2026 DFCM Award of Excellence Winners
Congratulations to all our 2026 Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) Program Award winners! At this year's virtual Awards & Celebrations event on October 1, we will recognize and honour your contributions to your patients, communities, and our department.
Other awards can be found here.
Academic Physician of the Year
Dr. Batya Grundland | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Batya Grundland is an outstanding family physician recognized for excellence in clinical care, education, scholarship, and leadership. With nearly two decades at Women’s College Hospital, she delivers comprehensive patient-centred care which teaching learners at all levels of training. Dr. Grundland hold a key academic leadership role at the DFCM, is contributing meaningfully to updating the CanMEDS competency framework, and contributes to impactful family medicine scholarship. Her dedication and broad influence make her a highly deserving for the DFCM Physician of the Year Award.
Excellence in Course/Program Development
Dr. Sheryl Spithoff | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Sheryl Spithoff is recognized for transforming the Resident Academic Project program at WCH through her use of innovative and structured instructional methods. Through early orientation, clear milestones, iterative feedback and creation of a valuable repository of resources, Dr. Spithoff has significantly improving resident learning, accountability, and project quality. Dr. Spithoff’s creative, practical, and impactful approach has strengthened both resident education and academic outcomes, making a lasting contribution to the program.
Excellence in Creative Professional Activity
Dr. Gordon Arbess | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital
For more than 20 years Dr. Arbess has championed care for patients with HIV in primary care. His work includes being Director of the PGY 3 HIV program and being HIV Clinic Director. He has contributed to care delivery design in Ontario and development of clinical guidelines for care of patients with HIV. He is active in clinical research in HIV, a frequent presenter to public and professional audiences, teacher and mentor to many in this field.
Excellence in Development and Use of Innovative Instructional Methods
Drs. Jeff Myers, Leah Steinberg and Nadia Incardona | Sinai Health System
The ABCs (All Providers Better Communication Skills) program is an innovative training program that helps healthcare providers build practical, person-centered communication skills for serious illness care. It combines
online learning, interactive sessions, and simulation-based practice, and focuses on communication as an ongoing, relationship-centered process. Designed for all providers, it improves confidence and real-world skills,
and is now being used and studied across a range of clinical and educational settings.
Excellence in Leadership: New Leadership
Dr. Jane Chow | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Jane Chow has demonstrated strong leadership in physician recruitment, faculty development, and undergraduate medical education. She expanded the FMLE community preceptor pool by over 65%, from 217 to 364 physicians, through proactive, relationship-based recruitment, while also advancing equity through targeted recruitment of Black physician preceptors. She developed the FMLE’s first centralized faculty resource website, led published research on using student feedback to inform faculty development, and co-developed a highly valued Family Medicine clerkship seminar that is being considered for formal curricular integration and broader dissemination.
Dr. Aisha Husain | Oak Valley Health
Dr. Aisha Husain exemplifies exceptional new leadership through her dedication to lifelong learning, innovation, and mentorship in family medicine. A community-based physician and educator, she has demonstrated visionary leadership by developing faculty, guiding new initiatives, and fostering inclusive, psychologically safe learning environments. Her ability to inspire, mentor, and create opportunities for others—while leading with humility, curiosity, and purpose—makes her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
Dr. Lillian Ferreira | UHN - Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Lillian Ferreira’s clinical and academic leadership goes far beyond her vital role as our Respiratory Therapist. She is the gold standard for HPE Leadership. She co-created and leads our Interdisciplinary Smoking Cessation Program. She initiates a variety of professional development activities around Respiratory Health and Emergency Preparedness and Safety. In addition, she is our Health Education Lead curating and creating educational
workshops for our patients. Her kindness, humility, and expertise inspires us all to be better clinicians.
Excellence in Leadership: Sustained
Dr. Noor Ramji | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Ramji has advanced a strong culture of quality improvement grounded in equity, data, and patient partnership across clinical, departmental, and provincial levels. She has led initiatives that improved access, equitable patient attachment, and care for marginalized populations, while mentoring faculty and learners. She has integrated patient and family voices into system improvement and education, mobilized teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, and built collaborative momentum across sites. Her leadership has been characterized by humility, inclusivity, and lasting impact.
Dr. Jackie Bellaire | Michael Garron Hospital – Toronto East Health Network
Dr. Jackie Bellaire is an exceptional and sustained leader whose impact spans faculty development, postgraduate education, advocacy, and clinical care. Known for her collaborative, values-driven approach, she has advanced health equity, strengthened academic programming, and mentored countless learners and faculty. Her leadership has shaped thriving clinical and teaching environments, fostered innovation, and embedded social accountability into practice, reflecting a longstanding commitment to excellence, community, and the future of family medicine.
