Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Africa Health Collaborative scholars recognized at 2024 Family Medicine Forum

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:32 +0000

Africa Health Collaborative scholars recognized at 2024 Family Medicine Forum

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 12/19/2024 - 11:00

Faculty

St. George

Department of Family and Community Medicine

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

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Princess Acheampong (L) and Jennifer Wilson (supplied image)

Jennifer Wilson, a lecturer in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's department of family and community medicine, and Princess Acheampong, a lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana, have been recognized with the top prize at the Big Ideas Soapbox competition held during the 2024 Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver.

The competition recognizes concepts that have the potential to make a difference in clinical practice, faculty development, education, patient care and outcomes and health policy.

Wilson and Acheampong were recognized for their presentation, "Equity-focused global health partnerships can transform health systems." The idea was born out of the collaboration between KNUST and the department of family and community medicine, for which Wilson is the U of T faculty lead. The collaboration is part of the Africa Health Collaborative, an initiative that brings together U of T, leading African universities and the Mastercard Foundation.

The award-winning presentation was supported by U of T's Jamie Rodas and Katherine Rouleau, KNUST's Ellis Owusu-Dabo and Kofi Akohene Mensah, and University College Dublin alum Olivia Wilson.

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Walter Tavares recognized with King Charles III's Coronation Medal

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 20:15:21 +0000

Walter Tavares recognized with King Charles III's Coronation Medal

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 12/11/2024 - 15:15

Faculty

Scarborough

Department of Family and Community Medicine

Department of Health and Society

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

U of T Scarborough

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Walter Tavares (supplied image)

Walter Tavares, an assistant professor in the department of health and society at U of T Scarborough, has been awarded King Charles III’s Coronation Medal.

The award, which was created to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023, is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to Canada.

Tavares was recognized for his contributions to the field of paramedicine, which include helping establish U of T Scarborough's specialist program in paramedicine – Canada's first undergraduate degree program in the field – and serving as inaugural director of the Paramedicine Collaborative in the department of family and community medicine at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Tavares also partnered with the Paramedic Association of Canada to create guiding principles for the future of paramedicine, and spearheaded Canada's first international paramedic exchange program. He is founder of the McNally Project, a research initiative aimed at building research capacity and contributions within paramedicine.

“These accomplishments and roles reflect the collective efforts of numerous individuals, teams, learners, and leaders in paramedicine and beyond, with whom I have been privileged to collaborate,” says Tavares. “I am deeply grateful for these opportunities, humbled by this recognition, and inspired to continue contributing to the advancement of the profession.”

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Stephen Scherer receives Debrecen Award for Molecular Medicine

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:49:53 +0000

Stephen Scherer receives Debrecen Award for Molecular Medicine

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 12/04/2024 - 14:49

Faculty

St. George

Department of Molecular Genetics

Hospital for Sick Children

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Stephen Scherer (supplied image)

Stephen Scherer, chief of research at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and professor in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has received the Debrecen Award for Molecular Medicine.

Presented by the University of Debrecen in Hungary, the award recognizes scientists who have made significant advancements in the field of molecular medicine, and whose pioneering research has had a profound impact on modern patient care.

Scherer, the director of the Centre for Applied Genomics and senior scientist in the genetics and genome biology program at SickKids, was recognized for his contributions to the discovery of genome-wide copy number variation and its role in influencing genes implicated in numerous medical conditions, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

“I am deeply grateful to the University of Debrecen for this award and remain dedicated to deciphering the complexities of the human genome, both for the advancement of genomic research and for the ultimate goal of enhancing patient care,” says Scherer, who is also the director of the McLaughlin Centre at Temerty.

Ronald Cohn, president and CEO of SickKids and professor of molecular genetics at Temerty, said Scherer's work has had a "profound impact" on the scientific community and patients around the world. "His scientific leadership and commitment to translational research to support clinical diagnostics and therapeutic development has not only bolstered our institution’s global reputation in genomic science but also underpins our Precision Child Health movement," Cohn said.

