2026 DFCM Program Award Winners

Continuing Education and Graduate Studies Instructor Award

Dr. Julia Alleyne | University Health Network

Dr. Julia Alleyne is recognized with the Continuing Education and Graduate Studies Instructor Award for her sustained contributions as Instructor of the CHL5622H/FD22 and CHL5625H/FD25 courses. She demonstrates exceptional leadership and mentorship, consistently advancing course and curriculum development to meet the evolving learning needs of Continuing Education and Graduate students. Dr. Alleyne brings deep expertise in health policy, interprofessional education, and team‑based primary care, informed by her longstanding academic and clinical roles. Her commitment to high‑quality, learner‑centred instruction has strengthened the educational experience across both courses and the broader programs.

Continuing Education Student Award for Overall Excellence

Dr. Natasha Jeraj | Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Natasha Jeraj, a Family Medicine resident in the Hospital Medicine Enhanced Skills Program, is the 2025-2026 recipient of the Continuing Education Student Award for Overall Excellence. Throughout the Clinical Teacher Certificate, she demonstrated consistent excellence in both coursework and practicum, with a strong commitment to learner‑centred, evidence‑informed teaching. Her academic work explored the integration of emerging technologies into medical education, including a POCUS curriculum grounded in experiential learning theory and a workshop on AI in health‑professional education. During her practicum, she created a supportive, goal‑oriented learning environment and applied practical, active‑learning approaches that were highly valued by trainees. Dr. Jeraj plans to carry these foundational teaching skills forward into her future clinical and educational practice.

DFCM 50th Anniversary Dr. Lynn Wilson Award

Dr. Sara Sotirakos | Scarborough General Hospital

Dr. Sara Sotirakos (they/them) is a family physician with the Interprofessional Primary Care Team at Scarborough General Hospital and a lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) at the University of Toronto. A recent graduate of the Scarborough Health Network site of the DFCM Residency Program, they supervise learners in the IPCT clinic and are passionate about medical education, inclusive healthcare, and expanding access to gender-affirming care. In September 2025, they began the MPH-AS(FCM) program, with interests in health professions education, equity-focused curriculum development, and primary care systems improvement. As a current DFCM graduate student, Dr. Sotirakos was selected for this award for their demonstration of excellence in the study and scholarship of Family Medicine, reflected by their academic excellence and outstanding performance throughout the coursework of their MPH-AS(FCM) degree.

DFCM 50th Anniversary Dr. Lynn Wilson Award

Dr. Phillip Tsang | St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Phillip Tsang is a candidate for the Master of Science in Community Health in the Health Practitioner Teacher Education stream. He started this program in September 2022 after completing his clinical training in Family Medicine and Enhanced Skills Training in Education Scholarship. He practices comprehensive family medicine at St. Michael's Hospital, and does clinical teaching for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical learners. He also does small group teaching for the undergraduate medical education program at the University of Toronto. His research is focused on advocacy skills teaching in the undergraduate medical education program. As a current DFCM graduate student, Dr. Tsang was selected for this award for his demonstration of excellence in the study and scholarship of Family Medicine, reflected by his academic excellence and outstanding performance throughout the coursework of his MScCH(HPTE) degree to date.

Excellence in Research/Quality Improvement in Emergency Medicine

Dr. Aaron Orkin | Unity Health Toronto - St. Joseph's Health Centre

Dr. Orkin's research is of prodigious quantity and high quality, spanning local, national, and international collaborations. His scientific reviews for ILCOR help inform resuscitation, basic life support, and first aid recommendations that affect care every day. His work has also driven provincial initiatives, including the Ornge first responder program for remote communities and guidelines for overdose education and naloxone distribution. He is also a generous mentor to numerous junior colleagues, often providing their first projects, publications, and research grants.

Excellence in Teaching in Emergency Medicine (Early Career)

Dr. Jonathan Whittall | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital, St. Joseph's Health Centre

Dr. Whittall has quickly distinguished himself as one of the most beloved and impactful clinical teachers at St. Joseph's and St. Michael's Hospitals. He is a simulation facilitator for family medicine residents, the Enhanced Skills in EM program, and SEME, where he also teaches procedural skills, leads undergraduate ICE courses, and contributes to the EM bootcamp. Beyond the ED, he practices shelter medicine and serves as content creator and YouTube manager for EM Cases, reaching thousands of trainees and physicians worldwide.

