FoM Awards of Excellence Winners

Dr. Katey Rayner is one of Canada’s top junior scientists, who was recently appointed as a member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Rayner’s research career has focused on developing a better understanding of how inflammation triggers cardiometabolic disease. Her findings have contributed significantly to the understanding of metabolic and inflammatory cardiovascular diseases that affect millions of Canadians annually. Dr. Rayner is an Associate Professor in the Department of BMI and Scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Dr. Rebecca Auer is a researcher who has achieved national and international stature in surgical oncology, cancer clinical trials and cancer immunology.  Dr. Auer’s research examines how surgery results in a level of innate immune dysfunction much more profound than the suppression caused by the cancer itself, or by chemotherapy. She has instituted clinical trials testing therapies to prevent or reverse this immune suppression.  Dr. Auer is a Professor in the Department of Surgery and Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Melissa Brouwers has made significant global contributions to field guideline research over the past twenty years. Dr. Brouwers has recently completed her two-decade long Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Research Program (AGREE). Translated into twenty languages, the AGREE II is the most popular evaluation tool designed to support the reporting, development and evaluation of practice guidelines. Dr. Brouwers is Professor and Director of the School of Epidemiology and Public Health.

Two leaders in the field of health care education, who are active in academic publishing and in mentorship roles: Dr. Doug Archibald and Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto.

The Director of Research and Innovation in the Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Archibald is involved in many research initiatives, with a particular interest in educational technology and program evaluation. Dr. Archibald is Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Investigator at the Bruyère Research Institute. Dr. Humphrey-Murto is an international expert on consensus methods, and was recently awarded a Tier II Clinical Research Chair. Dr. Humphrey-Murto is Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and cross-appointed to the Department of Innovation in Medical Education.

Dr. Carolina Ilkow is a scientist who has published ten articles since joining the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology in 2016. Dr. Ilkow’s research program focuses on the development of innovative biotherapeutics for cancer treatment. Immunotherapies are the latest innovation in cancer treatment and much of Dr. Ilkow’s work addresses various aspects of oncolytic viruses, a rapidly advancing class of cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Ilkow is an Assistant Professor in BMI and Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Luke Lavallée is an investigator who was recently awarded the Department of Surgery’s new Junior Clinical Research Chair in Urologic Oncology. Dr. Lavallée has demonstrated an exceptional research track record since joining the University of Ottawa in 2015. Among his accomplishments, Dr. Lavallée established an advanced prostate cancer clinic and research program to ensure all patients in Eastern Ontario are receiving the most effective, safe and cutting-edge treatments. Dr. Lavallée is Assistant Professor of Surgery and Associate Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Jodi Edwards is a rising star in the field of cardiovascular epidemiology and brain-heart connections.  In her research, Dr. Edwards addresses a major health challenge: risk assessment and predictive modeling for the brain-heart interface. Her investigations focus on identifying novel cardiac markers of stroke and dementia risk; women’s heart and brain health; and testing new technologies for risk detection. Dr. Edwards is Assistant Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health and Scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Dr. Kori LaDonna is an Assistant Professor, known both for her own research and for mentoring others.  Although her career is in its early stages, Dr. LaDonna’s work is already gaining international recognition, including her recent workshop on Imposter Syndrome. The research grants received by Dr LaDonna since joining the Faculty of Medicine in 2017 places her in the top 5% of Canadian researchers in medical education. Dr. LaDonna is Assistant Professor in the Department of Innovation in Medical Education.

Dr. Baptiste Lacoste is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine whose journal article reviews four years of research. Dr. Lacoste's article, "Vascular contributions to q16p11.2 deletion autism syndrome modeled in mice", focuses on ground-breaking research activities and was published in the prestigious journal Nature Neuroscience. This excellent work will be cited for many years to come and will generate many future studies by research groups around the world. Dr. Lacoste is also Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Ian Stiell is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine who conducted a very complex, placebo-controlled clinical trial that involved 11 hospitals. Dr. Stiell’s paper, ‘Electrical versus pharmacological cardioversion for emergency department patients with acute atrial fibrillation: a partial factorial randomized trial’ was published in the renowned clinical journal The Lancet. This publication has had broad international attention and may profoundly change management of acute atrial fibrillation. Dr. Stiell is also Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Peter Tanuseputro is a physician who studies the health of vulnerable populations.

