2024 DFCM Program Award Winners

Continuing Education and Graduate Studies Instructor Award

Dr. Parisa Airia | Trillium Health Partners

Dr. Parisa Airia is a committed and successful instructor in the Academic Fellowship and Graduate Studies program at the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Dr. Airia's exceptional commitment to her students and her teaching skill make her a highly deserving candidate to be recognized with an Instructor Award. Dr. Airia teaches Survey Methods in the program. She is incredibly supportive of her students, always making herself available for course and project-related questions. Her dedication to student success is unparalleled; she goes above and beyond to ensure that each student receives the best possible learning experience. Whether it's through extended office hours, detailed feedback on assignments, or personalized guidance, Dr. Airia demonstrates an unwavering commitment to her students' academic growth. One of Dr. Airia's most impressive qualities is her adaptability. She has seamlessly transitioned from online to in-person class delivery, maintaining high standards of teaching excellence in both formats. Her openness to new ideas and innovative approaches to teaching ensures that her courses remain relevant and impactful. Dr. Airia exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding instructor. Her dedication, adaptability, and student-centered approach are truly valued by the program and her students.

Continuing Education and Graduate Studies Field Practicum Preceptor Award

Dr. Sheila Dunn | Women's College Hospital

Dr. Dunn has been a long serving instructor in the AFGS program. Her teaching skills and mentorship have been consistently valued by students completing her research course. Recently she became a practicum supervisor for one of our international physicians. The student has expressed appreciation for her guidance throughout the project as he seeks to better understand the neonatal sepsis rate in his home country. It is often challenging for our International students to find field supervisors as they have not had the same opportunity to build professional networks locally. Dr. Dunn's willingness and desire to support this student's work is greatly appreciated by the student and the program.

DFCM 50th Anniversary Dr. Lynn Wilson Award

Dr. Karina Pruncnal | Credit Valley Hospital – Family Health Team

As a recent graduate of the MScCH (FCM) program, Dr. Prucnal was selected for this award for her demonstration of excellence in the study and scholarship of Family Medicine, reflected by her academic excellence and outstanding performance throughout the coursework of her degree.

Eric Letovsky Award for Excellence in Emergency Medicine

Dr. Anton Helman | North York General Hospital

A devoted clinician and bedside teacher, Dr. Anton Helman is a true leader and innovator in Emergency Medicine education. Dr. Helman’s free open access Emergency Medicine podcasts, EM Cases, has reached over 160 countries and millions of downloads changing practice on a daily basis. His work through EM Cases reflects his passion for teaching, learning, and his desire to instil critical thinking skills in lifelong learners.

Excellence in Teaching and Education in Emergency Medicine

Dr. Rajani Vairavanathan | Toronto East Health Network - Michael Garron Hospital

It’s challenging to fully convey the genuine positivity and passion Dr. Vairavanathan brings to her work and the deep commitment she shows in sharing her invaluable clinical and personal experiences with her learners. For nearly two decades, she has devoted herself to teaching and education, excelling in various roles. Dr. Vairavanathan is an exceptional clinician, teacher, and mentor, deeply admired by both her students and colleagues.

Excellence in Teaching in Emergency Medicine (Early Career)

Dr. Tessa Ringer | Toronto East Health Network - Michael Garron Hospital

In just the first five years of her career, Dr. Ringer has rapidly built a strong reputation on local, national, and international levels for her contributions to the care of older adults in emergency medicine. She has emerged as a leader in Geriatric Emergency Medicine, consistently demonstrating exceptional dedication to teaching and education. Dr. Ringer serves as an exemplary role model for students, residents, and faculty alike.

Community-based Contributor to Faculty Development

Dr. Navsheer Gill | Humber River Hospital

Since 2021, Dr. Gill has been the Faculty Wellness Lead and has endeavored to understand the wellness needs of a diverse faculty. She has presented opportunities that are diverse and well planned. Her leadership style has been thoughtful, respectful, and inclusive.

Continuing Education Impact Award

Dr. Arthur Kushner | Humber River Hospital

Dr. Kushner is Chief of Family Medicine at Humber River Health and has chaired the Pri-Med (formerly Primary Care Today) Conference for over 10 years. Over the years, this conference has been attended by thousands of participants. For many family doctors, this is their main source of CME. In 2023, the conference was attended by over 3200 participants. Dr. Kushner's hard work and humble style of leadership is inspirational.

Elana Fric Family Medicine Award for Leadership and Advocacy

Dr. Sarah Fleming | Toronto Western Hospital

Ms. Sae Fukamizu | Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Sarah Fleming and Ms. Sae Fukamizu fostered a praiseworthy community partnership between the Toronto Western Family Health Team and the YWCA Arise Shelter for women and children seeking refuge from intimate partner violence. This partnership, established in 2021 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, allows for the delivery of high-quality medical care to these vulnerable families, while maintaining trust, safety, and dignity. Their unwavering commitment, compassion, and leadership have made a profound impact on the lives of those they serve, embodying the true spirit of altruism and humanitarianism.

Leadership in Faculty Development 

Dr. Karen Fleming | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Karen Fleming has used her time as chief to get to know all members of her team in a very real way. From learners to faculty who have been part of DFCM for 20+ years, every member of Sunnybrook's DFCM have likely received a message from Karen at some point highlighting an opportunity that she believes would be fitting to their academic interests and/or ongoing research and academic work. She is constantly putting in extra effort to ensure post grads are well connected with faculty members whose academic interests align. Dr. Fleming's time as chief has strengthened the department as a whole in regards to exposure and faculty development.

