June 2024 Cedar Award: Blake Dobie

Nominated by Cecilia Duran

Blake Dobie has been with the Midwifery Program for over a decade, working in a variety of roles before being promoted to Senior Administrative Business Manager. He first helped run a pilot for international midwives before taking on the role of student services manager. In 2015, Blake took on a leadership role for the Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program, helping people orient to the Canadian model of midwifery. As always, he did this with compassion and lots of attention to student support. Cecilia Duran, bridging program student-turned-faculty member, nominated him for the Cedar Award because he “has been instrumental in making [her] feel welcome and supported, always directing [her] to the appropriate resources and helping [her] understand the department. “

Blake’s dedication to the development of new midwives and his knowledge of the department speaks to his recent promotion. As the program expands to fulfill the needs of the ever-changing and growing community, they are incredibly lucky to have him. From quickly responding to emails from students from across the world, to answering questions for new faculty and supporting and mentoring new staff, he holds critical institutional memory of where the program has been and where it is going.

Known for always having a calm and friendly solution, Blake is thoroughly committed to supporting all the faculty, staff and students in midwifery to be their best selves.

“In the 13 years that Blake has worked with UBC Midwifery, he has done almost every piece of staff work, from faculty support to admissions. Blake knows operations like no other person in Midwifery. In 2023, he accepted a new position as Senior Administrative Business Manager, taking on the responsibility for staff, midwifery operations, and finance. Blake has a positive attitude, never saying something can’t be done, but considering how something might best be done.”  — Professor Cecilia Jevitt

Please join us in thanking and congratulating Blake!