Dr. Tanuseputro’s study “Rates of emergency department visits attributable to alcohol use in Ontario from 2003 to 2016: a retrospective population-level study” appeared in Canada’s top general medical publication, the Canadian Medical Association Journal. His findings have captured the attention of policy makers and promoted discussions on the societal norms of excess alcohol consumption. Dr. Tanuseputro is Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Investigator at the Bruyère Research Institute and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Sylvain Boet is a clinician-researcher who is among the most prolific in his field of medical education. His article "Cognitive aids with roles defined for obstetrical crises: a multisite before-and-after cohort study" was published in the prestigious Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. This study evaluates the practical performance of teams in emergency situations, in a real clinical setting, a type of approach that is particularly innovative in the field of medical education research. Dr. Boet is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and a Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Christopher Tran is an endocrinologist whose lectures, according to one MD student, are more engaging than most Netflix shows! With his approachable demeanour, Dr. Tran creates an atmosphere that enables learners to ask questions and clarify concepts, facilitating a profound understanding of the subject. His new, ’flipped classroom’ pilot project featuring short, animated videos, shows his creative approach to teaching and his true investment in his students’ success. Dr. Tran is Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine.

Dr. James Watterson is a superb hands-on educator and advocate for all learners in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Watterson has dedicated an exceptional amount of time improving upon the Competency-By-Design transition in the surgery Department, and across the country. His downloadable CBD e-book is currently being used throughout the University of Ottawa, and he has spoken internationally on the topic, to great acclaim. Dr. Watterson is Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Lisa D’Ambrosio is a professor described by one student as “nothing short of phenomenal”. In addition to being an excellent educator, Dr. D’Ambrosio is always available to her TMM students for discussion about their career trajectories and professional choices. When COVID-19 hit, Dr. D’Ambrosio’s expertise helped TMM professors rapidly move to online teaching and evaluation. As one student commented: ‘keep killing the teaching game!’ Dr. D’Ambrosio is a Replacement Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology.

Dr. Dar Dowlatshahi is a neurologist who invites trainees and junior faculty to ‘pop into his office’ whenever they need support. Dr. Dowlatshahi is an internationally recognized stroke expert, who promotes an open and inquisitive research environment and is clearly proud of the work his mentees have accomplished. He is quick to introduce his trainees to world leaders and to cultivate their careers any way he can. Dr. Dowlatshahi is Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Bernard Thébaud is a neonatologist who excels in providing emotional and practical support to his mentees. Dr. Thébaud nurtures learners and junior faculty from across several disciplines and at various stages in their careers. He creates a stimulating learning environment for anyone fortunate enough to work in his lab, and has inspired more than 100 mentees to explore exciting and fulfilling careers. Dr. Thébaud is Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Phil Wells is a leader who is ahead of his time in recognizing the value of wellness, equity, diversity and inclusion. Dr. Wells is completing an incredibly successful 12-year tenure as the Chair and Chief of the Department of Medicine. He has provided outstanding leadership to over 450 faculty responsible for clinical care, education and clinical research. In addition, he has appointed a physician Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and a Vice Chair of Wellness.

Dr. Kay Anne Haykal is a leader in family medicine who is committed to promoting the health and well-being of her colleagues. As Assistant Dean, Student Services, Dr. Haykal is responsible for the health and well-being of 659 medical students and leads the faculty mentorship program. When the pandemic hit, Dr. Haykal quickly implemented a wellness monitoring program and support groups with weekly virtual meetings for all medical students. Dr. Haykal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine.

Dr. Nedra Lander is a faculty member who has contributed to initiatives at the EDI office since its inception in 1992. Along with the late Dr. Danielle Nahon, Dr. Lander moderated workshops on harassment and intimidation for residents and medical students; hosted events on promotion and mentoring for female faculty and female postdoctoral fellows in her own home; and ran the Women Faculty Mentoring program. Dr. Lander is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Simone Dahrouge is a researcher who is making a tremendous impact to improve health services delivery for vulnerable populations. Compelling evidence of Dr. Dahrouge’s commitment to social accountability is the leadership role she has taken in supporting the engagement of patients in research. In 2016, she established the Patient Engagement Resource Centre (PERC), a virtual provincial support service to promote the authentic partnership between patients and primary health care researchers. Dr. Dahrouge is Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine.

Dr. Alykhan Abdulla is an exceptional family physician who always treats those around him with respect and fairness, regardless of their status or role. Dr. Abdulla has modelled our faculty’s values for the residents, medical students, and nurse practitioners he supervised. Through volunteer work, he has helped foreign trained physicians gain a better understanding of our healthcare system and for many, successfully compete for an IMG residency position. Dr. Abdulla is Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine.