Mentorship Award

Dr. Anne Wideman | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Anne Wideman is a physician in the Sunnybrook DFCM who can be relied on for their sound opinion, guidance, and reassurance. This is not only felt from learners, but from the staff in the DFCM and her colleagues. Her years as Site Postgraduate Program Director have not only produced successful learners, but also given DFCM an incredibly well rounded physician whose experience as a mentor still shows through upon completion of the role.

Outstanding Contribution to Scholarship in Faculty Development

Dr. Robyn Moxley | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Robyn Moxley has been a beacon for academic work involving 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive care. Her work has been recognized over the years and we are proud to have her on our team at Sunnybrook DFCM. Faculty and learners at Sunnybrook DFCM have all had the opportunity to learn the importance of inclusive care, seamlessly applying their learning to practice. This is a direct result of Dr. Moxley's passion and dedication in this area, and we thank her for her continuous contributions.

Yves Talbot Award for Excellence in Global Health Leadership

Dr. Leila Makhani | Women's College Hospital

Dr. Makhani has made significant contributions to global health through her dedicated service to equity-deserving populations, including refugees, newcomers, and inner-city residents. Her dedication to education is commendable and speaks to her passion for fostering future leaders in global health. In her lead roles within the Enhanced Skills PGY3 fellowship program and the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Family Medicine, she has demonstrated sustained leadership and stewardship, especially during the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Global Health

Dr. Kimberly de Souza | University Health Network - Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospital

Since 2023, Dr. de Souza has co-led the development and delivery of a short course focusing on Emergency Preparedness and Response to Epidemic-Prone Diseases that engaged several faculty members from DFCM and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as 20 primary care practitioners in Ghana. Dr. de Souza has demonstrated excellence in leadership in the the co-creation process, excellence in teaching, stewardship, and excellence in global health partnership ethics.

Dr. Kirsten Wentlandt | University Health Network - Toronto General Hospital

Since 2023, Dr. Wentlandt has co-led the development and delivery of a short course focusing on Palliative Care that engaged several faculty members from DFCM and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as 20 primary care practitioners in Ghana. Dr. Wentlandt has demonstrated excellence in leadership in the the co-creation process, excellence in teaching, stewardship, and excellence in global health partnership ethics.

Dr. Nour Khatib | Oak Valley Health - Markham Stouffville Hospital

Since 2023, Dr. Khatib has co-led the development and delivery of a short course focusing on Community Emergency Care that engaged several faculty members from DFCM and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as 20 primary care practitioners in Ghana. Dr. Khatib has demonstrated excellence in leadership in the the co-creation process, excellence in teaching, stewardship, and excellence in global health partnership ethics. 

Dr. Margarita Lam-Antoniades | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital

Since 2023, Dr. Lam-Antoniades has co-led the development and delivery of a short course focusing on Quality Improvement for Health Professionals that engaged several faculty members from DFCM and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as 20 primary care practitioners in Ghana. Dr. Lam-Antoniades has demonstrated excellence in leadership in the the co-creation process, excellence in teaching, stewardship, and excellence in global health partnership ethics.

Dr. Ian Drennan | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Since 2023, Ian Drennan has co-led the development and delivery of a short course focusing on Quality Improvement for Health Professionals that engaged several faculty members from DFCM and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, as well as 20 primary care practitioners in Ghana. Ian has demonstrated excellence in leadership in the the co-creation process, excellence in teaching, stewardship, and excellence in global health partnership ethics.

Larry Librach Award for Excellence in Palliative Care Scholarship

Dr. Natalie Paolucci | Family Medicine Resident | North York General Hospital

Dr. Joelle Soriano | Family Medicine Resident | North York General Hospital

There’s no place like home: An exploration of the attitudes, facilitators, and barriers in providing home‐based palliative care (HBPC) as perceived by family physicians in the North York region

As young academic family medicine leaders, Dr. Natalie Paolucci and Dr. Joelle Soriano stepped up to the plate to help out their inter-professional colleagues and patients to facilitate the provision of HBPC in the NYGH community. This is a fine example of social accountability of family physicians at a meso or community level, addressing the healthcare needs of one’s community. They are both deserving recipients of this award.

Ovini Thomas | MD Candidate '25

Dr. Trevor Morey | Sinai Health- Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Daniel Rosenbaum

Evaluating the Impact of an Integrated Psychiatry Team in a Toronto-Based Palliative Care Program for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

Ovini Thomas shows an interest and passion for Palliative care and has shown scholarly initiative by leading this study and once published and disseminated, it may provide a valuable resource to the area of palliative care in patients facing housing insecurity. Ovini's passion for palliative care grew while working as a nurse in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) prior to starting medical school. She is deserving of this award.

Carmelita Lawlor Lectureship in Palliative Care

Dr. Leonie Herx | University of Calgary

Palliative care for all – transforming culture, building bridges

Dr. Leonie Herx is a specialist palliative care physician who practices both pediatric and adult palliative medicine and is passionate about improving high quality palliative care for all Canadians. Leonie has been actively involved in growing and building the discipline of palliative care at a national level and has helped lead the development of a number of national standards for palliative care. She is passionate about team wellness and is an inaugural member of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians Peer Support Team.

