Temerty Medicine celebrates National Volunteer Week 2026
The University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine is celebrating its generous and impactful volunteer community in conjunction with National Volunteer Week 2026.
National Volunteer Week 2026 runs from April 19-25, 2026. It offers organizations the opportunity to honour their volunteers’ dedication and hard work and to highlight the difference they are making to their communities.
At Temerty Medicine, we are excited to join this national campaign and recognize the many contributions our volunteers make to our work advancing health and health care. Whether supporting new generations of health care professionals, fueling health research or strengthening community engagement, our dedicated volunteers embody the spirit of giving back.
Read on to learn more about this year's featured volunteers and their thoughts on volunteering.
Looking to join their ranks? You can also learn more about the many different volunteer opportunities available at Temerty Medicine on our website.
Muhammad Ansar (Temerty Medicine graduate student)
As a recipient of the prestigious McCall MacBain Regional Award, Canada-Graduate Scholarship-Masters (CGS-M) and a 2026 U of T Student Leadership Award, Ansar is a celebrated social innovator and community leader. A graduate student in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, he is passionate about destigmatizing mental health, advancing education equity and increasing environmental literacy.
He has built and led youth-focused programs that have empowered thousands locally and globally over the past six years, both within and beyond the university. Across roles supporting the U of T Scarborough community, as a crisis responder with the Distress Centres of Greater Toronto and by co-leading an e-learning initiative that provides free virtual tutoring and academic support to low-income students, Ansar has shown a consistent commitment to empowering others.
“Volunteering challenged me to grow as a leader, mentor and collaborator. It has showed me how impactful even small contributions can be when combined with dedication and care. I encourage future volunteers to dive in wholeheartedly, you’ll learn as much as you give, if not more.”
Sabrina Chagani (MScOT ’04, MHSc ’11)
Chagani is a registered occupational therapist (OT) and Senior Healthcare Manager at Intact Insurance. She has also held a status-only appointment with the Department of Occupational Therapy for over 20 years. She previously served as Vice President of the Ontario Brain Injury Association Board of Directors and is deeply committed to community service.
Through her faculty appointment, she has mentored, taught and supported OT students as they develop their clinical and professional skills. When the department established the OT Alumni Council, she was honoured to serve as volunteer chair and has played a key role in championing greater alumni engagement. The council fosters meaningful connection, ongoing learning, mentorship and professional growth among members of the OT alumni network.
“Don’t underestimate the value of your experience — your perspective can make a real difference. Volunteering is an opportunity to lead, connect and grow while giving back to a profession and university that has given so much.”
Carol Durno (MD ’91, PGME Paediatrics, MSc ’99)
Durno is a paediatric gastroenterologist at The Hospital for Sick Children, Sinai Health’s Zane Cohen Centre and the Scarborough Health Network, who works as both a community-based and academic researcher. Her work has focused on characterizing the underlying genetic predisposition of polyposis and gastrointestinal cancer syndromes in children. Durno is considered a world leader in her field with a major impact in paediatrics and adult medicine. Her publications have influenced clinical care worldwide.
Durno’s years of dedicated volunteerism include serving as president of her MD class and strengthening alumni connections by organizing reunion events and other initiatives. She has also served on selection committees for Temerty Medicine’s Dean's Alumni Awards and the U of T Student Leadership Awards, while also providing encouragement and insight to incoming medical students through the Words of Wisdom program.
“I had a wonderful experience with so many unique opportunities during my time as a medical student and trainee at U of T. Many faculty members had a major impact on this positive experience. I wanted to get involved and participate in some way as a means of giving back.”
Matthaeus Ware (Temerty Medicine MD/PhD student)
Ware is a final-year MD/PhD student at Temerty Medicine and a recipient of the 2024 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award and the 2026 U of T Student Leadership Award. He is also editor-in-chief of Toronto Notes. Named U of T’s top graduate leader as the 2021 Sedra Scholar, Ware is a dedicated advocate for student wellness, equity-driven mentorship and the healing power of the arts.
For six years he has directed Adventures In Science, a program that engages medical student mentors to guide hundreds of under-resourced youth. His volunteer work has also focused on improving student life, including raising money for Medical Student Research Day and creating national trainee awards as finance director for Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada (CITAC). Additionally, he led the Noteworthy music program for five years, bringing bedside performances to patients.
“I encourage you to use your voice to lift up the voices of others, and harness your unique skills to contribute to initiatives in which you believe. Every volunteer is a leader, and leadership also involves being humble enough to follow.”
Department of Physical Therapy Alumni Council
Established in 2025, the PT Alumni Council provides insight and guidance to build and strengthen relationships between the department, current students and alumni through events, volunteerism and mentorship opportunities. Comprised of 14 active volunteers including students, alumni and faculty, the council meets monthly to discuss and plan alumni initiatives such as mentorship programs, reunions and honouring alumni.
The alumni council members are inspired to build and connect the PT alumni community to the department and the university and elevate their profession. They recognize and value those who have helped shape their careers and believe in giving back. Here are quotes from some members:
"Any success I’ve had in the profession is thanks mainly to the amazing mentors who volunteered their time to support and encourage me as a student and new grad. Being on this committee and volunteering with the program is my small way of passing the support on the future generation of physiotherapists and current practicing physios."
"I was inspired to connect with and learn from PTs with a variety of backgrounds as I begin my transition to graduating from the MScPT program. I am excited to see the creative ways in which we can bring colleagues of all different walks of life together and learn from each other in the process."
"Ensuring there is strong advocacy for our profession is important to me. Being a member of the council provides an opportunity to support U of T alumni in finding paths to elevate our profession."
