Celebrating Temerty Medicine's 2020 and 2021 Arbor Award Recipients
The Arbor Awards are the University of Toronto's highest honour — recognizing exceptional and longstanding volunteer service. They are awarded for sustained contributions to specific academic units, such as faculties, colleges or institutes, or for broader contributions to the University at large.
Several Temerty Faculty of Medicine community members were honoured with Arbor Awards in 2020 and 2021. Each played an important role in advancing U of T and Temerty Medicine as leaders in higher education, research and health care. Please join us celebrating and recognizing their achievements.
2021 Recipients
David B. Feather
A generous donor and volunteer, David provides strategic guidance to the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s leadership as a member of the Advisory Committee and has helped facilitate support more broadly. As an advocate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research at U of T, he is a long-time donor to the James Hunter Family ALS Initiative.
Brian D. Lawson and Joannah Smith Lawson
Brian and Joannah have volunteered their time in a number of capacities, including the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Campaign Cabinet, the Trinity College Board of Trustees, the University’s Governing Council, and various campaign steering committees. All have benefitted from their leadership, generosity, and strategic counsel.
David J. McKnight (MD '75, MHSc '06)
David’s strong leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the Medical Alumni Association’s mission to support and connect students and alumni. Representing the MAA on various University and Temerty Faculty of Medicine committees, he has been a tremendous advocate for collaboration on events that benefit students.
2020 Recipients
Renée Beach (PGMT '12)
Renée mentors pre-med students, and has played a critical role in involving the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario with faculty programs. She also led the recruitment of Black community members involved in BSAP (Black Student Application Program) in efforts to increase the number of Black applicants to the Faculty.
Elaine Chin (MD '88, PGMT '89)
Elaine launched the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s fundraising response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her efforts inspired new donors across Canada and raised more than $170,000 in just one week from almost 100 donors.
Heather Hunter
Heather chairs the James Hunter Family ALS Initiative Advisory Committee and is also a member of the Tanz Centre Steering Committee. Heather has supported ALS research at the University since 2011, in partnership with, and memory of, her late husband. She has also inspired hundreds of others to support as well.
Jacquie Labatt
Jacquie serves as chair of the Department of Psychiatry’s Campaign Cabinet. She spearheaded a $20-million gift to create the Labatt Family Network for Research on the Biology of Depression.
Laura Pasut (MSc '84)
Laura is a long time executive member—and now president—of the Department of Nutritional Sciences Alumni Association. She has played a key role in the association’s revival and has served in various roles on the executive team.
Sean Wharton (MD '01)
More than 20 years ago, Sean founded U of T’s Black Medical Students Association and continues to serve as an outstanding mentor to its members. He also established a scholarship to remove financial barriers for Black medical students.