PA Program Academic Achievement Award

Kristen Sauerzopf

Gelareh Sharbatdar Alaei

Layla Yagi

PA Student of the Year Award

Carolyn Sutyor

PA Student Clinical Excellence Award

Parastoo Tashakorinia

PA Student Leadership Award

Emily Rhodes

PA Student Scholarly Excellence Award

Caroul Chawar

PA Ethical Decision Making Award

Salma Elmansy

PA Student Mentorship Award

Hajra Imam

PA Rising Star

Nasir Iftikhar

PA Role Model

Chan Nguyen

PA Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Anne Wormsbecker

PA Preceptor Excellence Award

Dr. Michael Boktor

PA Faculty Scholarly Award

Dee Naidu

Resident Awards

Dr. Samuel Leitenberg Memorial Scholarship for the Humanitarian Practice of Family and Community Medicine Award

Dr. Jennifer Migaboo | Unity Health Toronto - St. Joseph's Health Centre

Jennifer is a self-motivated, curious learner, who will go far. She has a genuine passion for helping vulnerable people and will always advocate for her patients. She is seen as a role model by her resident colleagues as well as the diverse patients to whom she provides care.

Family Medicine Resident Scholarship

Dr. Alis Xu | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Hollister King Resident Award

Dr. Anthony Salerno | North York General Hospital

Dr. Salerno is a stellar physician. He put all his effort into making every moment out of his teaching practice rotation count. He went over and above doing extra ER shifts and carrying extra hospitalist patients during a week that was short staffed. He also took time to learn all the ins and outs of the community and local services and was an excellent advocate for our patients. His evidence-based practice was impressive.

Leadership

Dr. Bilal Negash | Humber River Health

As the inaugural lead resident of the Schulich FMTU, Dr. Bilal Negash has gone above and beyond to support the growth and development of the teaching program. Bilal has presented at hospital medical education committees, spoken at hospital donor events, liaised closely with program leads, and supported his fellow residents.

Dr. Mariana da Silva Jardim | Oak Valley Health - Markham Stouffville Hospital

Dr. Jardim has demonstrated excellence in leadership through the many leadership positions she holds. As co-chief, she has shown a strong desire to improve the residency experience for her colleagues. She also holds positions on PARO and sits as a board of director for the Internationally Trained Physicians of Ontario.

Dr. Joelle Soriano | North York General Hospital

Dr. Soriano is co-chief resident and has exhibited strong leadership skills. She is dedicated to the well-being of her co-residents and goes above and beyond to ensure the residency program is academically rich and continues to be one of the most highly sought after training sites at U of T.

Dr. Alexander Levesque | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's

Alex's exceptional advocacy voice champions resident interests, fostering a supportive environment. Committed to resident well-being and learning, he exemplifies collaborative leadership as a dedicated team player, positively impacting the entire residency community.

Dr. Ming Li | Trillium Health Partners - Mississauga Hospital

Ming has exhibited remarkable leadership. She constantly thinks about ways to improve our training experience and her work has left a tangible positive impact on our program. She worked to standardize our after-hours clinic call expectations at different Summerville sites and reorganized our academic half-day teaching schedules for easier learning.

Dr. Han Yan | Scarborough Health Network

Dr. Yan is an exemplary leader, actively supporting and advocating for 340 residents as FRAT President. She fosters a dynamic learning environment, displaying a deep commitment to the educational experience for peers. Dr. Yan's dedication is particularly evident in her approach to education through her delivery of virtual Core Days.

Dr. Tatsiana Demarco | The University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Demarco excelled in complimentary leadership roles during her residency. As co-lead resident at TWH and PARO General Council for two consecutive years, she has made an impact at TWH and provincially. She has participated in the PARO Leadership Program. Tatiana stands out for her dynamic leadership style and remarkable ability for creative problem-solving even under tight time constraints.

Clinical Excellence

Dr. Onella Charles | Sinai Health - Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Charles is an exceptional resident and provides outstanding clinical care to the patients in her practice. In addition to strong clinical skills, she is humble, patient centred and has developed into an excellent family physician. We look forward to watching her career develop.

Dr. Connor McSweeney | Southlake Regional Health Centre

Very strong clinical knowledge and procedural skills. Confident in his capabilities but knows when to ask for help. Incorporates feedback very well. Will be a very strong physician after graduation.

Dr. Haniah Shaikh | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's

Haniah has consistently demonstrated excellence in delivering evidenced-based primary care in a consistently patient-centred approach.   Her strong interpersonal skills communicate confidence/caring.  She has demonstrated QI excellence (shared at FMF) in significantly improving osteoporosis screening rates. Haniah has taken the initiative to advocate for hospital/FHT online accessibility for patients with disabilities.

Dr. Rachel Min Jee Cheung | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Rachel Cheung is an extremely dedicated clinician who continuously strives to improve her clinical skills and knowledge with extensive reading, clinical learning experiences and asking questions, when appropriate, to clarify her understanding of clinical concepts. She is an outstanding clinician and a very valuable member of our health care team.

Dr. Lena Nguyen | Trillium Health Partners - Credit Valley Hospital

Dr. Lena Nguyen - strong teaching and leadership skills, excellent role model, knows when to step in and when to coach from afar, provides many teaching pearls and guidance when required, very approachable. Very compassionate to patients. Always willing to stay later if it means a patient will be seen.

Dr. Matthew Sem | Integrated Communities Program

Matt is a resident who continuously strives for excellence. He exhibits an excellent attitude towards learning and consistently provides the best care possible to his patients. Both in the emergency department and Family Medicine clinic, Matt has developed an efficient, yet thorough approach to providing comprehensive care.

Dr. Madeleine Paige Rudolph | Enhanced Skills Program

Maddy has been overall an outstanding PGY3 resident providing outstanding clinical care, being an advocate for her patients and demonstrating hard work, initiative and compassion. She goes beyond for her patients, providing excellence in care to a very complex patient population. She is excellent at problem solving for her patients, working very hard on the Social Determinants of health.