Excellence in Teaching & Education in Emergency Medicine

Dr. Eileen Cheung | Michael Garron Hospital

Dr. Cheung has earned a reputation as a gifted, engaging, and committed teacher of medical trainees, mentoring a large number of medical students, residents, and early-career physicians. Her expertise in simulation-based learning is a particular strength. As Program Director of the Supplemental Emergency Medicine Experience (SEME), she has led significant program expansion, curriculum development, and faculty engagement across multiple sites, and has also contributed to the international development of emergency medicine training through TAAAC-EM.

The Eric Letovsky Award for Excellence in Emergency Medicine

Dr. Dominick Shelton | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Shelton has spent more than 30 years in the Division of Emergency Medicine, with contributions at the hospital, regional, national, and international levels. His leadership in quality improvement has advanced evidence-based practice, while his leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion which has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards reflects sustained advocacy and mentorship within Black communities in Ontario. His work has shaped institutional culture and improved representation in medicine.

Mentorship

Dr. Maria Muraca and Dr. Rebecca Stoller | North York General Hospital

Continuing Education Impact Award

Dr. Carrie Bernard, Dr. Nikki Bozinoff, Dr. Chase McMurren, Dr. Stephanie Zhou 

Leadership in Faculty Development

Dr. Alena Hung | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Elana Fric Family Medicine Award for Leadership and Advocacy

Dr. Erin Lurie, Dr. Nena-Rae Watson, and Ms. Jasmine Saleh | St. Michael's Hospital

Wellness Award 

Dr. Yalda Karimi | CAMH

Faculty Award for Excellence in Global Health 

Dr. Princess Acheampong | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Dr. Acheampong is a key leader in the long-standing DFCM–KNUST partnership, providing exceptional leadership in the co-creation and delivery of five professional education courses over the past four years to strengthen primary health care and frontline practice in Ghana. Her impact is distinctly bidirectional: she has advanced primary care delivery in Ghana while also shaping educational approaches, quality improvement strategies, and health equity initiatives within our department.

Resident Award for Excellence in Global Health

Dr. Galo Muñoz | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Galo Munoz exemplifies excellence in global health through his longstanding commitment to health equity, leadership in primary care across multiple global settings, and innovative scholarship during residency. His work on improving measles vaccine uptake among immigrant patients and contributing to research on primary health care transformation demonstrates outstanding advocacy, creativity, and dedication to advancing equitable health outcomes locally and globally. 

Resident Award for Excellence in Global Health

Dr. Keshini Abeyewardene | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Abeyewardene has demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship, and advocacy in advancing health equity through local and international initiatives. As co-principal investigator of multiple global and community-based research projects, she has fostered meaningful collaborations, addressed barriers to equitable primary care access, and contributed to influential global health initiatives. Her dedication to underserved populations, academic excellence, and systems-level change makes her exceptionally deserving of this recognition.

Resident Award for Excellence in Global Health

Dr. Melanie Tan | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Melanie Tan has demonstrated exceptional commitment to global health through her work on a World Health Organization project examining legal and regulatory reforms that support primary health care and universal health coverage. Thoughtful, collaborative, and deeply equity-focused, she has contributed meaningfully to research with global impact. Her intellectual rigor, humility, and dedication to ethical engagement across diverse contexts exemplify the qualities of an outstanding global health leader and make her highly deserving of this award.

Resident Award for Excellence in Global Health

Dr. Emma Amaral | Unity Health Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital

Dr. Emma Amaral has demonstrated outstanding dedication to global health through her contributions to a World Health Organization project examining legal and regulatory reforms that strengthen primary health care and advance universal health coverage. Insightful, diligent, and highly collaborative, she has approached complex global health challenges with intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to equity. Her thoughtful engagement, perseverance, and passion for improving health systems reflect the qualities of an exceptional emerging leader in global health and make her highly deserving of this award.

