DFCM looks back on U of T milestones from the past year
As summer and convocation approach, it’s a great time to highlight some of the important milestones that we’ve seen in the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM), Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the broader university community over the past school year. There are too many to name, but here are some of the highlights.
In February 2025, Times Higher Education ranked U of T as number one in Canada for academic reputation and prestige. For the fourth year in a row, the university has ranked 21st globally and 12th for public universities globally.
The rankings are based on a comprehensive survey of over 55,000 scholars from 193 countries, highlighting the university’s international influence. This year’s methodology gave equal weight to teaching and research, further emphasizing U of T’s balanced excellence.
The University of British Columbia and McGill University were the other Canadian universities to make the top 50 list.
Temerty Medicine has once again affirmed its leadership in medical education and research, being named the top school for medicine in Canada by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Globally, it holds an impressive 14th position, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world’s most prestigious institutions. Harvard University topped the list. McGill University was the only other Canadian institution on the list, ranking number 28.
This recognition is based on QS’s comprehensive evaluation process, which draws from 16.4 million academic papers and incorporates insights from over 151,000 academics and 100,000 employers worldwide.
As an integral part of Temerty Medicine, the DFCM proudly celebrates this international honour.
Effective July 1, 2025, U of T will be welcoming a new president, Melanie Woodin, an internationally recognized neuroscientist. She is currently the dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, a professor in the department of cell and systems biology, and U of T alumni who completed bachelor’s of science and master’s of sciences degrees at the university. She’s described by her colleagues as a respected scholar, teacher, mentor and administrator.
“I know first-hand that U of T is an unstoppable force for good. I can’t wait to put my energy to work to serve our community and to advocate broadly for Canada’s leading university,” she said in a U of T story about the news.
With the acknowledgement that Muslim, Arab and Palestinian community members continue to experience discrimination, racism and Islamophobia, in 2024, U of T committed to establishing a MAP-DWG. Chaired by Professor Anver M. Emon, director of the Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) and Canada research chair in Islamic Law and History, the call for nominations to the group opened in December 2024, and the group was officially announced in April 2025.
The MAP-DWG is tasked with reviewing university policies and practices, consulting community members, and developing actionable recommendations to combat anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian discrimination while advancing inclusion and belonging across the university’s campuses.
The newly formed group is now completing consultation surveys where members of the university community can share experiences or observations of anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian discrimination or harassment at the university and offer recommendations. They will also be hosting open consultations in the fall of 2025.
We encourage members of the DFCM community to participate in the consultation process and look forward to working collaboratively with the MAP-DWG to strengthen equity and inclusion in family medicine as their work progresses.
Almost a year into her role as dean of Temerty Medicine, Dr. Lisa Robinson is settling into her leadership position with a clear and thoughtful vision. A U of T alumna and renowned pediatric nephrologist, she brings a strong background in research, leadership and advocacy for equity in medicine. Prior to her appointment, she served as vice-dean, strategy and operations, and held leadership roles at SickKids.
She is also committed to fostering a supportive environment for learners and faculty, while championing research that drives real-world improvements in patient care. Her leadership is shaping a future-ready faculty that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.