Dr. Sara Brade | Enhanced Skills Program

As Dr. Brade’s mentor during her fellowship in Emergency Medicine, I have supervised her clinical work first-hand and know her through our monthly meetings. She is empathic, descriptive, and determined while being calm and highly intelligent. She is able to do this while in a stressful community emergency department. She embodies essential professional values like integrity, dedication, and diligence.

Faculty Awards

Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Richard Osborne | Sinai Health- Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Osborne is an outstanding teacher deserving of recognition. His emphasis on resident learning and passion for education shine through daily. We feel incredibly supported by him, always leaving clinic with new pearls of wisdom. His devotion and enthusiasm towards medicine make him an ideal role model.

Dr. Casimir Soare | Unity Health Toronto - St. Joseph's Health Centre

Dr. Soare is a teacher that embodies what everyone aspires to become when they begin teaching:  a leader dedicated to fostering a learning environment enriched by empathy, kindness, and care. His mentorship not only imparts knowledge, but also instills the importance of compassion, humility and patient-centered care.

Dr. Anushi Sivarajah | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's

I can't say enough about how kind, encouraging, thoughtful, and patient of a teacher is Dr. Sivarajah! Being a resident can be such an insecure and precarious experience, but Dr. Sivarajah always make you feel cared for and at ease while attending to your needs and goals as a learner.

Dr. Rosy Zafar | Trillium Health Partners - Mississauga Hospital

Dr. Zafar's teaching prowess shines through with an exemplary blend of expertise and enthusiasm. Dr. Zafar fosters an inclusive learning environment where residents feel empowered. Dr. Zafar's teaching excellence is evident in her innovative instructional methods through case-based learning such as Diabetes sessions that encourage active participation and critical thinking.

Dr. David Esho | The University Health Network- Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Esho encourages residents to always remain curious and models a commitment to learning and critical thinking that is inspiring.  His kindness and active participation in ensuring residents’ growth as clinicians and future colleagues embodies the characteristics of excellence in teaching.

Dr. Sumeet Gill | Women's College Hospital

Dr. Sumeet Gill is a valued member of our teaching faculty. His students note he is very responsive to learner needs, provides a structured approach, and provides helpful perspective. His ability to facilitate learning is noted both in clinical teaching and in structured seminars that are highly rated.

Dr. Adrian Stacy | Integrated Communities Program

Dr. Stacy is a very intentional teacher. He challenges me to make independent clinical decisions, while still being supportive, and asks questions in a way that stimulates critical thinking and effective learning. He takes time to discuss practice management, and actively seeks out ways to meet my learning goals.

Dr. Wilson Kwong | Enhanced Skills Program

Dr. Kwong is one of the best palliative care teachers. He provides a pragmatic approach to teaching that makes challenging concepts ‘stick’, e.g. catastrophic bleeding, seizures. He creates a safe learning environment, no questions are off limits, and he treats each resident as a colleague and with mutual respect.

Role Modelling Clinical Excellence

Dr. Lisa Ilk | Toronto East Health Network - Michael Garron Hospital

Exceptional ability to facilitate a superb learning environment allowing residents to build confidence and learn through experience. Inspires trust and confidence in patients, colleagues, and learners. Has the utmost respect of all team members. A positive role-model; the type of physician I aspire to be in future.

Dr. Siobhan Mark | Enhanced Skills Program

Dr. Mark instills confidence in her learners and took initiative to ensure that I attained competencies that have supported me in practicing within low-resource settings. She is inspirational in her ability to build meaningful patient-physician relationships, focus on psychosocial aspects of healthcare, and strong leadership skills as a female physician.

Hollister King Preceptor Award

Dr. Erika Catford | Orillia Soldier's Memorial Hospital

Dr. Catford sets the gold-standard for patient centred care. Her interactions with patients, attention to detail and tireless efforts to optimize her patient’s health outcomes are unparalleled. Her commitment to her patients works synergistically with her incredible fund of knowledge. Her teaching went beyond just the medical aspect of family practice, she taught effectively about dealing with difficult situations, how to run a practice, and how to effectively be an integrated resource for our patients.

Innovation in Education

Dr. Mahnaz Mahmoodi | Southlake Regional Health Centre

Dr. Mahmoodi has taken the initiative to create and open Derm clinic for the residency program. This initiative not only helps the learners but also serves all of our patients and greatly assists with patients' access to dermatologist. She is an excellent teacher, respected colleague and always happy to assist with any clinical questions on a short notice.

Dr. Nina Yashpal | Trillium Health Partners - Credit Valley Hospital

Dr. Nina Yashpal for her work expanding curriculum for Home Care and LTC. Scholarly approach to development and timely efforts to ensure new opportunities for our learners were utilized. Additionally for her countless curriculum development ideas.

New Teacher

Dr. Caitlin Christie | Humber River Health

Dr. Christie joined the Schulich FMTU as one of our first community preceptors in July 2023! She has gone above and beyond as a new teacher, acting as a main preceptor. She instills in learners a deep understanding of the principles of comprehensive, socially accountable community family medicine.

Dr. Zhi Lynn Fong | Oak Valley Health - Markham Stouffville Hospital

What sets Dr. Fong apart is her approachability and passion for teaching. She fosters a supportive learning environment where resident physicians feel empowered to seek guidance and explore new avenues of knowledge. Her genuine enthusiasm for teaching inspires those she mentors and instills a lifelong commitment to learning and excellence.