Yves Talbot Award for Excellence in Global Health Leadership

Dr. David Tannenbaum | Sinai Health: Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. David Tannenbaum is a deserving recipient of this award for his sustained leadership, commitment to global health equity, and stewardship of the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Family Medicine (TAAAC-FM). As Department Head of Family Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, he has championed capacity building, education, scholarship, and international partnerships, strengthening family medicine locally and globally. His collaborative leadership has had a lasting impact on learners, faculty, and communities.

Yves Talbot Award for Excellence in Global Health Leadership

Dr. Erin Bearss | Sinai Health: Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Erin Bearrs is a deserving recipient of this award for her exceptional commitment to advancing global health partnerships and fostering collaborative learning across institutions and communities. Through her leadership and advocacy, she has helped create opportunities for education, faculty development, and knowledge exchange that have strengthened the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Family Medicine (TAAAC-FM). Her dedication to mentorship, relationship-building, and sustainable capacity development has had a meaningful and lasting impact.

Award of Excellence in Palliative Care - Sustained Excellence

Dr. Daphna Grossman | North York General Hospital

Over the course of her career, Dr. Grossman has demonstrated an enduring commitment to excellence, making a profound and lasting impact on patients, families, learners, colleagues, and the broader palliative care community..

Award of Excellence in Palliative Medicine, Sustained Excellence

Dr. Debbie Selby | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Over the course of her career, Dr. Selby has demonstrated an enduring commitment to excellence, making a profound and lasting impact on patients, families, learners, colleagues, and the broader palliative care community.

Award of Excellence in Palliative Medicine - Early Career

Dr. Michael Bonares | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Since joining our division, Dr. Bonares has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to excellence, making a significant and lasting impact on patients, families, learners, colleagues, and the broader palliative care community.

Award of Excellence in Palliative Care - Early Career

Dr. Noam Berlin | North York General Hospital

Since joining our division, Dr. Berlin has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to excellence, making a significant and lasting impact on patients, families, learners, colleagues, and the broader palliative care community.

Resident Advocacy

Dr. Lina Al-Imari | Trillium Health Partners – Mississauga Hospital

Clinical Excellence

Dr. Keshini Abeyewardene | Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael's

Dr. Kelti Smith | Trillium Health Partners – Mississauga Hospital

Dr. Alaina Pupulin| Michael Garron Hospital – Toronto East Health Network

Dr. Shannon Leung | Scarborough Health Network

Dr. Jodi Hong | The University Health Network – Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Teresa Zhu | Women's College Hospital

Dr. Labi Sarrouh | Integrated Communities Program

Dr. Haoyue Lan | Enhanced Skills Program

Dr. Jacklyne Weng | Enhanced Skills Program

Advocacy for Patients

Dr. Arun Viththy | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Gao Angela | Enhanced Skills Program

Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Donatus MacDonald | Oak Valley Health – Markham Stouffville Hospital

Dr. Jacqueline Stoller | North York General Hospital

Dr. Milena Markovski | Southlake Health

Dr. Caroline Ruderman | Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael's

Dr. Paris Lai | Scarborough Health Network

Dr. Jesse Myers | Women's College Hospital

Dr. James Lai | Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital

Leadership

Dr. Lora Stepanian | Oak Valley Health – Markham Stouffville Hospital

Dr. Mario Orsini | Sinai Health – Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Mohammad Ghassan AlWafai | North York General Hospital

Dr. Amrita Bagga | Southlake Health

Dr. Jamie Kim | Unity Health Toronto – St. Joseph's Health Centre

Dr. Alice Cavanagh | Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael's

Dr. Dariya Darvin |Trillium Health Partners – Credit Valley Hospital

Dr. Daniel Marinescu | Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital

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

Dr. Jordan Smith | Michael Garron Hospital – Toronto East Health Network

Family Medicine Resident Scholarship

Dr. Yasmin Dini | North York General Hospital

Innovation in Education

Mr. Kerstin Mossman | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

New Teacher

Dr. Eileen Kao | Hennick Humber Hospital

Dr. Calesh Doobay | Oak Valley Health – Uxbridge Hospital

Dr. Yasna Mehdian | Sinai Health – Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Ashkan Jahangirnia | Unity Health Toronto – St. Joseph's Health Centre