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Darcy Fehlings recognized by American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:05:30 +0000

Darcy Fehlings recognized by American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 12/02/2024 - 15:05

Faculty

St. George

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

Darcy Fehlings (R) accepts her lifetime achievement award from American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) President Laurie Glader (photo courtesy of AACPDM)

Darcy Fehlings, a senior clinician scientist and developmental pediatrician at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's department of paediatrics, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM).

The prestigious award is granted to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advance the health and well-being of individuals with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities.

Fehlings has devoted her clinical and research work toward enabling meaningful and healthy futures for children and youth living with cerebral palsy. Her work centres on the innovation and evaluation of interventions for children with cerebral palsy.

Fehlings says she is "deeply honoured" to receive the award, and highlighted her belief in collaborative science to advancing research on cerebral palsy. "From a research perspective, my hope is to move boldly forward in partnership with individuals with cerebral palsy and their families to innovate, evaluate and promote ‘positively disruptive’ interventions that will make a positive difference in the well-being of children with cerebral palsy and their families."

Read the Holland Bloorview announcement

Holland Bloorview

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Art Slutsky and Steven Narod inducted into Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:31:34 +0000

Art Slutsky and Steven Narod inducted into Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/19/2024 - 10:31

Faculty

St. George

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

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Art Slutsky (L) and Steven Narod (supplied images)

University of Toronto medical researchers Art Slutsky and Steven Narod have been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

The honour is reserved for Canadians whose outstanding leadership and contributions have led to extraordinary improvements in human health, and whose accomplishments have made them role models for young Canadians inspired to pursue careers in medicine and the health sciences.

Slutsky, a scientist and Keenan Chair in Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital and professor in the Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was recognized for being a changemaker in critical care and respiratory medicine.

Narod, a senior scientist at Women’s College Hospital and a professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was inducted for his contributions to cancer genetics.

Read about the 2025 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame inductees

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42 U of T researchers receive new or renewed Canada Research Chairs

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:37:11 +0000

42 U of T researchers receive new or renewed Canada Research Chairs

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 11/15/2024 - 11:37

Faculty

Mississauga

St. George

Canada Research Chairs

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

OISE

Rotman School of Management

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

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Forty-two faculty members from the University of Toronto have been awarded Canada Research Chairs in support of their research.

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Research Chair positions are designed to reinforce academic research and training excellence with a view to improving depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening Canada’s international competitiveness and helping to train the next generation of highly skilled people.

“I’m delighted to congratulate all the University of Toronto faculty members who have been appointed Canada Research Chairs or had their positions renewed in the Fall 2024 cohort,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From molecular psychiatry and causal machine learning to mental health and homelessness in Indigenous women and two-spirit people, these U of T scholars are advancing knowledge in important areas and generating solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

The latest cycle of Canada Research Chair appointees from U of T includes 20 new and 22 renewed positions:

New Canada Research Chairs

Husam Abdel-Qadir at Women’s College Hospital and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Outcomes
Claudia dos Santos at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Accelerated Translation for Critical Care
Mikaela Gabriel at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Indigenous Women & 2-Spirit Mental Health and Homelessness
Christina Guzzo in the department of biological sciences at U of T Scarborough – Tier 2 in Single Virus Particle Analyses
Clement Hamani at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Translational Research
Kristin Hope at University Health Network and the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Leukemic Stem Cell Biology
Stephen Hwang at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Homelessness, Housing and Health
Angela Jerath at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of anesthesiology and pain medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Acute Care Health Technology and Practice Innovations
Jude Kong in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Community-Oriented Artificial Intelligence & Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases
Deepa Kundur in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Cybersecurity of Intelligent Critical Infrastructure
Azadeh Kushki at Bloorview Research Institute and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Neurodiversity and Personalized Health
Enid Montague in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Human-Centered Automation
Kathryn Rozen-Gagnon in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Arbovirus Infection and RNA Biology
Ahilya Sawh in the department of biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in 4D Genomics
Helen Tran in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Polymer Chemistry
Andrea Tricco at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 1 in Knowledge Synthesis for Knowledge Users
Linbo Wang in the department of computer and mathematical sciences at U of T Scarborough – Tier 2 in Causal Machine Learning
Amy Yu at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Data-driven design of stroke systems
Nur Camellia Binte Zakaria in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Mobile Health Solutions
Yu Zou in the department of materials science and engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Materials and Manufacturing for Extreme Environments

