Celebrating Our Alumni

We began this month with two exciting events: U of T’s annual spring reunion and spring convocation. At the centre of both is the opportunity to celebrate our alumni — those we welcome back to campus and those newly established. Our alumni community is a network of over 58,000 health-care leaders, including graduates of our life sciences, rehabilitation sciences, MD and MD/PhD programs, as well as more than 20,000 former residents and fellows. They are valued members of our community who mentor our students, volunteer as speakers, participate in events and professional development courses, and support our education and research.

One highlight of spring reunion is the presentation of the Faculty of Medicine Dean's Alumni Awards. Among those we recognized, I had the honour to present lifetime achievement awards to Dr. Murray B. Urowitz and Dr. Catherine Zahn. Dr. Urowitz has helped change the way lupus is diagnosed and managed by establishing one of the world’s premier clinical and research centres, U of T’s Lupus Clinic and Lupus Databank Research Program. Dr. Zahn, as many know, is a champion for the integration of psychiatry and neuroscience. As President and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, she is overseeing a massive redevelopment of the Queen Street site. They are inspiration to our learners and fellow alumni alike.

At the same time, convocation reminds me of the promise the future holds. Our remarkable new graduates inspire me through their leadership and advocacy, as well as their commitment to learning and discovery. And it’s always rewarding to meet the family and friends who have supported them in their journey. At Monday’s convocation, we also recognized the contributions of President Emeritus C. David Naylor by presenting him with an honorary degree. It was gratifying to celebrate his leadership in the fields of higher education, public policy and healthcare. And today another good friend of the Faculty of Medicine, Carlo Fidani, received an honorary degree. Dr. Fidani made a landmark investment in Canadian health care by helping to establish the Mississauga Academy of Medicine at UTM and founding the Fidani Chair in Improvement and Innovation in Family Medicine. 

These events remind me of the incredible contributions our alumni and friends make to the Faculty of Medicine and beyond. They demonstrate what we are capable of achieving and are evidence of the impact U of T Medicine is having in the world. I am thankful for their example and commitment to support future generations of students. Most importantly, they are a reminder of the need to celebrate our successes. 

Trevor Young
Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions