Recent Appointments
Professor Jen Gommerman has been appointed Chair of the Department of Immunology for a 5-year term beginning October 1, 2023. She succeeds Professor JC Zúñiga-Pflücker who completes his second term as Chair on September 30, 2023.
Gommerman received her PhD in Immunology from the University of Toronto in 1998 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School in 2000. She worked as a staff scientist in industry at Biogen in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before joining the University of Toronto as an Assistant Professor in 2003. She was promoted to Professor in 2015, and has previously served as the department’s Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, and Acting Chair.
Professor Gommerman, who currently holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Tissue-Specific Immunity, has (co)authored more than 110 journal articles and has received grants from CFI, CIHR and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, among others. Her research is in the field of Neuroimmunology - how the nervous and immune systems interact in both health and disease.
Acting Chair, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences
Professor Richard Bazinet has been appointed Acting Chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, while Professor Deborah O’Connor is on administrative leave.
Dr. Bazinet received his PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto in 2003 and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (Brain Physiology and Metabolism Section). He joined the Department of Nutritional Sciences as Assistant Professor in 2006, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2012 and Professor in 2020. He currently serves as the Department’s Associate Chair, Research and Innovation, and holds the Canada Research Chair in Brain Lipid Metabolism.
Dr. Molly Zirkle has been appointed as the Director, SAMIH Medical Education Expansion as of June 1, 2023
The Director, SAMIH Medical Education Expansion will work collaboratively with internal U of T partners and with hub hospital leadership in developing and implementing plans for all academic and administrative matters regarding the medical educational programs (MD/PGME) associated with SAMIH.
Dr. Molly Zirkle graduated cum laude from Yale University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the Harvard Combined Otolaryngology Training Program. She is a staff surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital and an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Zirkle holds a Master’s in Education from OISE and served as Director of the FitzGerald Academy from 2010-2021. Currently, she is the Acting Director of Career Advising Services for the MD program. Dr. Zirkle has an appreciation of the shaping influences of medical education on future doctors and strives to create a constructive and welcoming space for all learners, patients, and colleagues.
Chair, Dept. of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences
Professor Peter Kertes has been appointed Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2023.
Kertes is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences and an Associate member in the Institute of Medical Science at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. He is an affiliate scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and served as Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at the John and Liz Tory Eye Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre from 2010 to 2021. He also holds appointments at The Hospital for Sick Children and Kensington Health. Dr. Kertes obtained his MD at McGill University before completing residency at the University of Ottawa and a 2-year vitreo-retinal surgical fellowship at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. He also holds an AB in molecular biology from Princeton University.
Chair, Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Professor Ali Salahpour has been appointed Chair and Graduate Chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, for a five-year term, effective May 1, 2023.
Salahpour is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and has served as Interim Chair since July 1, 2022. He previously served as both Associate Chair and Acting Chair. He completed his BSc and PhD in Biochemistry at University of Montreal, and a post-doctoral fellowship at Duke University.
Medical Education Black Health Theme Lead,
Professor Mireille Norris has a been appointed Medical Education Black Health Theme Lead effective March 1.
Norris is an Internist and Geriatrician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is the Education Director for the Sunnybrook Hospitalist Training program which she created and implemented at Sunnybrook in 2005. She was appointed Faculty Lead for Black and Indigenous medical learners by the department of medicine and is also the site lead for postgraduate geriatric medicine at Sunnybrook.
Associate Dean, Learner Affairs
Professor Tony Pignatiello has been reappointed Associate Dean, Learner Affairs for a five-year term effective February 1, 2023.
Pignatiello was appointed as Associate Dean, Health Professions Student Affairs in in 2018. In 2021, in his expanded role as Associate Dean, Learner Affairs, Pignatiello assumed responsibility for oversight of an integrated Office of Learner Affairs (OLA). Pignatiello is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. For the last 20 years, Dr. Pignatiello has also been the Medical Director of the Provincial Pediatric Tele-Mental Health Services with the Ministry of Health, administered out of the Hospital for Sick Children where he is on staff.