Ms. Roxanne Gopie | Unity Health Toronto - St. Joseph's Health Centre
Roxanne Gopie is an exceptional nurse leader whose nearly two decades at St. Joseph’s Health Centre have transformed patient care, team culture, and clinical innovation. She leads with compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to equity, mentoring learners and empowering colleagues across disciplines. From advancing quality improvement and access initiatives to fostering inclusive, high-performing teams, Roxanne’s sustained leadership has made a lasting impact on patients, providers, and the broader health system.
Excellence in Research: Sustained
Dr. Anita Srivastava | Unity Health Toronto - St. Joseph's Health Centre
Dr. Anita Srivastava has demonstrated sustained excellence in research, advancing addiction medicine through over two decades of influential studies, guideline contributions, and innovative clinical initiatives. Her work has shaped opioid prescribing, expanded access to life-saving therapies, and improved outcomes for marginalized populations. As a dedicated mentor and leader, she fosters evidence-based practice and compassionate care, inspiring learners and colleagues alike. Her scholarship, impact, and commitment make her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
Excellence in Research: Early Career Researcher
Dr. Archna Gupta | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Archna Gupta is a highly productive and impactful early career researcher who is passionate about health equity and global health. Her research focuses on the intersection between public health and primary care, how to best serve vulnerable patients or those who face structural marginalization, and how to equitably serve growing populations with expanding health needs locally and globally.
Excellence in Research: Mid Career Researcher
Dr. Pamela Leece | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Pamela Leece has been nominated for the DFCM Mid-Career Research Excellence Award for her impressive record of collaboration and leadership in research in substance use health and addictions. Dr. Leece’s work has contributed to the implementation of high-quality evidence-based care, including novel models of care to reduce opioid-related mortality and morbidity provincially and nationally. She is deeply committed to meaningful engagement with people with lived expertise and ensures co-leadership in her work.
Excellence in Social Responsibility
Dr. Jonathan Ding | North York General Hospital
Dr. Jonathan Ding is a dedicated family physician whose work spans all three Canadian territories. He serves as an emergency physician, hospitalist, and public health advocate in remote and rural Indigenous communities. Locally, he works within a homeless shelter and provides outreach to patients without access to primary care. He has also founded a reproductive health program. An educator, advocate, leader, and philanthropist, he exemplifies social responsibility at the heart of family medicine.
Dr. Laurie Green | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Laurie Green has demonstrated a decades-long commitment to compassionate, equitable care. She consistently demonstrates leadership in improving clinic accessibility, advocating for patients with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and advancing initiatives that address social determinants of health such as the clinic implementation of The Reach Out And Read Program. Dr. Green is recognized for her tireless patient-centred approach and unwavering dedication to dismantling systemic barriers and advancing inclusive family medicine.
Excellence in Teaching: Early Career
Dr. Karim Abdel Shahid | Southlake Regional Health Centre
Dr. Shahid's teaching style is his approachability and accessibility to learners. I am not aware of any learner who is hesitant to approach Dr. Shahid with a clinical question and expect a thoughtful, well-formulated, person-centered, and evidenced based response to the inquiry. Having only ever seen Dr. Shahid smile, he displays remarkable rapport with learners and pushes them to think analytically and independently.
Dr. Nitai Gelber | UHN - Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Gelber is an exceptional educator known for his deep commitment to learner-centered teaching, supportive mentorship, and evidence informed clinical guidance. He skillfully balances autonomy with supervision, fostering a safe, engaging environment where learners feel challenged and supported. His constructive feedback, clinical expertise, and dedication to individualized learning consistently inspire growth. Dr. Gelber creates a positive, inclusive atmosphere that encourages inquiry and professionalism. His passion for teaching and patient care makes him a truly outstanding mentor.
Excellence in Teaching: Sustained
Dr. Andrew Sparrow | UHN - Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Andrew Sparrow exemplifies sustained excellence in teaching through his clinical expertise, thoughtful mentorship, and unwavering dedication to learners since 2012. He creates a supportive, non-judgmental environment that fosters confidence, independence, and evidence-based practice. Respected by residents, students, and colleagues alike, he leads with kindness, responsiveness, and integrity. His commitment to education and faculty development makes him an outstanding teacher and deserving recipient of the Excellence in Teaching award for his sustained impact over the years.
Dr. Natascha Crispino | Unity Health Toronto - St. Joseph's Health Centre
Dr. Natascha Crispino exemplifies sustained excellence in teaching, inspiring learners across undergraduate, postgraduate, and faculty development programs for over two decades. Known for her engaging, supportive, and innovative approach, she fosters critical thinking, clinical confidence, and professionalism. As a mentor, role model, and educator, she has profoundly shaped the development of family medicine trainees and colleagues alike. Her enduring commitment to education, reflection, and innovation makes her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
Ms. Amy Choy | UHN - Toronto Western Hospital
Amy has been a dedicated nurse at the Toronto Western Family Health Team for the past 8 years and has had an integral role in resident physician experience and learning. She has been a leader in developing and implementing a very successful interprofessional nurse/resident buddy program in our unit to support learners and increase team integration. Amy is also a certified diabetes educator and devotes her time to help provide up to date education to residents managing patients with diabetes.