Dr. Jeremy Chad | North York General Hospital

Dr. Chad is a new teacher who has made a big impact. He tailors his teaching to support the learner’s goals. He strives to create a positive atmosphere in which to learn. He deeply cares about his patients and role models clinical excellence and compassionate care for his learners.

Dr. Lauren L. Fruchter | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Dr. Fruchter, one of our newer faculty, is a kind and compassionate teacher. She stimulates learners with her reflective questions and QI approach. She helps learners feel well supported and comfortable in clinic while helping them to explore their boundaries of knowledge with her stimulating enquiry.

Dr. Charlotte Hunter | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's

Dr. Hunter has demonstrated teaching excellence in Family Medicine and shares her particular expertise in HIV with learners in a thoughtful, patient-centred way. As Competency Site Lead for WeST, she demonstrates commitment to the continuous development of residents over the course of their training through summative feedback, mentorship and coaching. 

Advocacy for Patients

Dr. Ravjot Singh Julka | Royal Victoria Regional Centre

Dr. Julka is a strong advocate for his patients. He does everything he can to ensure each of his patients receive the highest quality care possible. He fully engages in his role as their physician, accessing or advising on resources to meet each patient’s unique needs.

Dr. Melinda Margareta Caputo Janhager | Toronto East Health Network - Michael Garron Hospital

Connected a palliative inpatient approaching end of life with his estranged family he had not seen in years. By calling multiple shelters she identified a shelter worked familiar with the patient. Melinda contacted the family who travelled to Toronto to spend the final days reunited as a family.

Teaching Excellence

Dr. Min Joon Lee | Unity Health - St. Joseph's Health Centre

Min is a true scholar, committed to excellence in practice through continuous learning and teaching others. He naturally connects with learners, making them feel welcome immediately.  He volunteered numerous times for our formal resident mentorship program where he developed a 1:1 mentorship relationship with a 3rd year medical student. 

Dr. Rachel Lee | Women's College Hospital

Rachel Lee is an exemplary clinician, teacher, and role model.  She enthusiastically takes on formal and informal teaching opportunities with our trainees and truly demonstrates what it means to be an excellent family physician.  She is well deserving of this award.

Staff Awards

Resident Advocacy

Ms. Jane Smart | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Jane is an exemplary nurse dedicated to resident advocacy. Her commitment extends beyond duty; she ensures every resident experiences home-based primary care, even making house calls during lunch or after hours with them. Her passion, initiative and dedication to residents’ learning is outstanding.

Mrs. Stacey McKeown | Scarborough Health Network

Stacey truly goes above and beyond for residents. She is incredibly organized, she knows this program inside and out, is incredibly responsive and helpful for absolutely any question residents may have, and she is always more than willing to help residents with whatever they need to succeed in this program.

PGY1 Impact Award

Evaluating a Virtual Care Tool for Appointment Booking

Team:
Dr. Yasna Mehdian | Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Alex Mouratidis | Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Brina Alsmeyer | Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Warren McIsaac | Mount Sinai Hospital

Improving the Use of an Evidenced-Based Smoking Cessation Tool Among Family Medicine Residents at an Academic Family Health Team

Team:
Dr. Mariana Jardim | Markham Stouffville Hospital
Dr. Samantha Rossi | Markham Stouffville Hospital
Dr. Alicia Sheng | Markham Stouffville Hospital
Dr. Melanie Henry | Markham Stouffville Hospital
Dr. Margaret Jin | Markham Stouffville Hospital
Ms. Zhanying Shi | Markham Stouffville Hospital

Seizing the Moment: Increasing Opportunistic Screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea in Asymptomatic Young Adults Attending Family Medicine Appointments

Team:
Dr. Eileen Kao | North York General Hospital
Dr. Joelle Soriano | North York General Hospital

Improving the efficiency of clinical note documentation with the help of AI-scribe

Team:
Dr. Jerry Ding | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Leon Li | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Ming Li | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Sadaf Yasin | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Evangeline Seganathy | Trillium Health Partners

Increasing Free Mental Health Resource Uptake in Family Practice

Team:
Dr. Rebecca Crawford- Aragones | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. Harleen Grewal | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. Cathleen Dai | Scarborough Health Network

Improving Cervical Cancer Screening Rates in Patients with Low Income Through a Nurse-Led Pap Clinic

Team:
Dr. Anamika Mishra | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Chalani Ranasinghe | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Gajanee Sivapatham | St. Michael's Hospital

Reducing exam table paper use at the FHT

Dr. Nicole Falzone | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Improving Patient Follow up After Discharge from the ED

Team:
Dr. Maria Raveendran | Women's College Hospital
Dr. Rob Dmytryshyn | Women's College Hospital

Improving Family Medicine Residents’ Comfort and Knowledge in Providing Trauma-Informed Care to People with Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

Team:
Dr. Ivona Berger | Women's College Hospital
Dr. Alexzandra Hughes-Visentin | Women's College Hospital
Dr. Mithila Somasundaram| Women's College Hospital
Dr. Sheryl Spithoff | Women's College Hospital
Dr. Leslie Molnar | Women's College Hospital
Dr. Jennifer Wyman | Women's College Hospital

Prescribing Nature to Combat Chronic Disease

Team:
Dr. Julia Dmytryshyn | St. Joseph's Health Centre
Dr. Jennifer Migabo | St. Joseph's Health Centre
Ms. Adela Farkavek| St. Joseph's Health Centre
Ms. Tanya Perisic | St. Joseph's Health Centre
Dr. Daphne Williams | St. Joseph's Health Centre

