodies integrity and action. Known for her compassion and commitment to her team, Anika goes beyond words to create a supportive environment for everyone around her.

Colleagues praise Anika for her problem-solving skills, approaching challenges with excitement and curiosity. She sees obstacles as opportunities for learning and never compromises on quality, striving for excellence in every task. Her empathetic nature means she handles conflicts with grace, helping others grow from their mistakes.

Anika's influence extends to her personal interactions with her coworkers. One colleague shared:

“Anika is a healer to her coworkers. She heals her colleagues in her compassionate way that frontline staff heal our patients. She teaches life lessons without realizing that she does. She will never try to teach anyone because she is humble. It is in her action-based leadership that she teaches us."

Anika creates a psychologically safe environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns. Her unwavering support and belief in each individual's potential inspire her colleagues to pursue growth and development.

Congratulations, Anika Patel, on being named this year's Workplace Inspiration!

Pictured: Anika accepting her Workplace Inspiration award from Dr. Elaine Wai, senior executive director, Medical Affairs.