Nurse Stéphanie Bumba awarded the Meritorious Service Medal

Stéphanie Bumba, a clinical nurse at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), has received the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of her exceptional contributions to education and inclusion. The award was presented on June 25, 2025, at Rideau Hall by the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, who honoured 29 individuals whose work is transforming communities and resonating far beyond Canada’s borders.

Through her web series Ces afro-scientifiques d’hier à aujourd’hui (These Afro Scientists from Yesterday to Today), launched in August 2020 on her YouTube channel Nurse Stephie TV, Stéphanie highlights influential Afro-descendant figures in the health sciences. Spanning three seasons and 33 episodes, the series—followed by more than 1,500 subscribers—celebrates pioneers often absent from school curricula, while inspiring racialized youth to pursue careers in science.

“Receiving the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General is an honour I never imagined,” said Stéphanie. “Thank you to everyone who has supported me from the start. This project has grown into a beautiful collective journey, allowing me to work with inspiring people and spotlight scientific stories that deserve to be told.”

Since joining the MUHC in 2019, Stéphanie Bumba has embodied a profession defined by compassion, expertise, and vision. Motivated by a commitment to building a more inclusive society, she reminds us that taking action—even small steps—can ignite meaningful change.