Executive Director, Advancement, Temerty Medicine and AVP, Advancement Relations with Health Care Institutions
Darina Landa, Executive Director, Advancement at Temerty Medicine, has been named the inaugural Assistant Vice President, Advancement Relations with Health Care Institutions for the University.
As Executive Director, Advancement for Temerty Medicine and AVP, Advancement Relations with Health Care Institutions, Landa will continue to lead Temerty Medicine’s ambitious advancement programs, while taking on increasing responsibility for management of the University’s relations with TAHSN partner foundations, providing leadership and professional advice to senior advancement and other University leaders with respect to hospital foundation relationships and engagement strategies.
Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
Professor Laura Dawson has been appointed Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, effective January 1, 2023.
Dawson is a Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Institute of Medical Science. She is a radiation oncologist and upper gastrointestinal cancer multi-disciplinary site lead at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, UHN. She is a member of the palliative radiation oncology program. She previously served as a radiation oncologist at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dawson obtained her MD at the University of Toronto before completing a fellowship in conformal radiation at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and previously served as the society’s President.
Chair, Department of Biochemistry
Professor Lea Harrington has been appointed Chair and Graduate Chair of the Department of Biochemistry, effective October 1, 2022.
Dr. Harrington holds a BSc from McMaster University, an MSc from the University of Toronto, and a PhD from SUNY, Stone Brook. She undertook postdoctoral studies at the University of Toronto. Prior to this appointment she was a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry at the Université de Montréal. She previously held professorships in the Department of Medical Biophysics at U of T and the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.
Acting Vice Dean, Clinical and Faculty Affairs
Professor Pier Bryden has been appointed Acting Vice Dean, Clinical and Faculty Affairs while Lynn Wilson is on administrative leave from September 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023.
In addition to her current responsibilities as Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs & Professional Values, Pier will co-chair the Clinical Chairs and TAHSN Medical Committees and will chair the Rehabilitation Chairs and Professional Relationship Management Committees. She will provide decanal support to the PA and MRS programs as required. She will also oversee clinical faculty appointments and promotions.
Interim Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
Professor Jan Seuntjens has been appointed Interim Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, effective September 1, 2022, while the search for a permanent chair is ongoing.
Seuntjens is a Professor in the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medical Biophysics in Temerty Medicine and is Head of Medical Physics at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. He holds the Orey and Mary Fidani Chair in Radiation Physics and the James McGill Professor designation. Dr. Seuntjens is Fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the Canadian Organization of Medical Physics (COMP) and the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine and chairs the Science Council of the AAPM overseeing over 170 committees, subcommittees and workgroups.
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
Professor Beverley Orser has been appointed Chair and Graduate Chair, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, for a second five-year term beginning July 1, 2022.
Professor Orser is cross appointed to the Department of Physiology and is an anesthesiologist and associate scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She received her MD from Queen’s University, and PhD from the University of Toronto and completed her postgraduate clinical training programs at McMaster University, Oxford University, and the University of Toronto.
Chair, Department of Molecular Genetics
Professor Tim Hughes has been appointed Chair and Graduate Chair, Department of Molecular Genetics, for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2022.
Professor Hughes holds appointments in the Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research and the Department of Molecular Genetics, where he has served as Interim Chair since March 2021 and holds the John W. Billes Chair of Medical Research. He previously served as Associate Graduate Coordinator and Graduate Chair, as well as Head of Graduate Admissions in Molecular Genetics. He obtained a B. Music and BSc. Engineering at the University of Iowa and a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine. He was a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Rosetta InPharmatics.
University Professor
University Professor John Dick is one of three new University Professors appointed for 2022. The title is the University’s highest and most distinguished academic rank. The University recognizes unusual scholarly achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge through this designation. The number of such appointments does not generally exceed two per cent of the tenured faculty. Its very exclusivity stands to underline the highly prestigious nature of the University Professor designation.