Dr. Andrei Dobrin | Georgian Bay General Hospital

Dr. Meghan Crookshank | Enhanced Skills Program

Role Modeling Clinical Excellence

Dr. Karen Fleming | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Dr. Neha Kanga | Michael Garron Hospital – Toronto East Health Network

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

Dr. Lydia Mac Farland | Integrated Communities Program

Teaching Excellence

Dr. Matthew Schmitz | Hennick Humber Hospital

Dr. Daniel Friedberg | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Program Leadership

Dr. Margaret Hess  | Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael's

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

Donald Allen Ecker Scholarship for Excellence in Resilient Leadership in Family Medicine

Dr. Lucy Wang | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

PGME Social Responsibility Award Learner Recipient

Dr. Alice Cavanagh | Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael's

PGME Robert Sheppard Award for Health Equity and Social Justice

Dr. Jamal Tarrabain | Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael's

 2026 CFPC-FAFM Family Medicine Resident Scholarship

Dr. Yasmin Dini | North York General Hospital

2026 CFPC-FAFM Val Rachlis Leadership in Family Medicine Award

Dr. Keshini Abeyewardene | Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael's

PGY1 Impact Award

Improving Access to French-Speaking Specialists Through EMR Referral Optimization

Team:
Dr. Maria Samy | Trillium Health Partners - Credit Valley
Dr. Clare Fiala | Trillium Health Partners - Credit Valley
Dr. Hisham Shokr | Trillium Health Partners - Credit Valley

The Credit Valley Family Health Team is among few in Ontario with a dedicated Francophone team, including French-speaking physicians, pharmacists, and social workers. Many Francophone patients face language barriers when referred to non-French-speaking specialists, leading to delays and suboptimal care. To address this, we identified Francophone specialists via CPSO and updated our EMR referral list. As a result, Francophone referrals increased from 8% in April–June 2024 (75% in Peel) to 15% in April-June 2025 (100% in Peel). Future work includes understanding referral preferences and expanding the list to include French-speaking allied health providers like SLPs and mental health counselors.

Improving Patient Understanding of Prenatal Tests with Virtual Handouts in Primary Care

Team:
Dr. Jodi Hong | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Alexandria King | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Prathiksha Nalan | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Fanshu (Shirley) Xu | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Jodi Hong, Dr. Alexandria King, Dr. Prathiksha Nalan, and Dr. Fanshu (Shirley) Xu are recognized for their impactful quality improvement project, Improving Patient Understanding of Prenatal Tests with Virtual Handouts in Primary Care. Identifying a gap in patient knowledge regarding routine prenatal screening, the team developed a standardized educational handout and refined its implementation through iterative PDSA cycles. By adapting their dissemination strategy, they significantly improved patient engagement and understanding, increasing average knowledge scores from 3.69 to 4.84 out of 5. Their simple, scalable intervention supports informed decision-making and demonstrates a practical approach to enhancing prenatal care in primary care settings.

Enhancing Resident Satisfaction in Elective Organization

Team:
Dr. Syeda Anwar | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital
Dr. Marc Tadros | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital
Dr. Maryam Yossofzai | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital
Dr. Bachir Tazkarji | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital
Ms. Rania Ayoubi | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital

This quality improvement project developed a centralized, accessible elective resource to streamline elective planning for family medicine residents at the Mississauga THP site. Using multiple PDSA cycles, the team improved database awareness, reduced time to secure electives, and increased resident satisfaction by approximately 40%. The initiative reduced administrative burden, improved confidence in elective planning, and demonstrated a low-cost strategy to enhance resident experience and elective organization.

