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Every month, staff, researchers, physicians, learners and teams across Unity Health Toronto celebrate important honours, achievements and awards. Congratulations to all who’ve been recognized in March!

The Positive Pregnancy Program (P3) Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital won a Casey Award for leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community. For 15 years, the P3 clinic has provided quality health care for pregnant women living with HIV in the GTA. The clinic marries obstetrics and midwifery, and combines advocacy and medical expertise to support pregnant women.

Unity Health Toronto has formally joined the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), a research partnership that’s dedicated to developing leading-edge microfluidic devices. Unity Health Toronto joining the partnership brings new opportunities for scientists and clinicians to develop and test new microfluidic technologies in care settings. The CRAFT-led team, including Dr. Claudia dos Santos, was awarded $17.5 million to create a new generation of “distributed” diagnostic tests. The funds will be used to build a new Diagnostic Horizons Lab (DHL) in Toronto, which will catalyze the development of these new diagnostic tests, which are designed to be taken directly to patients – including those in remote communities. These tests deliver results much faster and efficiently than a centralized laboratory.

Left to right: Dr. Claudia dos Santos, Dr. Pamela Plant, Dr. Valeria DiGiovanni and Marlene Santos.
Dr. Claudia dos Santos

Congratulations to Dr. Anna Banerji, pediatrician and children’s health researcher at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, who was named a 2024 Top 25 Women of Influence. The list, compiled by Women of Influence+, recognizes and celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of self-identified women and gender-diverse role models who’ve made significant achievements in their careers and contributions to the advancement of women.

Dr. Anna Banerji

Dr. Yvonne Bombard, genomics health researcher and scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, and Dr. David Jenkins, physician and nutritional sciences researcher, have been awarded the President’s Impact Award from the University of Toronto. Bombard was recognized for her contributions in enacting national law against genetic discrimination, improving healthcare options for Canadians and advancing clinical practice and genomics research. Jenkins was recognized for his numerous studies on the health effects of food that have changed how the world makes healthy dietary choices.

Dr. Yvonne Bombard
Dr. David Jenkins

Dr. Yvonne Chan, otolaryngologist-in-chief at St. Michael’s Hospital, was awarded the Colin Woolf Long Term Contributions to Continuing Professional Development Award from the University of Toronto. The award recognizes excellence in teaching, subject mastery and the ability to engage learners. 

Dr. Yvonne Chan

Dr. Tara Gomes, epidemiologist and scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, and Dr. Nav Persaud, physician and scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, have had their Canada Research Chairs renewed. Gomes holds a Tier 2 chair in drug policy and substance use, and Persaud holds a Tier 2 chair in health justice.

Dr. Tara Gomes
Dr. Nav Persaud

Dr. Gary May, gastroenterologist at St. Michael’s Hospital, has been appointed to the Wallace and Margaret McCain Chair in Therapeutic Endoscopy at the University of Toronto. The hospital-university endowed chair is for a five-year term.

Dr. Bobby Yanagawa, cardiovascular surgeon at St. Michael’s, has been appointed to the Sure General Contractors Inc. Professorship in Endocarditis at the University of Toronto. The professorship is for a five-year term.

Dr. Bobby Yanagawa