Interim Chair and Graduate Chair, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Professor Ali Salahpour has been appointed Interim Chair and Graduate Chair, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology for one year, effective July 1.
Salahpour is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, where he currently serves as Associate Chair. He has supervised several PhD and master’s students and has been course coordinator and lecturer in core courses in the department and was associate graduate coordinator in the 2015/2016 academic year.
Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Professor Danny Enepekides has been appointed Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery for a five-year term, effective July 1.
Enepekides is Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Chair of the Quality & Safety Committee. At Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre he is Chief of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Chief of Surgical Oncology at the Odette Cancer Centre. Enepekides is also the Regional Head of Surgical Oncology for Cancer Care Ontario.
Chair, Department of Medical Imaging
Professor Alan Moody’s appointment as Chair, Department of Medical Imaging, has been extended for one year to June 30, 2023.
Moody is a professor in the Department of Medical Imaging as well as an associate professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics, the Institute of Medical Science, and the School of Graduate Studies. He is also a senior scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Chair, Department of Medical Biophysics
Professor Thomas Kislinger’s appointment as Chair, Department of Medical Biophysics, has been extended for one year to June 30, 2023.
Kislinger is a professor of medical biophysics as well as a senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
Professor Ahlia Khan-Trottier has been appointed Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education for a five- year term, effective July 1, 2022.
In this new role, Prof. Khan-Trottier will be reporting to the Vice Dean, Research & Health Science Education, and she will work collaboratively with Temerty Medicine departments and the Faculty of Arts & Science regarding undergraduate teaching, and will provide leadership in undergraduate course and program development.
Ahlia Khan-Trottier received both her BSc and PhD from the University of Toronto. She is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Department of Biochemistry and currently serves as Director of the Division of Teaching Labs (DTL) in Temerty Medicine, a position she has held since 2016.
Professor Carol Swallow has been appointed Chair of the Department of Surgery for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2022.
Swallow is the Bernard & Ryna Langer University Chair, Division of General Surgery, in the Department of Surgery, and holds appointments in the Institute of Medical Science and the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology in Temerty Medicine. Swallow is also a staff surgeon and former division head of General Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she is also an associate member of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. She is also a staff surgical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital (University Health Network).
Chair, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology
Professor Rita Kandel has been reappointed Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology for a second five-year term beginning May 1, 2022.
Kandel is also Chief of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at Sinai Health, Department Head, Laboratory Medicine at Women’s College Hospital, and Clinician Scientist in the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health. Professor Kandel is also a core member of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and cross-appointed to the Departments of Surgery and Materials Science & Engineering.
Professor Kandel’s research interest is in the bioengineering of tissues for articular cartilage and intervertebral disc repair and replacement.
Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs & Professional Values
Professor Pier Bryden has been appointed Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs & Professional Values.
Bryden is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Her prior roles in Temerty Medicine have included Vice-Chair, Education in the Department of Psychiatry, and Director of Program Integration for the MD Program. Bryden was also the Faculty Lead for Ethics and Professionalism in the MD Program from 2009 to 2013, and the Pre-clerkship Director from 2013 to 2017, a role in which she co‐led the most extensive curriculum renewal the program had experienced since 1992. Bryden is also a staff psychiatrist at the Hospital for Sick Children, a role she has held since 2001.
Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Molecular Medicine
Professor Jason Moffat has been named the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Molecular Medicine.
Moffat is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. His lab is interested in cancer and genetic interaction networks in cancer cells.
The Anne and Max Tanenbaum Joint Chair Program was established by the Tanenbaum family in 1996 to support the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease research. The program funds six chairs across U of T's network of research and clinical partners in neuroscience and molecular medicine.
Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Neuroscience
Ruth Ross has been named the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Neuroscience.
Ross is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Her research focuses on the molecular pharmacology of the cannabinoids and related lipid signalling systems.