 Increasing Safety in a Family Medicine Clinic

Team:
Dr. Hussain Aljeshi  | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital
Dr. Kelti Lewis | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital
Dr. Lletta Sung | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital
Dr. Rosy Zafar | Trillium Health Partners: Mississauga Hospital

This quality improvement project introduced a standardized safety protocol at a family medicine clinic to address rising risks of workplace violence. Through iterative PDSA cycles, interventions such as staff training, communication tools, and alert systems improved staff's perceived safety. The protocol is practical, scalable, and enhances preparedness, recognition, and response to aggressive patient encounters, supporting safer clinical environments and better team confidence.

Breast Cancer Screening in Patients with Increased Breast Density

Team:
Dr. Lora Stepanian  | Oak Valley Health: Markham Stouffville Hospital
Dr. Abby Farrell | Oak Valley Health: Markham Stouffville Hospital

We are nominating Dr. Lora Stephanian and Dr Abby Farrell for the PGY1 Impact Award for Quality Improvement for their project entitled “Breast Cancer Screening in Patients with Increased Breast Density”.  Their project stood out for their engagement of outside partners, particularly the head of radiology at Oak Valley Health.  Their work has led to system change through this collaboration.  They were the winners at our annual QI celebration which is adjudicated by two external judges.  

Improving Rates of Adult Tetanus Vaccines

Team:
Dr. Einav Simoni | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Nkechi Ikeaba | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Zara Uddin | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

This group of residents worked with a small team to improves rates of up-to-date tetanus vaccines in adults. Their QI methodology was solid with good use system analysis and family of measures. They also made sure to have input from the appropriate stakeholders including a staff physician, a primary care nurse, administrative support and patient partners. This proved to be an essential component of successfully rolling out 2 PDSA cycles. 

Reducing Specialist Referral Rejection Rates: A Review of Existing Rejection Patterns

Team:
Dr. Oliver Chow | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Cindy Cui | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Gauri Gupta | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Ananya Shrivastava | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Nikita Patel | Women’s College Hospital

This quality improvement project addressed the rising administrative burdens in Canadian primary care, focusing on the role of family physicians in managing specialist referrals. The goal was to analyze referral outcomes and identify key drivers of rejections within one family practice. A review of referrals over one year revealed notable rejection rates linked to specific patient and specialist factors. These findings informed targeted interventions to streamline referrals, improve communication, and strengthen continuity of care.

Increasing Breast/Chestfeeding Confidence Through a Lactation Clinic in an Urban Centre Family Health Team

Team:
Dr. Andrea Wang | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Geneviève Rochon-Terry | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Claire Rollans| St. Michael's Hospital

Public lactation resources can vary in quality, while private clinics lead to inequitable access for patients with financial barriers. This project aimed to increase patient confidence in obtaining their breast/chestfeeding feeding goals over a 4-month period by 20% through the development of an OHIP-funded, on-site lactation clinic in an urban FHT. The main outcome measure, self-reported breast/chestfeeding confidence, increased from 4.9 to 8.3 after an initial consult in the lactation clinic. An on-site clinic increases access for more vulnerable patients, including many lower income and newcomer patients, who make up a large proportion of our FHT.

Understanding barriers to osteoporosis screening in primary care in the context of current Osteoporosis Canada guidelines

Team:
Dr. Madlen O’Connor | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Sean Wang | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Julie Gilmour | St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Emma Jeavons | St. Michael's Hospital

This project evaluated current practices and barriers to osteoporosis screening and management by PCPs. 100% of PCPs would find it helpful to have FRAX reported with >80% of PCPs requesting information such as management, surveillance, and secondary work-up to be included in BMD reports in a standardized fashion. However, self-reported data from patients at the time of their BMD scans was incorrect, limiting the ability to calculate an accurate FRAX score. This project highlighted that changes are needed to BMD requisitions, with PCPs providing accurate patient risk factors. Through our surveys, it is clear that PCPs are willing to do so, and our Endocrinology colleagues willing to report a FRAX score calculated from this information and include standardized reporting based on Osteoporosis Canada 2023 guidelines.