Streamlining the Osteoporosis Screening Process for FMTU Residents

Team:
Dr. Paolo David | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Karen Paik | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Shauna Jose |Trillium Health Partners

PGY2 Impact Award

An update to the cervical cancer screening guidelines in Ontario: An educational tool for primary care providers

Team:
Dr. Maya Amar | Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Yu Fei Xia | Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Michelle Naimer | Mount Sinai Hospital

Improving the forms used for periodic health reviews

Dr. Linda Naamani | North York General Hospital

Use of POCUS in primary care

Team:
Dr. Ismael Abdullah | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. John Hsu | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Raymond Yu | Trillium Health Partners

Improving rates of osteoporosis screening with bone mineral density testing among older adults aged 65 years and older

Team:
Dr. Haniah Shaikh | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Sabrina Lin | St. Michael's Hospital

Faculty and Staff Impact Awards

Dedication, Innovation and Leadership in Quality Improvement

Dr. Gina Yip | Markham Stouffville Hospital

Using AI Scribes to decrease administrative burden and burnout in Family Physicians

Dr. Michael Taglione | North York General Hospital

The SPIDER Project

Team:
Dr. Rosy Zafar | Trillium Health Partners 
Ms. Yali Gao | Trillium Health Partners 
Ms. Sima Sajedinjad | Trillium Health Partners
Mr. Jash Pariskh | Trillium Health Partners

Enhancing physician wellness through tracking self-care time

Team:
Dr. Susana Fung | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. James Carson | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. Randall Lee | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. Jennifer McDonald | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. Preeni Rathug | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. Mruna Shah | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. Janice Weiss | Scarborough Health Network
Dr. David Wheler | Scarborough Health Network

Improving interprofessional care and early detection of side effects resulting from antipsychotic medication use

Team:
Mr. Lee Tracy | St. Michael's Hospital
Mr. Aestus Rogers | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Anne Marie Doherty | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Leslie Weil | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Naomi Tadros | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Venjiemeh Villena-Paine | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Jesi Eldridge | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Jessica Ferrara | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Doret Cheng | St. Michael's Hospital
Ms. Sharan Lail | St. Michael's Hospital

Reducing Environmental Impact through Changing Inhaler Prescribing Practices

Team:
Dr. Susan Deering | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Leslie Beyers  | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Deprescribing sedative hypnotics in patients over 65

Team:
Dr. Sameera Toenjes | Women's College Hospital
Ms. Holly Rector  | Women's College Hospital

Outstanding Peer-Reviewed Publication

First place: Stewart A, Craig-Neil A, Hodwitz K, Wang R, Cheng D, Arbess G, Jeon C, Juando-Prats C, Kiran T. (2023).

Increasing Treatment Rates for Hepatitis C in Primary Care. J Am Board Fam Med. 2023 Aug 9;36(4):591-602. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.220427R1. Epub 2023 Jul 19. PMID: 37468214.

Second place: Persaud N, Sabir A, Woods H, Sayani A, Agarwal A, Chowdhury M, de Leon-Demare K, Ibezi S, Jan SH, Katz A, LaFortune FD, Lewis M, McFarlane T, Oberai A, Oladele Y, Onyekwelu O, Peters L, Wong P, Lofters A; Equitable Preventive Praxis Initiative in Canada. (2023).

Preventive care recommendations to promote health equity. CMAJ. 2023 Sep 25;195(37):E1250-E1273. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.230237. Erratum in: CMAJ. 2023 Nov 14;195(44):E1520. PMID: 37748784; PMCID: PMC10519166. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/37/E1250

Third place: O'Neill B, Yusuf A, Lofters A, Huang A, Ekeleme N, Kiran T, Greiver M, Sullivan F, Kurdyak P. (2023).

Breast Cancer Screening Among Females With and Without Schizophrenia. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Nov 1;6(11):e2345530. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.45530. PMID: 38019514; PMCID: PMC10687664.

Excellence in Advocacy

Dr. John Ihnat | Toronto East Health Network - Michael Garron Hospital

Dedicated patient advocate ensures seamless care coordination, prioritizing equity in healthcare access despite barriers like education levels and preventive care attitudes. Committed to preventing patient disengagement, regardless of attendance or responsiveness.

Dr. Renata Leong | St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Leong is an excellent physician and mentor. She challenges students to explore and reflect on the social factors that contribute to patients' health and management.

Excellence in Mentorship

Dr. Ali Damji | Credit Valley Hospital

Dr. Damji is an excellent role model, teacher, and mentor. He began my elective by asking about my goals and advocated for experiences to help me achieve them. He scheduled relevant patients, arranged coffee chats with other physicians, and invited me to meetings and events aligned with my interests. Working with Dr. Damji has been a unique and fortunate opportunity.

Dr. Zane Brickman | North York General Hospital

Dr. Brickman’s dedication to my learning objectives and career goals surpassed any other preceptor I’ve had. He generously shared his time and wisdom, addressing my career concerns and supporting my interest in family medicine. His encouragement is a core reason I’ve decided to pursue family medicine, which I am very excited about.

Dr. Pradeepan Arulchelvam | Scarborough Health Network

Dr. Arulchelvam is a rarity in academia, with unmatched dedication to clinical education for students, patients, and families. He is an excellent role model, embodying lifelong learning and encouraging his learners to do the same. Involved in students' professional and academic growth, he offers constant support and guidance through personal challenges, helping them become compassionate, well-rounded physicians.