The Anne and Max Tanenbaum Joint Chair Program was established by the Tanenbaum family in 1996 to support the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease research. The program funds six chairs across U of T's network of research and clinical partners in neuroscience and molecular medicine.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Denis Bourguignon has been appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, beginning March 21, 2022.
Denis comes to U of T from Queen’s University, where he has served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) for the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Chief Financial Officer for the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization since 2015. In his role as CFAO at Queen’s, Denis was responsible for overseeing the delivery of all administrative services for the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, as well as the Faculty research centres and institutes. Denis brings more than 20 years of experience as a professional accountant and senior administrator. He received his MBA from Queen’s University, and a BCom in Accounting from the University of Ottawa.
As CAO, Denis will be a member of the Dean’s Executive and provide leadership and oversight for our administrative services including finance, human resources, information technology, facilities management and space planning.
Acting Chair, Department of Immunology
Professor Jennifer Gommerman has been appointed as the Acting Chair, Department of Immunology, from January 1 to June 30, 2022, while Professor JC Zúñiga-Pflücker is on administrative leave.
Gommerman received her PhD in Immunology from the University of Toronto in 1998 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School in 2000. From 2000-2003 she worked as a staff scientist in pharma at Biogen, Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She joined the University of Toronto in 2003 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2010 and Professor in 2015. From 2013 to 2021 she served as the department’s Associate Chair of Graduate Studies.
Professor Gommerman currently holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Tissue-Specific Immunity, has (co)authored more than 100 journal articles and has received grants from CFI, CIHR and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, among others.
Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives
The Governing Council has approved the appointment of Professor Leah Cowen as Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives, for a five-year term, effective January 1, 2022 until June 30, 2026.
Prof. Cowen - an expert on infectious fungal diseases - is the University of Toronto’s first Associate Vice-President, Research, and a Professor of Molecular Genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. In her role, she collaborates with leaders of academic divisions and U of T’s Research Advisory Board to enable research excellence and impact. She also works with U of T’s Centre for Research Innovation and Support to develop mentoring opportunities and workshops for faculty members, and she supports the development of a university-wide infrastructure roadmap across its three campuses. Prof. Cowen is also Co-Director of the CIFAR program "Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities" and Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of the biotechnology firm Bright Angel Therapeutics.
Acting Vice-Dean, Students, School of Graduate Studies
Professor Yana Yunusova has been appointed as the Acting Vice-Dean, Students with the School of Graduate Studies for a one-year term starting January 1, 2022.
Prof. Yunusova is a professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology as well as an Associate Scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and a Senior Scientist the UHN Toronto Rehabilitation institute (KITE).
President and Board Chair of Friends of CIHR
Professor David Malkin is appointed President and Board Chair of Friends of CIHR, effective January 1, 2022.
Malkin is Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Biophysics. He is also the CIBC Children’s Foundation Chair in Child Health Research, Director of the Cancer Genetics Program, and co-lead of the Precision Child Health initiative at the Hospital for Sick Children.
Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME)
Professor Meredith Giuliani has been appointed Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) effective January 1, 2022.
Prof. Meredith Giuliani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto (UT DRO) and a radiation oncologist and Director of Education at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre at UHN. Giuliani received her MBBS qualification from the University of London, England and then competed her residency training at the University of Toronto. She received a MEd degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and a PhD from the School of Health Professions Education at Maastricht University.
Prof. Giuliani is well known to Postgraduate Medical Education at Temerty Medicine. She is a member of the PGME Internal Review Committee, a past member of the Board of Examiners, and a current member of the Faculty Council Appeals Committee. She is the Associate Program Director and the former Director of Undergraduate Education in UT DRO. Prof. Giuliani is a reviewer for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accreditation process. She is well positioned to support PGME learners, program directors and programs.
Chair, Department of Family & Community Medicine
Professor Danielle Martin has been appointed Chair of the Department of Family & Community Medicine (DFCM) for a 5-year term beginning October 1, 2021.