Enhancing Antenatal Care Delivery in North York FM-OB Clinics

Team:
Dr. Elyar  Abbasi Bavil | North York General Hospital
Dr. Yasmin Dini | North York General Hospital
Dr. Sushmitha Srinivasan | North York General Hospital

This project team demonstrated strong proficiency with the use of QI tools in their planning and execution of the project. Their AIM statement was clear and focused on the identified problem.  They used appropriate measures and used different PDSA cycles to improve upon their outcomes in an iterative methodology. They worked to empower patients through the prenatal process with the creation of handouts that summarized the expected antenatal journey. The handout was a simple yet effective tool to sustainable spread the project. Their project was also voted “Most Likely Project to Implement” at our QI presentation day.

Deprescribing Proton Pump Inhibitors in Older Adults

Team:
Dr. Shannon Leung | Scarborough Health Network

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most prescribed medications in Canada but there is significant chronic use that is inappropriate with lack of documentation regarding indication and has potential for side effects. This project decreased the number of patients aged 65+ on PPIs by 22% over 3 months, with positive feedback from patients and providers. Future directions include standardizing the documentation of PPI indications and broadening the scope to include patients under 65.

Improving Efficiency of After Hours Clinic

Team:
Dr. Enoch Lam | Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team
Dr. Mario Orsini | Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team
Dr. Hannah Song | Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team
Ms. Desa Martin | Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team
Dr. David Tannenbaum | Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team

Efficiency of after hours clinic: This topic was broad and the group structured their project very clearly in terms of goal and aim.  They successfully used quality improvement methodologies to identify issues.  They were able to demonstrate the impact of interventions using data collected through the project. 

PGY2 Impact Award

Preparing for the Future: A Primary Care Approach to Improving Advance Care Planning and POA/SDM Documentation

Team:
Dr. Rebecca Ng | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Lukas Kuru | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. James Huynh | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Laura Stratton | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Sogol Olamazadeh | University Health Network: Toronto Western Hospital

Dr. Rebecca Ng, Dr. James Huynh, Dr. Lukas Kuru, and Dr. Sogol Olamazadeh are recognized for their quality improvement project, Preparing for the Future: A Primary Care Approach to Improving Advance Care Planning and POA/SDM Documentation. Identifying gaps in the documentation of substitute decision makers and goals-of-care discussions, the team developed a standardized EMR stamp to support consistent advance care planning conversations. Through structured PDSA cycles, they increased stamp utilization from 1.6% to 8.5% and improved documentation of SDM information. Their scalable and sustainable intervention promotes patient-centred care by ensuring patient values and decision-making preferences are documented before health crises occur.

Improving Minor Procedures Pathways to Reduce Specialist Referrals at SJHC FMC: A QI Initiative

Team:
Dr. Justina Melkis | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Dr. Ana Janic | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre

This project, “Improving Minor Procedures Pathways to Reduce Specialist Referrals at SJHC FMC: A QI Initiative,” was voted as the favourite at the Annual QI fest at SJHC in 2025. They worked with booking staff to develop a streamlined pathway for minor procedures in family medicine. This project improved patient access to procedures in family medicine while also increasing resident exposure to minor procedures.

Passport to Prevention: Enhancing Patient Awareness of Cancer 
Screening at Preventative Health Visits

Dr. Sauliha Alli | North York General Hospital
Dr. Judy Kim | North York General Hospital

Drs. Alli and Kim’s project “Passport to Prevention: Enhancing Patient Awareness of Cancer Screening at Preventative Health Visits” demonstrated their clear understanding of QI methodology as well as their creativity in solving a problem faced by many patients. The iterative process of their project exemplified the idea behind QI. They also won the award for “Best Use of QI Methodology” at the presentation day.Beyond the PGY1 project, they also presented at the NYGH Family Medicine Departmental rounds to further disseminate the work they did. It was a well-attended talk that helped further establish both the culture of QI within the department and the role residents have in improving care within the department. Drs. Alli and Kim demonstrated a strong knowledge of QI and the ongoing dedication required to lead to true system change. 

