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 this summer!

Sign up for the Unity Health Toronto newsletter, a monthly update on the latest news, stories, patient voices and research emailed directly to subscribers. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.

The St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team won the Council of Ontario University Programs in Nursing Award’s Agency Recognition Award! The team was recognized for providing safe, supportive and engaging clinical experiences for students.

The St. Michael’s Hospital Catherization Lab was presented with the Stryker Environmental Excellence Award for taking steps to reduce its environmental footprint. The Stryker Sustainability Solutions program helps reduce the environmental impact of waste through a medical device reuse program. This program supports reprocessing of single use items, prolonging their useful life and reducing impact to the environment. The St. Michael’s catheterization lab has participated in this program for the past 3 years and has been recognized as the top cath lab performer across Ontario.

St. Michael’s Hospital’s Social Work Interprofessional Practice Team received a $15,000-grant from the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. The grant will support the continuation of a research project and delivery of student seminars designed to better prepare the incoming Master of Social Work students for social work practice in a hospital setting.

Dr. Anna Banerji, physician and researcher at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, was awarded the Humanitarian Award from U of T’s faculty of medicine. She was recognized for her advocacy focusing on refugee and Indigenous populations, including establishing the Nathan Banerji-Kearney Memorial Award for Indigenous Students.

Dr. Anna Banerji

Dr. Lee Errett, cardiac surgeon at St. Michael’s, was awarded the J.D. Eaton Award for alumni from Memorial University. The award recognized Errett’s accomplishments as a cardiac surgeon, member of the Faculty of Medicine Development Council, and his commitment to providing care to underserved populations.

Dr. Lee Errett

Dr. Akash Goel, physician and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, was awarded $150,000 from the St. Michael’s Hospital Research Innovation Council to develop the first global trial investigating the impact of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, on chronic nerve pain. Goel is part of the larger Pinnacle Research Group at St. Michael’s, which focuses on anesthesiology and surgical care.

Dr. Akash Goel

Dr. Boris Hinz, scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, is part of a CRAFT-led team that received a grant to develop a handheld 3D printer for treating skin burns during deep-space missions. The printer uses a “bioink” to fabricate and deposit sheets of living engineered skin directly onto burns to promote healing, while reducing scarring and skin contracture. Unity Health Toronto is an anchor partner in CRAFT, which stands for the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies.

Dr. Boris Hinz

Dr. Stephen Hwang, physician and director of MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, was awarded the Spirit of Philanthropy Award for St. Michael’s Hospital. Hwang was recognized for his research on homelessness and his dedication to clinical work in local shelters.

Dr. Stephen Hwang

Dr. Shane Journeay, physiatrist at Providence Healthcare and director of academics and research, received the Community Physician Achievement Award from the University of Toronto Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The award recognizes an ongoing valued community contribution in the division. Journeay was nominated based on his research, clinical work and leadership in occupational rehabilitation and working populations.

Dr. Shane Journeay

Dr. Katie Mennie, pediatrician at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, won the Marvin Gerstein Award for sustained excellence in education from the Hospital for Sick Children. This award recognizes leadership in education, and Mennie was recognized for having consistently high teaching evaluations and teaching learners at multiple levels.

Dr. Sakina Rizvi, scientist and psychotherapist, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Arthur Sommer Rotenberg Chair in Depression and Suicide Studies. As chair, Rizvi will develop and lead research to prevent, diagnose and treat patients with depression and suicidality.

Dr. Sakina Rizvi

Dr. Saadia Sediqzadah, psychiatrist and clinician-investigator at St. Michael’s, received a 2024 Canadian Medical Association Award. The CMA Award for Young Leaders, early career, recognizes the efforts and accomplishments of young physician leaders. The awards are given to two students, two residents, and two early career physicians who have demonstrated exemplary dedication, commitment and leadership in one of the following domains: political, clinical, education, research, or community service.

Dr. Saadia Sediqzadah

Dr. Sharon Straus, executive vice-president, clinical and chief medical officer at Unity Health, was awarded an honourary doctorate from the University of Montreal. Straus was recognized for her remarkable accomplishments as a physician, researcher and health leader.