Prof. Martin is Associate Professor in the DFCM, with cross-appointments at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She is a consultant to the World Health Organization on primary health care and universal health coverage and has conducted extensive policy advisory work for local, national and international governments and organizations, including for Canada’s Minister and Deputy Minister of Health.
Prof. Martin’s research and creative professional activity centre on improving health care quality, equity and access in universal health care systems, and she has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature on these themes. She has published a best-selling book on health system transformation in Canada (www.6bigideas.ca).
Prof. Martin completed a BSc in Biochemistry at McGill University, an MD at Western University, residency at St. Michael’s Hospital and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto.
Director, Facilities Management and Space Planning
Paul Martin will be joining the Temerty Faculty of Medicine as the new Director, Facilities Management and Space Planning, effective August 9, 2021.
Paul brings to the Faculty significant facilities leadership experience both the post secondary and the healthcare sectors. For just over 4 years, he worked at the University Health Network in the position of Director, Facilities for the Michener Institute and previously as a Facilities Engineer at Ryerson University. Responsibilities at Michener included space planning, construction, security, building operations and more. He had additional responsibility for all the education space across UHN. He played a key role in creating the first COVID-19 Immunization clinic for UHN and has managed the Michener properties under the pandemic.
Paul holds an MBA Real Estate from Ryerson and is a professionally licensed engineer and certified Project Management Professional.
Chair, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy
Professor Mary Forhan has been appointed Chair and Graduate Chair of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, effective September 1, 2021.
Prof. Forhan is currently Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. Dr. Forhan completed a BScOT at the University of Toronto before undertaking a MHSc and a PhD in rehabilitation sciences and postdoctoral fellowship in family medicine at McMaster University. She completed a second postdoctoral fellowship in health services research at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (UHN) in collaboration with ICES.
Prof. Forhan is the Scientific Director of Obesity Canada and serves as Vice-President of the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy University Programs (ACOTUP) Executive Committee. Professor Forhan received an award from the Rehabilitation Medicine Student Association in recognition of her contributions to excellence in teaching and mentorship.
Senior Advisor on Antisemitism
Professor Ayelet Kuper has been appointed Senior Advisor on Antisemitism in the Office of Inclusion and Diversity for an initial one-year term which began on June 1, 2021.
Prof. Kuper is a Scientist and Associate Director at the Wilson Centre (UHN/U of T) and an Associate Professor in U of T’s Department of Medicine. She practices medicine within the Division of General Internal Medicine at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She is interested in the kinds of knowledge and knowledge production practices we see as legitimate within medical education and medicine more broadly, and in the ideas, individuals, and groups that are included or excluded based on their knowledge claims. A child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Prof. Kuper holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford in Holocaust literature in addition to her medical training and is cross-appointed to U of T’s Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. She has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers, many of which relate to power, equity, inclusion, and social justice.
Senior Advisor on Islamophobia
Professor Umberin Najeeb has been appointed Senior Advisor on Islamophobia in the Office of Inclusion and Diversity for an initial one-year term which began on June 1, 2021.
Prof. Najeeb is a staff internist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and an Associate Professor in U of T’s Department of Medicine. She was recently appointed as the Equity Lead for the Department of Medicine and is currently the Co-Director of the Department of Medicine's Master Teacher program and Faculty Lead for the IMG/IFT mentorship program. Her scholarly focus is on the transition and integration of International Medical Graduates and other Internationally Educated Health Professionals into their training and working environments. As an educator, she also studies other aspects of health professions education with a specific focus on curriculum design, faculty development, and mentorship. Born in Pakistan, Prof. Najeeb uses her voice and lived experiences as a Muslim woman to be an ally in her many roles. She has won numerous national and provincial awards for teaching and mentorship, most recently the 2021 PARO Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award.
Director, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute
Professor Angela Colantonio has been reappointed Director of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and will begin a second 5-year term effective September 1, 2021.
