The Passing of Annette Werk, Associate Professor at the School of Social Work

It is with great sadness that the School of Social Work announces the passing of Annette Werk on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at age 86. Annette was Associate Professor at the School of Social Work, McGill University for a span of over 35 years serving as the first ombudsman for Students at McGill University for which she was honored at the 25th Anniversary of the Office of the Ombudsman for Students in May 2012. Annette was instrumental in the development of the School of Social Work’s continuing education program and Chair of the Continuing Education Committee that ushered in the development  of four Graduate Certificate Programs (Graduate Certificate in the Interdisciplinary Field of Aging;  Graduate Certificate in the Field of Addictions; Graduate Certificate in the Field of Mental Health and Illness ; Graduate Certificate in the Field of Loss and Bereavement)  to support ongoing student learning post-graduation. A tireless advocate for students at McGill Annette was known for her clinical wisdom and understanding of student concerns. Annette’s contribution to the School of Social Work was substantial serving on many committees and assuming an important leadership in the School’s functioning during this period.

In terms of her scholarship, Annette is best known for her pioneering development of the McGill Domestic Violence Clinic alongside the late Professor Judy Magill; Associate Professor Julia Krane and Adjunct Professor Tom Caplan. Her clinical interests spanned a broad area initially focused on supervision pedagogy (collaborating with the late Professor Tryna Rothholz) then focusing her expertise in the area of domestic violence. She collaborated on several papers focused on male violence substance abusers in violence or substance abuse treatment; collaborating with Tom Caplan and Dr. Thomas Brown on “Substance abuse and conjugal violence; on group therapy methods for men who abuse their partners; violent substance abusers in domestic violence treatment.” McGill School of Social Work acknowledges the important contribution that Annette Werk has made to the clinical practice teaching generations of social work practitioners. We take this time to honor her memory and contribution to the School of Social Work.