Enhancing Care Delivery Before the Delivery: A Quality Improvement Study of Trimester-Specific Prenatal Education Handouts in Family Medicine

Dr. Rebecca Bourdon | Sinai Health System
Dr. Alesia DiCicco | Sinai Health System
Dr. Milena Forte | Sinai Health System
Ms. Sahana Kukan | Sinai Health System

This resident-led initiative addressed a clear gap in prenatal education with a practical, scalable solution grounded in QI methodology. By combining thoughtful resource development with rigorous evaluation, the group demonstrated meaningful improvements in patient experience and topic coverage. Their work not only enhanced care locally but provides a sustainable model for standardizing prenatal counselling across primary care settings.

Faculty and Staff Impact Award

Dr. Sarah Reid | Toronto Western Family Health Team

Dr. Sarah Reid is recognized with the Faculty & Staff Impact Award for her exceptional leadership and commitment to resident quality improvement education at the Toronto Western Family Health Team. Through her mentorship of numerous resident QI projects, she has guided learners from concept to implementation with thoughtful, practical, and encouraging support. Her organization, professionalism, and generosity with her time have fostered a supportive learning environment that builds residents’ confidence as clinician-leaders. Dr. Reid’s dedication has strengthened the residency program, promoted a culture of continuous quality improvement, and advanced patient-centred care, leaving a lasting impact on both learners and the clinical community.

Improving Screening rates for micronutrient deficiency in bariatric surgery patients discharged to a primary care practice

Team:
Dr. Nicole Bourgeois | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Sameera Toenjes | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Ameet Mathrani | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Nely Amaral | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Sonal Gandhi | Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Susie Kim | Women’s College Hospital

In response to low baseline micronutrient screening rates among post‑bariatric surgery patients, we implemented EMR‑enabled registry tools and proactive panel management to address guideline gaps in primary care. Within one year, 58% of patients were up to date on five key micronutrient tests, with 85% of those screened requiring follow‑up, highlighting both the clinical impact and effectiveness of systems‑focused interventions.

The Transition to Home QI Project

Team:
Ms. Brenda Chang | Unity Health Toronto: St. Michael’s Hospital
Ms. Doret Cheng | Unity Health Toronto: St. Michael’s Hospital
Mr. Jonathan Hunchuck | Unity Health Toronto: St. Michael’s Hospital
Ms. Sharan Lail | Unity Health Toronto: St. Michael’s Hospital
Ms. Amy Patten | Unity Health Toronto: St. Michael’s Hospital
Ms. Sarah Nestico | Unity Health Toronto: St. Michael’s Hospital
Ms. Maryela Arulappah | Unity Health Toronto: St. Michael’s Hospital

The Transition to Home QI project at St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team transformed post-discharge safety by embedding proactive, pharmacy-led medication reviews into daily workflows. Targeting one of the highest-risk periods in care, the team identified and mitigated medication harms, strengthened continuity, and closed critical gaps after discharge from Unity Health Toronto. This scalable model achieved over 80% review rates by December 31, 2025, setting a new standard for safe, team-based transitions in primary care.

Dr. Nathalie Gans | North York General Hospital

Nathalie has demonstrated outstanding leadership and impact in Quality Improvement at North York General since joining the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She rapidly engaged in DFCM initiatives, quickly joining the QI Program Director team. She has presented at NYG departmental rounds and co-taught QI as part  of the BASICS course. She spearheaded an osteoporosis guidelines update project by partnering with the hospital radiology team to implement FRAX score reporting on BMD reports. This collaborative QI project has already began to improve BMD reporting, reduce unnecessary testing, and enhance guideline adherence. Her work has improved patient and provider experience, supported population health, and increased efficiency for providers in our department. 

Improving Colon Cancer Screening Rates in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder

Team:
Dr. Anna Holland | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Ms. Jane Bowman | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Ms. Sahana Kukan | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Ms. Roxanne Gopie | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Mr. Jonathan Fowler | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Ms. Alejandra Priego | Unity Health Toronto: St. Joseph’s Health Centre

Dr. Holland and her team at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Urban Family Health Team led the project “Improving Colon Cancer Screening Rates in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.  They demonstrated strong collaboration and methodological rigour in addressing a high risk previously under screened population.  Their initiative increased screening rates from 64% to 71% achieving outcomes comparable to the SJHC UFHT general population.  This work reflects meaningful impact on population health, improved care equity and effective application of quality improvement principles.