Dr. Colantonio is also a Professor in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at Temerty Medicine, and cross-appointed to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She is a Senior Scientist at KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, UHN, where she held the inaugural Saunderson Family Chair in Acquired Brain Injury Research.
She currently holds a Canada Research Chair in Traumatic Brain Injury in Underserved Populations. Her research program investigates acquired brain injury (ABI), targeting injury prevention and post-acute care with a focus on how ABI impacts the most vulnerable to health service inequities. Her research also examines work-related traumatic brain injury, long-term outcomes for women with ABI, impact of gender on outcomes and innovative interventions.
Director of the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research
Professor Stephane Angers has been appointed as Director of the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, for a five-year term effective September 1, 2021.
Stephane Angers is Professor and Associate Dean of Research in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and holds an appointment in the Department of Biochemistry in Temerty Medicine. He completed a BSc in Biochemistry at McGill University and PhD in Biochemistry at the Universite de Montreal before undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington in Seattle.
Prof. Angers is a founding co-Director of PRiME at UofT, a multi-disciplinary initiative focused on Precision Medicine that fosters deep collaboration across the University and beyond.
Krembil-Rossy Chair in Molecular Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Professor Antonio Strafella has been appointed as the inaugural Krembil-Rossy Chair in Molecular Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Strafella is a Professor and Chair of Research for the Division of Neurology and a movement disorder neurologist in the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Morton & Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network (UHN). He is also a senior scientist at the Krembil Brain Institute at UHN and the Brain Health Imaging Centre at the Centre of Addiction Mental Health.
Professor Marcus Law has been appointed Associate Dean, MD Program effective July 1, 2021.
Prof. Law is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. At the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, he has taken on many leadership roles including Academic Lead in Educational Technology, Director of Preclerkship Renewal, and most recently, Director of Foundations in the MD Program. In this role he has led the successful implementation and ongoing review of a new and innovative pre-clerkship curriculum.
Prof. Law's scholarship focuses on translating an understanding of how learners develop adaptive expertise into theory and evidence informed effective educational design and programs.
In this new role, Prof. Law is responsible for the oversight, strategic leadership and management of the MD Program in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. As the academic and operational leader, the Associate Dean is responsible for ensuring the integrity and quality of the MD Program, including promotion of and support for the Faculty’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Temerty Chair in Learner Assessment and Program Evaluation
Professor Kulamakan (Mahan) Kulasegaram has been appointed as the inaugural Temerty Chair in Learner Assessment and Program Evaluation, effective July 1, 2021 for a five year term. As the Temerty Chair in Learner Assessment and Program Evaluation, he will continue to grow a theory-driven research program on utilizing assessment "Big Data" as an opportunity to improve our supports for students and faculty, and our education programs across the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
Prof. Kulasegaram joined the Faculty of Medicine as a Scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine (DFCM) in 2014.
Temerty Professorship in Learner Wellness
Professor Heather Flett has been appointed as the inaugural Temerty Professor in Learner Wellness, effective July 1, 2021 for a five year term. In her new role, Prof. Flett will leverage opportunities and resources across the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and its partner institutions to lead the development, implementation, assessment and evaluation of a comprehensive wellness strategy for learners in the Temerty Medicine’s undergraduate and postgraduate medical education programs.
Prof. Flett is a consultant psychiatrist at CAMH and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She was the Site Director at CAMH for Postgraduate Psychiatry from 2009-2012 and has been an active teacher and educator in Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Education.
Professor Liliana Attisano has been appointed Interim Chair and Graduate Chair, Department of Biochemistry, effective May 1, 2021. She takes over from Professor Justin Nodwell who becomes Temerty Medicine’s Vice Dean, Research & Graduate Education as of May 1.
A U of T faculty member since 1996, Liliana Attisano is a Full Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and holds cross appointments in the Department of Medical Biophysics and the Donnelly Centre. She obtained her BSc and PhD in Biochemistry from U of T, followed by post doctoral research in cell biology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York City.