Dr. Robert Weinberg | Office-based Physician

Dr. Weinberg is an exceptional teacher, clinician, tutor, and mentor. He walks me through cases, asks questions before patient encounters, debriefs between SO and AP sections, and gives timely feedback. I learn from every session and feel comfortable asking questions. Dr. Weinberg’s dedication to his patients and students inspires me to be a doctor like him. I highly recommend him to any student; he's the best tutor I could ask for.

Excellence in Program Coordination

Dr. Sofia Khan | St. Joseph's Health Centre

Dr. Sofia Khan, as my CC3 clerkship year's hospital program director, demonstrated exceptional dedication. Throughout the 11-month period, she prioritized student needs, offering weekly updates, reviewing case logs, and providing extra teaching opportunities. Her responsiveness to emails and flexibility with schedules ensured effective learning. Dr. Khan's clinical expertise in family medicine and commitment to evidence-based practice enriched our clinic experiences, making her a highly supportive and knowledgeable educator.

Role Modelling Clinical Excellence

Dr. Amy Freedman | St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Freedman is a dedicated, passionate, and effective teacher who has touched the careers of many learners across disciplines. Her impact is unmeasurable, exceptional and longstanding excellence in teaching our students across all levels, particularly our undergraduate learners.

Dr. John Henein | Trillium Health Partners- Credit Valley Hospital

Dr. Henein was an exceptional preceptor, balancing patient care with teaching and providing valuable feedback. His practice offered a diverse range of family medicine and minor procedures, enriching my learning experience. He demonstrated compassion and patience with patients, fostering a collaborative atmosphere. Dr. Henein encouraged case presentations, allowed time for research, and steadily increased patient interactions, creating a supportive yet challenging learning environment. His exemplary communication skills and dedication to teaching have left a lasting impression on me.

Dr. Chase McMurren | Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. McMurren introduced me to a collaborative and empathetic approach with patients and students, fostering co-learning rather than a top-down approach. This innovative method empowered me to engage deeply in scholarship and self-reflection. His passion for teaching and kindness tailored the learning experience to my interests. His commitment to Indigenous health during our elective inspired my determination to continue learning in this field. His supportive supervision and clear learning goals fostered a safe and reflective learning environment.

Dr. Nikita Patel | Women's College Hospital

A role model in time management, work-life balance, and passion for family medicine and preventative care. Provides exemplary feedback on cases and offers opportunities for post-clinic teaching, check-ins, and general mentorship.

Dr. Matthew Cruickshank | Toronto East Health Network - Michael Garron Hospital

Dr. Cruickshank has a great rapport with patients and is very respectful. He considers multiple aspects of patients' lives, including social determinants of health and living situations that impact care. He asks difficult but necessary questions to get a full picture and conducts thorough physical exams, demonstrating proficiency in maneuvers.

Dr. Jennifer McCabe | St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. McCabe is an outstanding physician and teacher who challenges students in a supportive environment. She exemplifies comprehensive and compassionate patient care, knowing all her patients personally and often recalling their details without referencing charts. Her deep investment in patients' stories and well-being makes her an excellent role model for aspiring family physicians. Her patients are deeply grateful for her dedication and care.

Dr. Sandeep Aggarwal | Trillium Health Partners- Credit Valley Hospital

Dr. Aggarwal is a remarkable role model, exemplifying therapeutic patient relationships, medical scholarship, and effective teaching. His deep knowledge of his patients enables patient-centered care and reduces barriers to access. He skillfully involves learners in clinical encounters and his work with underserved populations outside the clinic has inspired me to pursue similar efforts in my career.

Dr. Anne Wideman | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Wideman is an exemplary physician who ensures her patients feel heard and validated. She builds excellent rapport, making patients feel safe and eager to return because they trust her. Dr. Wideman always sees her patients as humans first, fostering a deep sense of trust and safety in her care.

Dr. Paul Frydrych | Office-based Physician

Dr. Frydrych stands out for his exceptional teaching skills and patient care balance. With a warm, welcoming demeanor, he listens to patients' concerns and acknowledges learners. He treats patients with respect and empathy, ensuring their comfort while prioritizing student learning. Dr. Frydrych explains clinical concepts during encounters, incorporating rather than alienating patients. His long-term patients trust and respect him, making him an exemplary role model.

Teaching Excellence

Dr. Ali Hisham | Credit Valley Hospital

Dr. Ali was fantastic! He treated us like colleagues, offering independence and support without unrealistic expectations. He provided opportunistic teaching, career discussions, and excellent advice. He gave us appropriate autonomy in patient care and insightful tips on holistic patient management. I highly recommend doing an elective with him if possible. His focus on both medical and non-medical aspects of medicine made for an amazing experience and a great introduction to the hospitalist role.

Dr. Patrick Safieh | Humber River Hospital

Dr. Safieh is a dedicated clinician-teacher who maximized my learning during my family medicine elective. His exemplary bedside manner and professionalism make him a role model I aspire to emulate. He offered invaluable advice that I use daily.

Dr. Lara Rosenberg | North York General Hospital

Dr. Rosenberg is an exceptional teacher who supported and challenged me during my elective. Her timely and specific feedback motivated me to improve. Prepared with resources and clinical pearls, she advanced my Family Medicine and Obstetrical knowledge. She tailored my clinical experience to my learning objectives, balancing patient safety and skill development. Well-liked by patients and colleagues, she demonstrated exemplary bedside manner and collegiality. I highly recommend her as a supervisor for any learner.