Renewed Canada Research Chairs

Jeffrey Ansloos in the department of applied psychology and human development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) – Tier 2 in Indigenous Studies of Health, Suicide, and Environmental Justice
Martin Beaulieu in the department of pharmacology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Molecular Psychiatry
Jennifer Campos at University Health Network and the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Multisensory Integration and Aging
Arthur Chan in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Atmospheric Chemistry and Health
Warren Chan at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Nanobioengineering
Leah Cowen in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Microbial Genomics and Infectious Disease
Maria Drout in the department of astronomy and astrophysics in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Time-Domain and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics
Natalie Enright Jerger in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Computer Architecture
Michael Garton at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Synthetic Biology
Maria Hupfield in the department of visual studies at U of T Mississauga – Tier 2 in Transdisciplinary Indigenous Arts
Noah Ivers at Women’s College Hospital and the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Implementation of Evidence Based Practice
Jonathan Kelly at the U of T Institute of Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Collaborative Robotics
Vincent Kuuire in the department of geography at U of T Mississauga – Tier 2 in Immigrant Well-being and Global Health
Hyun (Kate) Lee in the department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in Biomolecular Phase Transitions
Heather McFarlane in the department of cell and systems biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 2 in Plant Cell Biology
Sharmistha Mishra at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine - Tier 2 in Mathematical Modeling and Program Science
Dilip Soman at the Rotman School of Management – Tier 1 in Behavioural Science and Economics
Yu Sun in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Micro and Nano Engineering Systems
Michael Thaut in the Faculty of Music – Tier 1 in Music, Neuroscience, and Health
Neil Vasdev at the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) and the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Radiochemistry and Medical Imaging
Kimberley Widger in the Faculty of Nursing – Tier 2 in Pediatric Palliative Care
Ding Yuan in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Systems Software

Read the Government of Canada announcement

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10 graduate students recognized with Cecil Yip Doctoral Research Awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:55:12 +0000

10 graduate students recognized with Cecil Yip Doctoral Research Awards

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 10/18/2024 - 11:55

Students

St. George

Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research

Graduate Students

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

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Ten graduate students at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine have received Cecil Yip Doctoral Research Awards.

The annual award provides financial support to doctoral-stream students whose research interests, proposed work and background align with the Donnelly Centre's mandate to advance innovative and collaborative work that crosses disciplinary boundaries.

It is named in honour of the late Professor Cecil Yip, a former vice-dean, research in the Faculty of Medicine and co-founder of the Donnelly Centre.

“On behalf of the Yip Doctoral Award committee, I congratulate this year’s recipients,” said Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, chair of the Cecil Yip Doctoral Research Award selection committee and son of Cecil Yip.

“Our 2024 recipients represent the diverse range of biomedical research areas that are being tackled at the Donnelly Centre. I believe this new generation of scientific leaders will uphold the Donnelly Centre’s innovative and collaborative spirit in their efforts to help solve the biggest challenges in health and medicine.”

The recipients of 2024 Cecil Yip Doctoral Research Awards are:

Noor El-Huda Bahsoun
Mel Davie
Juliana de Andrade Bolsoni
Zhenfeng Deng
Wenjia Hao
Mingyang Liang
Umayeer Milky
Hadi Tabarraei
Joel Wingrove
Cheng Xing

Read the Donnelly Centre story about the award recipients

Donnelly Centre

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15 U of T faculty members elected fellows of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:52:49 +0000

15 U of T faculty members elected fellows of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 10/07/2024 - 11:52

Faculty

Mississauga

CAMH

Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

IHPME

Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Mount Sinai Hospital

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

The Hospital for Sick Children

U of T Mississauga

University Health Network

landscape

Fifteen faculty members from U of T have been elected fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) for 2024 in recognition of excellence in health sciences.

Election to CAHS fellowship is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community.

“Election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences acknowledges outstanding contributions to the health sciences,” said Trevor Young, U of T's vice-president and provost and the president of CAHS, in a press release. “We are proud of these fellows’ accomplishments, and we are honoured to welcome them to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.”