Associate Dean, Inclusion & Diversity
Professor Lisa Richardson has been appointed Associate Dean, Inclusion & Diversity. Beginning May 1, as Associate Dean Dr. Richardson will work collaboratively across Temerty Medicine to build alliances, develop strategic partnerships, and engage internal and external partners to enhance and promote the diversity of our faculty, learners and staff.
Dr. Lisa Richardson is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine, and practices general internal medicine at the University Health Network where she is also an Education Researcher at the Wilson Centre. She received her bachelor’s degree from McGill University with majors in both Biology and English Literature followed by her MD from the University of Calgary. She subsequently completed her residency in internal medicine at U of T and MA from York University.
Professor Richardson’s academic interests lie in the integration of critical, Indigenous, and feminist perspectives in medical education. At Temerty Medicine she is Vice-Chair, Culture and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine, and Strategic Advisor on Indigenous Health. She also serves as Indigenous Health Strategy Lead for Women’s College Hospital and chairs several national committees to advance Indigenous medical education.
Theme Lead, MD-PGME Social Justice, Anti-Oppression and Advocacy
Dr. Ritika Goel has been appointed MD-PGME Social Justice, Anti-Oppression and Advocacy Theme Lead for a three-year term beginning May 17, 2021. Dr. Goel is a lecturer and faculty lead in social accountability in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She is also a family physician with the St. Michael's Hospital Academic Family Health Team and Inner City Health Associates.
Acting Vice-President and Provost; Acting Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Dean Trevor Young has been appointed Acting Vice-President and Provost for a six-month term, effective July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, while Provost Cheryl Regehr is on approved administrative leave. Professor Young currently serves as Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and as Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions.
Professor Patricia Houston has been appointed Acting Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine for a nine-month term, effective July 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Professor Houston will serve in this acting role during Professor Young’s acting term and subsequent three-month leave. [Professor Young will continue to hold the position of Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions while Acting Provost.]
Prof. Patricia Houston is currently Vice-Dean, Medical Education in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine. Prof. Houston has served in a number of leadership roles in the University and at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto.
Director, Centre for Interprofessional Education
Professor Stella Ng has been appointed Director of the Centre for Interprofessional Education. Prof Ng previously served as Director of Research Centre for Faculty Development for eight years. Her work in health professions education has been recognized nationally, with the Meridith Marks New Educator Award and the Early Career Medical Educators Champion Award. Prof. Ng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and a Wilson Centre Scientist. She is also an AMS Phoenix Fellow in Compassion and AI/Digital Technology.
Executive Director, Major Projects and Facilities Management
Heather Taylor has been appointed Executive Director, Major Projects and Facilities Management for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Ms. Taylor will help lead the Faculty’s redevelopment of the west wing of the Medical Sciences Building, and the construction of the new James and Louise Temerty building. She will also continue to have broad oversight of the Office of the Facilities Management and Space Planning.
President-Elect, American Pediatric Society
Professor Lisa Robinson is the President-Elect, American Pediatric Society. Dr. Robinson has been an APS member since 2013 and has served on many committees devoted to child health, particularly in nephrology. She has also served on Council in the Society for Pediatric Research, as President of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Nephrologists, and on the American Society of Nephrology’s Innovation and Discovery Task Force.
Robinson is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, and Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at U of T. She is former Division Chief of Nephrology at The Hospital for Sick Children, and a Senior Scientist at SickKids Research Institute.
Vice Dean, Research and Graduate Education
Professor Justin Nodwell has been appointed Vice Dean, Research and Graduate Education for a five-year term effective May 1, 2021. In this new combined portfolio Prof. Nodwell will provide leadership and oversight of Temerty Medicine’s research enterprise and two key education activities — graduate education and undergraduate life sciences education.
Dr. Nodwell is Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry, a role he has held since 2013. As Chair he coordinated the department’s move to MaRS, and oversaw the department’s expansion through several faculty recruits and the cross-appointment of 12 faculty members from Sunnybrook, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Sick Kids. Since becoming Chair, he has also undertaken renewals of the undergraduate and graduate programs, and successfully implemented laboratory rotations for incoming graduate students.