Louise Nasmith
Dr. Annie Wang | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
In all aspects of her work, Dr. Wang exemplifies the qualities recognized by the Louise Nasmith Award. She not only generates innovative ideas but actively disseminates them, stimulates meaningful discussion, engages learners in scholarship, and drives tangible improvements in patient care. Her work represents a model of early-career academic excellence in family and community medicine.
Risa Freeman Award for Excellence in Education Scholarship: Newly Engaged
Dr. Christopher Gilchrist | Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Chris Gilchrist is leading and innovating the scholarship of artificial intelligence in family medicine education. Across the continuum of education, Dr. Gilchrist has established new knowledge and innovations on how AI can transform and enhance multiple aspects of education from the structural to the personal. Moreover, he has been engaged in faculty development efforts to bring this knowledge to family medicine educators and leaders.
Risa Freeman Award for Excellence in Education Scholarship: Sustained
Dr. Sherylan Young | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sherylan Young has demonstrated outstanding excellence in education scholarship through sustained innovation, productivity, and leadership. Her work has advanced family medicine education through impactful research, mentorship, and the creation of widely valued scholarly resources, including The Hub. She has meaningfully explored the role of health professions educators, supported numerous projects through Art of the Possible grants, and consistently championed a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and scholarship in DFCM and particularly in the undergraduate education portfolio.
Caroline Turenko Award for Staff Excellence
Mr. Howard Lau | UHN - Toronto Western Hospital
Howard Lau has been an indispensable member of TWFHT since 2010. His excellence and collaborative spirit have made him the go-to person for everyone and all issues at the clinic. Appreciated for his reliability, responsiveness, and calm leadership, Howard consistently goes above and beyond, strengthening every initiative he is involved in. As EMR Administrator since 2016, he has been critical to the success of our residency program, QI projects, health promotion activities and daily operations.
Ms. Nassim Vahidi-Williams | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael’s Hospital
Nassim Vahidi-Williams advances social accountability by transforming how care is designed and delivered with communities. She has led anti-Black racism as a strategic priority, built trusted partnerships with underserved populations, and embedded patient and youth voices into care. Through her leadership in social prescribing and equity-informed data practices, she is shaping a more inclusive, responsive, and equitable health system.
Ms. Christie Billings | DFCM
Christie Billings is a champion for the AFGS program and proves herself to be a reliable and dedicated colleague. She manages issues with diplomacy and works diligently to grow and strengthen our program.
Ms. Erin Plenert | DFCM
Erin Plenert is an exceptional Quality & Innovation Program leader whose work has had a profound impact on patients, learners, and teams across the DFCM. Known for her reliability, versatility, and thoughtful leadership, Erin consistently goes above and beyond—strengthening quality improvement
initiatives, advancing patient engagement, and fostering equity-focused, collaborative work. Her ability to translate complex ideas into meaningful action, while building strong, trusting relationships, makes her a cornerstone of the department and a truly deserving recipient of this award.
New Staff Award of Excellence
Ms. Maryam Nafari | DFCM
Maryam Nafari has made an exceptional impact on the DFCM since she joined our department in 2024. Her innovative system design, her management of a rapidly expanding and increasingly complex portfolio, and her remarkable work ethic and collegiality have made her an invaluable team player. Her contributions have directly improved the quality, efficiency, transparency, and integrity of some of the most critical administrative functions in our department. The systems she has built are now core infrastructure that DFCM depends on daily.
Ms. Sandra Fournier | DFCM
Since joining in 2024, Sandra Fournier has made exceptional contributions as administrative lead across curriculum and accreditation, combining remarkable organization, foresight, and collaboration. She has been instrumental in advancing the Social Accountability curriculum, launching a complex Foundations
Month program, and leading major internal review processes. Sandra’s ability to coordinate large-scale initiatives with clarity, responsiveness, and grace has had a profound impact, making her an invaluable member of the education team at DFCM and beyond.
Ms. Jessica Cameron | Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital
Jessica Cameron is the FMTU Program Administrator at the Orillia site. She has played a vital role in getting our new residency site running. Her organization skills have been valuable in coordinating with the many specialists who have had little prior involvement in teaching, and working with the complex pieces to create rotation schedules for residents and supervisors. Our success as a new site would not have been possible without her outstanding contributions.
Ms. Angela Sebastiana | UHN - Toronto Western Hospital
Angela Sebastiana is an exceptional administrative leader whose impact far exceeds her role. She combines meticulous organization, sound judgment, and unwavering professionalism to ensure seamless departmental operations. A trusted advisor and proactive problem-solver, she anticipates needs, manages complexity with ease, and supports colleagues with generosity and precision. Her ability to build relationships, uphold confidentiality, and drive key initiatives makes her indispensable and a highly deserving recipient of this award.