Dr. Thomas Bernard has had a long and distinguished career in the field of social work. Dr. Thomas Bernard has worked in mental health at the Nova Scotia Hospital, in rural community practice with the Family Services Association, and since 1990, has been a professor at the Dalhousie School of Social Work, where she has held the position of Director since 2001. She is a Founding Member of the Association of Black Social Workers and is its current President, a member of the Board of Directors of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, and a previous member of the Board of Accreditation of the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work. Dr. Thomas Bernard has received numerous awards, certificates and recognition over the years for her trendsetting work. Some of her awards include the Ron Stafford Memorial Award from the Nova Scotia Association of Social Work for effective community leadership and development work. She also received the Canada 125 medal for outstanding contributions to the country, and Dr. Thomas Bernard was awarded the Order of Canada Award by Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson in June 2005.