Vice Dean, Clinical and Faculty Affairs
Professor Lynn Wilson has been re-appointed as Vice Dean, Clinical and Faculty Affairs, effective April 1, 2021. Appointed as Vice Dean, Partnerships in 2016, with responsibility for external partnerships including international, hospital, and university-wide relations, Professor Wilson has added responsibility (in 2020) for clinical faculty appointments and related matters, such as professional values and faculty wellness. She continues to have responsibility for oversight of the Rehabilitation Sciences sector, and the Medical Radiation Sciences and Physician Assistant programs.
Professor Patricia Houston has been re-appointed as Vice Dean, Medical Education, effective July 1, 2021. In 2020 Professor Houston assumed responsibility for Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD), in addition to her leadership of the MD Program (since 2016). Professor Houston continues to work closely with leaders and staff in the MD Program, PGME and CPD to better support our learners across the continuum of their education.
Professor Julie Maggi has been appointed Director, Faculty Wellness, for a five-year term beginning February 1, 2021. Dr. Maggi was Director of the Postgraduate Wellness Office until this appointment, and she will continue to assist with the transition to an Interim Director in that role over the next two months.
Prof. Maggi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at U of T, and a staff psychiatrist at Unity Health (St. Michael’s Hospital), as a consultant to the obstetrics and trauma services. She also served as Co-Chair of the Dean’s Faculty Wellness Working Group in 2018-19 and, since May 2020, has acted as the COVID Faculty Wellness Coordinator.
Associate Dean, Mississauga Campus
Professor Alison Freeland has been re-appointed for a second five-year term, effective February 1. The role was previously Associate Dean, Medical Education (Regional), and is now a joint position with the role of Vice President, Education, Academic Affairs and Patient Experience at Trillium Health Partners.
Dr. Freeland is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at U of T, and she has served as Chair, Distributed Medical Education committee of the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine since 2018.
Director, Information Technology
Dimitris Keramidas will join Temerty Medicine as the new Director, Information Technology, effective February 8. He has worked at York University for most of the last eight years, first as the Director, Information Technology for the Faculty of Science, after which he assumed the role of Director of Information and Learning Technology for the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. Both positions included responsibility for the planning and implementation of technology strategies, services and solutions aimed at positively impacting the student experience and addressing the technology needs of faculty and staff.
Prior to joining York University, Dimitris led a technology-consulting firm’s expansion into Athens, Greece, where he was responsible for business development, talent management and stakeholder relationship management.
Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations
Professor Lisa Robinson, Associate Dean, Inclusion and Diversity will become Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations, effective January 1, 2021. Prof. Robinson was first appointed as the Faculty’s Chief Diversity Officer in 2016 and then Associate Dean, Inclusion & Diversity in 2018. She has provided leadership on issues of equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the Faculty, the University, and affiliated hospitals.
As Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations, Dr. Robinson will lead the Faculty’s academic strategic planning, oversee academic affairs (including all UTQAP and non-UTQAP reviews) and department chair searches, and will continue as academic lead for the Faculty’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity. Dr. Robinson is a Professor in the Faculty's Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Medical Science, Head of the Division of Nephrology at SickKids, and a Senior Scientist in the Cell Biology program at the SickKids Research Institute.
Professor Sal Spadafora, Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations will become Senior Advisor to the Dean, effective January 1, 2021. Dr. Spadafora, whose second and final term as Vice Dean ends on December 31, will continue in the leadership role of Senior Advisor to the Dean, in addition to his recently announced role as Special Advisor to the President and Provost on COVID-19.
Prof. Spadafora will continue to lead the recovery of academic operations for the Faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to work closely with the Faculty of Arts & Science on undergraduate life sciences teaching. He will also continue his role as decanal sponsor for the Faculty’s initiatives in Indigenous health.