The U of T scholars elected to 2024 CAHS fellowships are:

Jordan Feld at the University Health Network and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Eleanor Fish at the University Health Network and the department of immunology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Liisa Galea at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Susan George at the University Health Network and the department of pharmacology and toxicology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Pamela Goodwin at Mount Sinai Hospital and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Masoom Haider at Mount Sinai Hospital and the department of medical imaging in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Cynthia Hawkins at the Hospital for Sick Children and the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Robert Inman at the University Health Network and the department of immunology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Jonathan Irish at the University Health Network and the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
David Juurlink at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Tina Malti in the department of psychology at U of T Mississauga
Milos Popovic at the University Health Network and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Jennifer Stinson at the Hospital for Sick Children and the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Walter Wodchis of Trillium Health Partners and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Nicole Woods at the University Health Network and the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Read the CAHS announcement

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15 doctoral students receive Connaught PhDs for Public Impact fellowships

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:24:19 +0000

15 doctoral students receive Connaught PhDs for Public Impact fellowships

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 10/04/2024 - 13:24

Students

St. George

Connaught Fund

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Department of Political Science

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Dentistry

Faculty of Information

IHPME

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

OISE

School of Graduate Studies

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

U of T Mississauga

landscape

Fifteen doctoral students at the University of Toronto have received Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowships for 2024-25.

The annual fellowships are designed to offer doctoral students the opportunity to explore the world of public scholarship. Fellows focus on engaging the public through their scholarly work – this can take a range of forms, from describing their work in a public forum to partnering with a school, community organization or cultural institution in an ongoing two-way exchange of knowledge and practices.

"The School of Graduate Studies is proud to support the creative work being done by our Connaught PhDs for Public Impact fellows as they find novel ways to engage the public with the incredible research being done at U of T," said Vina Goghari, vice-dean, research and program innovation at the School of Graduate Studies. "We are grateful for the generous support from the Connaught Fund in enabling this type of innovative scholarship, and we congratulate this new cohort of fellows as they begin work on their projects."

The 2024-25 Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellows are:

Hanne Bartels, Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Rhonda Boateng, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Mohammadamir (Amir) Moghaddam, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Mathew Iantorno, Faculty of Information
Nicolas Ivanov, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Yojana Miraya Oscco, department of political science, Faculty of Arts & Science
Kashoro Nyenyezi, department of social justice education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Adrian Petterson, Faculty of Information
Paul Pritchard, department of sociology, Faculty of Arts & Science
Jenna Quelch, department of political science, Faculty of Arts & Science
Shivam Sharma, Faculty of Dentistry
Mercedes Sobers, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Rhonda Solomon, department of geography, geomatics, and the environment, U of T Mississauga
Lily Takeuchi, department of biomedical engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Sarah Urquhart, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

Nabeel Shah recognized with Donnelly Centre Research Thesis Prize

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 14:07:36 +0000

Nabeel Shah recognized with Donnelly Centre Research Thesis Prize

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 10/02/2024 - 10:07

Alumni

St. George

Department of Molecular Genetics

Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

landscape

(supplied image)

Syed Nabeel Haider Shah, a PhD graduate of the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has been recognized with the 2024 Donnelly Centre Research Thesis Prize.

The annual prize recognizes the quality, originality and significance of a PhD graduate’s work.

Shah’s research examined newly identified RNA binding proteins, two of which were found to have potential roles in cancer development and treatment. One of the proteins was found to be able to enhance the ability of cancer cells to develop into tumours, while the other was found to perform the reverse role by suppressing growth of tumour cells.

“Nabeel has had an extraordinary PhD career,” said his supervisor Jack Greenblatt, University Professor in the department of molecular genetics. “He published 25 peer-reviewed papers from research he conducted over the course of his studies, with lead authorship on 12 of them – and he continues to publish papers from his thesis work. Nabeel made the most of his PhD by contributing significantly and widely across biomedicine.”

Shah credits Greenblatt for being a supportive adviser who provided guidance while allowing him to work independently to develop research projects. “I believe if I was a PhD student in any other lab, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to accomplish as much as I did,” said Shah.

Read the Donnelly Centre story

Donnelly

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