Dr. Azadeh Moaveni | Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Moaveni excels as an educator, striking a balance between guidance and autonomy for learners, fostering optimal growth as future physicians. With a deep reservoir of knowledge, she engages students effectively, cultivating a supportive learning atmosphere where mistakes are embraced as opportunities for improvement.

Dr. Michael Kates | Trillium Health Partners- Mississauga Hospital

Invested in students learning, creates learning opportunities and takes the time to teach students. Great at receiving and giving feedback.

Dr. Judith Peranson | St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Peranson stands out as the most exceptional clerkship teacher. She devoted ample clinic time to reviewing cases with me, discussing differentials, and refining my exam skills. Always patient with my questions, she created an environment where I felt comfortable learning and growing without fear of mistakes. It was truly a pleasure to learn from her expertise.

Dr. Sharon Domb | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Domb was an outstanding preceptor in Family Medicine! She excelled in teaching, provided unwavering support to her students, and exemplified clinical excellence and efficiency. Dr. Domb motivated me to take initiative, think critically, and enhance my skills as a CC3, fostering my interest in Family Medicine along the way!

Dr. Jay Keshmirian | Office-based Physician

Dr. Keshmirian excels as a clinician, teacher, and mentor. His patience, encouragement, kindness, and teaching skills have enriched my learning profoundly. I aspire to mirror his wisdom, professionalism, clinical expertise, and compassion in my own practice. My goal is to positively influence future medical students, just as he has inspired me.

Dr. Maja Seidl | Office-based Physician

Dr. Seidl consistently supported my learning during patient cases, despite a busy schedule. She provided invaluable feedback on history taking, patient encounters, and exams, fostering a comfortable environment for learning and expanding responsibilities like administering vaccines. Her dedication optimized my educational experience, boosting my confidence in clinical scenarios and history-taking. Dr. Seidl's mentorship strongly influenced my interest in family medicine. Each encounter enhanced my clinical skills, and I enthusiastically recommend her as a tutor for aspiring medical professionals.

Dr. Tim Kodsi | Office-based Physician

Dr. Kodsi was a superb educator, carefully selecting cases for my learning and maintaining an efficient patient rotation system. He listened attentively to my assessments and provided exceptional instruction on MSK presentations, filling gaps from my pre-clerkship. His expectations were reasonable, fostering my growth as a CC4. Beyond clinical skills, he imparted valuable lessons on patient trust and administrative tasks in family medicine. Dr. Kodsi's exemplary patient rapport and emphasis on preventive care inspired my career path towards family medicine. His mentorship created a supportive learning environment, nurturing both personal and professional growth, making him a remarkable role model in medicine and beyond.

Teaching Excellence – FMLE

Dr. Christina Fisher | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Fisher leaves a lasting, positive impact on medical students. She prioritizes wellness, welcomes input, and fosters a safe, productive learning environment. An exceptional teacher, she discusses family medicine intricacies, imparts clinical pearls, and shares memorable anecdotes. Her patients deeply respect and value her. I enthusiastically endorse her for the FMLE Excellence in Teaching award.

Teaching Excellence - New Teacher

Dr. Jonathan Herriot | St. Joseph's Health Centre

The teacher is excellent, providing one-on-one guidance and feedback, tailored to individual learning objectives. The elective offers diverse patient encounters, well-suited for those interested in family medicine. Highly recommended for its organized approach and valuable teaching opportunities.

Dr. Babak Fanaei | North York General Hospital

Dr. Fanaei is a beacon of enthusiasm and exemplary teaching prowess. His role modeling is inspiring; he embodies the clinician I aspire to become—compassionate towards patients and families, and a staunch advocate for their well-being. His teaching style is exceptional, fostering a welcoming environment and valuing learner feedback. Working with him was transformative; I grew significantly during our elective together. His respect for interdisciplinary colleagues further underscores his excellence. Dr. Fanaei truly deserves recognition for his outstanding contributions.

Dr. Michelle Litner | Women's College Hospital

Dr. Litner adeptly balances her demanding schedule with her role as a clinical teacher. I consistently felt supported, with ample opportunities to ask questions and prioritize my learning goals. She embodies excellence as both a physician and educator, consistently putting patients first and offering kind, constructive feedback. Her clinic is exceptionally organized, and she actively seeks teaching moments during patient encounters. Dr. Litner addresses the hidden curriculum confidently and exceeds standard expectations, making a lasting impact on learners.

Dr. Karen Dobkin | Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Dobkin was an outstanding teacher who fostered independence while offering unwavering support. As a mentor, she actively sought teaching moments and made working together a joyous experience.

Dr. Jared Gleberzon | Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Gleberzon exemplified superb clinical teaching, consistently enthusiastic and genuine throughout my rotation. He debriefed with me after patient encounters daily, offering case-based teaching and reflections on clinical care. Dr. Gleberzon demonstrated clinical skills during patient visits and tailored didactic sessions to my learning goals. He ensured patient-centered care while prioritizing a valuable learning experience, frequently checking in and being available for discussions. Working with him was a comprehensive and enriching experience in medical education.

 Dr. Gunjan Maggo | Office-based Physician

Dr. Maggo is an exceptional teacher who fosters growth in a positive and supportive learning environment. She encourages students to interact with patients extensively, ensuring thorough debriefs after each encounter to address questions and enhance skills. Dr. Maggo exemplifies patient-centered care by listening attentively and empathizing, especially with patients facing language barriers. Beyond teaching, her entrepreneurial spirit shines through her family medicine clinic, offering students insights into both medical practice and innovative dermatological treatments. Working with her is a comprehensive learning experience.