Every month, researchers across Unity Health Toronto celebrate important honours, achievements and awards. Congratulations to our researchers who have been recognized this month!

Dr. Andrea Tricco and Dr. Haibo Zhang

Two scientists at Unity Health Toronto have been awarded funding for their work through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Dr. Andrea Tricco, director of the Knowledge Synthesis Team in the Knowledge Translation Program and scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, and Dr. Haibo Zhang, scientist at the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science have been awarded JELFs for their projects.

Funding provided to institutions through the JELF helps institutions to recruit and retain outstanding researchers, acquire the tools that enable the innovative work of leading researchers and offer research support that, when combined with research support from our partner organizations, is highly competitive.

Congratulations Dr. Tricco and Dr. Zhang. Learn more about the JELF here.

Dr. Andrea Tricco

Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Tricco, director of the Knowledge Synthesis Team in the Knowledge Translation Program, who has been elected to join the Class of 2021 of the College of New Scholars in the Royal Society of Canada. The College is Canada’s first national system of multidisciplinary recognition for the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership. The Members of the College are Canadians and Permanent Residents who, at an early stage in their career, have demonstrated a high level of achievement. Learn more here.

Dr. Sharon Straus

Dr. Sharon Straus, physician-in-chief at St. Michael’s and director of the Knowledge Translation Program, has been elected to join the Class of 2021 of the Royal Society of Canada as a Fellow. Congratulations to Dr. Straus on this recognition. Fellows are elected by their peers for their outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievement. Recognition by the Royal Society of Canada for career achievement is the highest honour an individual can achieve in the Arts, Social Sciences and Sciences. Learn more here.

Dr. David Jenkins

Congratulations to Dr. David Jenkins, a scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute and Director of the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, who has been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Laureates are Canadian citizens whose outstanding leadership and contributions to medicine and the health sciences, in Canada or abroad, have led to extraordinary improvements in human health. Their work may be a single meritorious contribution or a lifetime of superior accomplishments. Pioneers in their field, they are role models who inspire young Canadians to pursue careers in the health sciences.

Dr. Jenkins is being recognized for inventing the glycemic index to classify carbohydrates and their effects on blood glucose levels, decreasing the incidence of diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease mortality. Learn more here.

Dr. Gillian Booth and Dr. David Jenkins

Dr. Gillian Booth and Dr. David Jenkins, scientists at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, have been elected as Fellows for 2021 to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Election to Fellowship in the Academy is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community and carries with it a covenant to serve the Academy and the future well-being of the health sciences irrespective of the Fellow’s specific discipline. Click here to learn more about this year’s fellows.

Top row: Wasifa Zarin, Dr. Art Slutsky, Dr. Sharon Straus. Bottom row: Dr. Katerina Pavenski, Dr. Andrea Tricco.

A number of Unity Health researchers have been recognized as World Experts in their fields by Expertscape:

  • Dr. Katerina Pavenski, scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, recognized as an Expertscape Expert in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
  • Dr. Art Slutsky, scientist at the Keenan Research Centre, recognized as an Expertscape World Expert in Respiration Disorders
  • Dr. Sharon Straus, director of the Knowledge Translation Program, recognized as an Expertscape World Expert in Review Literature
  • Dr. Andrea Tricco, director of the Knowledge Synthesis Team in the Knowledge Translation Program, recognized as an Expertscape World Expert in Review Literature
  • Wasifa Zarin, Research Manager at St. Michael’s, recognized as an Expertscape World Expert

This story is an example of how we’re bringing our Research Strategic Plan to life. Access our full plan online here. Heard of an honour, award or recognition given to one of our researchers? Fill out this Google Form to have it profiled in the next Honour Roll.

By: Ana Gajic