Outstanding Peer-Reviewed Publication

First place: Hina Ansari, Richard H. Glazier, Susan E. Schultz, Michael E. Green, Kamila Premji, Eliot Frymire, Maryam Daneshvarfard, Liisa Jaakkimainen and Tara Kiran

Family Physicians in Focused Practice in Ontario, Canada: A Population-Level Study of Trends From 1993/1994 Through 2021/2022

Journal: Annals of Family Medicine (2025) DOI

Second place: Persaud N, Workentin A, Rizvi A, et al.

Interventions to Address Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing for Older Primary Care Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal: JAMA Network Open (2025) DOI

Second place: Persaud N, Ul Haq MZ, Buadu A, et al.

Voucher for Healthy Foods and Diabetes Control: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine (2025) DOI

Third place: June C. Carroll, Michelle Greiver, Sahana Kukan, Erin Bearss, Sakina Walji, Rahim Moineddin, Babak Aliarzadeh, Sumeet Kalia, Judith Allanson, Eva Grunfeld, Karuna Gupta, Ruth Heisey, Doug Kavanagh, Raymond Kim, Michelle Levy, Shawna Morrison, Maria Muraca, Donatus Mutasingwa, Mary Ann O’Brien, Joanne Permaul, Frank Sullivan and Brenda Wilson

An Innovative Strategy for Collecting Family Health History: An Effectiveness-Implementation Trial in Primary Care Clinics

Journal: Annals of Family Medicine (2025) DOI

Excellence in Advocacy

Dr. Suzanne Shoush | Inner City Health Associates

Dr. Nanky Rai | Office Based Physician

Excellence in Mentorship

Dr. Scott Nguyen | Highlands Health Network - Orangeville 

Dr. Charles Joyce | Highlands Health Network - Orangeville 

Dr. Elaine Cheng | Michael Garron Hospital

Dr. Brendan Kelly | Michael Garron Hospital

Dr. David Hsu | North York General Hospital

 Dr. Alison Charlebois | Office Based Physician

Dr. Taylor Sedran | Southlake Family Health Team

Dr. Jason Li | Office Based Physician

Excellence in Program Coordination

Dr. Casimir Soare | St Joseph Health Centre

Dr. Sherylan Young | Sunnybrook Health Science Centre

Role Modelling Clinical Excellence

Dr. Rami Shoucri | Sunnybrook Health Science Centre

Dr. Marina Wangi | North York General Hospital

Dr. Lynda Ekeh | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Dr. Shoghi Nikoo | St. Joseph's Health Centre

Dr. Nalya Jessamy | Office-Based Physician

Dr. Gloria Farhat | Office-Based Physician

Dr. Bhavna Thakersee | Office-Based Physician

Teaching Excellence

Dr. Amy Hye Won Sur | Office-Based Physician

Dr. Vinchala Bala | Office-Based Physician

Dr. Stella Arbitman | Office-Based Physician

Dr. Yael Feinberg | St. Joseph Health Centreh

Dr. Julian Manzone | Southlake Regional Health Centre

Dr. Anna Mackenzie | Toronto Western Family Health Team, Garrison Creek

Dr. Yasna Mehdian | Mount Sinai Hospital Family Centre

Dr. Nada Rizk | Curo Medical Centre Oakville

Dr. Rufaro Asefa | St. Michaels Hospital

Dr. Sian Wong | Michael Garron Hospital

Dr. Susana Huang | Humber River Hospital

Dr. Anjum Kanjee | Office-Based Physician 

Teaching Excellence - New Teacher (<5 years)

Dr. Xiao Xue Hong | Office-Based Physician 

Dr. RoxannaRivetna | Office-Based Physician 

The Cynthia Whitehead Award for Best Educational Scholarship Publication

Top influences and concerns of residents selecting a career in family medicine: Call to action for educators. Can Fam Physician. 2025 Jun;71(6):380-382

Dr. Melissa Nutik, Dr. Mire Mitri, Dr. Stu Murdoch, Dr. Risa Freeman, Dr. Milena Forte