Dr. Nicole Rouvinez-Bouali is a pediatrician whose work has improved the care of newborns in many countries and on several continents. As the clinical director of a global development alliance, Dr. Rouvinez-Bouali has developed a comprehensive program of studies targeting the main causes of neonatal mortality in order to improve newborn care in Benin. Despite the many challenges to be overcome, there is now an impact on neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. Dr. Rouvinez-Bouali is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. Marie-Hélène Chomienne is a clinician-researcher with a particular interest in health inequalities among Francophones in minority communities. Dr. Chomienne initiated the hospitalist model at the Monfort Hospital; a program that began with 2 hospital physicians in 2004, and now has over 20 physicians. At the international level, she set up the apprenticeship in Benin in Francophone Africa. Dr. Chomienne is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and a clinical researcher at the Institut du Savoir Montfort.

Dr. Ruel is Professor and Division Head of Cardiac Surgery at the Heart Institute. He pioneered minimally invasive cardiac surgical coronary artery bypass grafting operations and has led several clinicals trials.

Dr. Liddy is a Tier 2 Clinical Research Chair, Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Clinical Investigator at the C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, a Senior Researcher at the Bruyère Research Institute and family physician at the Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team. She is tranforming health care delivery with the Champlain BASE (TM) (Building Access to Specialists through eConsultation) eConsult service, a secure online application that connects primary care providers with specialists, allowing them to receive prompt advice on behalf of their patients using a technology already available in the region.

Dr. Stanford is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Integrative Stem Cell Biology. He is conducting groundbreaking research on stem cells and leukemia, with a focus on understanding and manipulating the behaviour of pluripotent and somatic stem cells to understand mechanisms of human disease and develop novel therapeutics.

Dr. Kulkarni is an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health. Her interdisciplinary research program aims to understand the socioecological determinants of the emergence of vector-borne and zoonotic disease and risk in global settings, and to properly identify at-risk populations for more targeted and efficient interventions.

Dr. Kyeremanteng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, in the Divisions of Critical Care and Palliative Care, and an Associate Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. He has quickly established himself as a leader in the study of Health Services Research, particularly as it pertains to resource utilization and costs in the Intensive Care Unit and in Palliative Care.

Dr. Fell is an Assistant Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health and Scientist with the CHEO Research Institute. She leads a comprehensive program of research in the areas of fetal and infant population health.  Her recent work focuses on the influenza disease and influenza immunization during pregnancy and the relationship with adverse birth outcomes.

Dr. Thiruganasambandamoorthy is Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute's Clinical Epidemiology Program and Emergency physician at the Ottawa Hospital. His research focus is on cardiac emergencies, predominantly in the management of emergency department syncope and chest pain.

Dr. Brand is a professor in the Department of Medicine and a Senior Scientist in the Regenerative Medicine Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Her research program focuses on regulation of gene expression at the level of transcription and chromatin.

Dr. Bell is a Professor in the Department of Medicine. He has taught an unprecedented number of hours in the MD program and consistently receives outstanding teaching evaluations.  He has contributed enormously to the administration of the MD program, having occupied several major leadership roles.

Dr. Carnegie is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. She has distinguished herself as an exceptional educator and a determined leader. She is an invaluable pillar in the fields of Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology education in our Faculty.

Dr. Ramnanan is a Professor in the Department of Innovation in Medical Education. His teaching excellence was quickly recognized by the Faculty and resulted in his growing responsibility in the medical program over time.  He epitomizes the ideal medical educator with his passion for teaching, his leadership in innovation and his dedication to education scholarship.

Dr. Rodger is a Professor in the Department of Medicine, a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Head of the Division of Hematology at the Ottawa Hospital. He is a highly respected clinician and a world-renowned clinical researcher in the field of venous thrombosis, a field in which he has mentored numerous experts who went on to local, national and international recognition.  He provides his mentees insightful advice, excellent training and extraordinary research support.

Dr. Kothary is a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, is Deputy Scientific Director of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and a Senior Scientist in the Regenerative Medicine Program. He has established himself as an outstanding mentor in the field of neuromuscular disease. Leading by example, he instills qualities and values that allow trainees and young researchers around him to reach their full potential and their ultimate goals.

Ms. Rozon has been an employee of the University of Ottawa for over 25 years and is currently the Postgraduate Education Program Manager in the Department of Family Medicine. She is a skilled manager and innovative problem-solver.

Dr. Couture is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology. He played a critical role in the development of the new undergraduate Translational and Molecular Medicine (TMM) program as its first director, all the while achieving international research success in structural biology and epigenetics, and maintaining excellent teaching evaluations.

Dr. Lagace is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and is the Founding Director of the Animal Behaviour Core at the Faculty of Medicine. She is heavily involved in both departmental and Faculty administrative activities, going above and beyond the call of duty for every committee on which she serves, including the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Discovery Days and Doors Open Ottawa Committees. These are important outreach activities that bring incredible visibility to the Faculty.