Unity Health Toronto’s October Honour Roll
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 October!
Congratulations to the following winners who received Awards of Excellence from the University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine:
- Dr. Kathryn Dorman, family physician at St. Michael’s, received the Excellence in Social Responsibility Award
- Dr. Abbas Ghavam-Rassoul, family physician at St. Michael’s, received the Risa Freeman Award for Excellence in Education Scholarship
- Jevon Manchester, coordinator at the Urban Family Health Team at St. Joseph’s, received the Staff Excellence in Collaboration Award
- Dr. Alice Ordean, family physician at St. Joseph’s, received the Sustained Excellence in Research Award
- Dr. Nav Persaud, family physician at St. Joseph’s, received the Excellence in Research, Mid-Career Researcher Award
- Dr. Kay Shen, family physician at St. Joseph’s, received the Excellence in Course/Program Development Award
- Johanna Skippon, clinical and integrated education project coordinator at Unity Health, received the Staff New Employee Award
- Dr. Linda Weber, family physician at St. Joseph’s, received the Excellence in Quality Improvement Award
Congratulations to the following teams who received Quality Improvement Awards from the University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine:
- The St. Joseph’s Academic Family Health Team New Patient Access Working Group, Dr. Daphne Williams, Jevon Manchester, Dr. Nikhil Shah, Dr. Ashkan Jahangirnia, Dr. Yael Feinberg, Roxanne Gopie, and Alejandra Priego received the Quality and Innovation Faculty and Staff Impact Award
- Dr. Ashley Wang, Dr. Engy Iskandar, Dr. Sofia Khan, Jonathan Fowler, and Vinay Phokeo received the DFCM PGY1 Impact Award – Preventing ED Presentations: Diabetic Sick Day Plans
Dr. Warren Lee and Dr. Kelsie Thu, scientists at St. Michael’s, each received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund. This funding supports their innovative research that pushes the boundaries of translational science and advancing human health. Dr. Lee’s research is about the elucidation of endothelial and epithelial functions in chronic disease using advanced light microscopy methods. Dr. Thu’s research is about exploring the role of extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated crosstalk between cancer cells and platelets in tumor progression.
Dr. Amit Atrey, orthopaedic surgeon at St. Michael’s, was awarded with the King Charles III Coronation Medal. This medal recognizes his contributions to orthopaedic education and innovation, along with his commitment to improving access to care for patients and their families.
Melanie de Wit, chief legal officer at Unity Health, received the Innovation Impacting the Profession award from the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) In-House Lawyers. This is in recognition of her contributions to the legal profession, including her innovative work in responsible AI.
Dr. Bernadette Garvey, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s, received the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of University of Ottawa’s 2025 Alumni Awards of Distinction. This award celebrates her groundbreaking career dedicated to advancing hematology, education, and patient care.
Dr. Andrea Rigamonti, chief of critical care at St. Michael’s, is the 2025 recipient of the Professional Excellence Award from the Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association (CIBPA). This award recognizes his contributions and leadership in critical care medicine.
Catherine Stratton, PhD candidate, has been awarded the 2025 Cathy Fooks Award for Research and Leadership Excellence in Patient and Caregiver Engagement. This award recognizes a graduate student who has developed and contributed to the evidence-base for patient and caregiver engagement in the health system, including evaluation and measurement strategies.
