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 February!

Order of Ontario

Dr. Bernard Lawless, staff physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, was appointed to the Order of Ontario, the highest civilian honour in the province. The Order of Ontario recognizes people whose extraordinary achievements have helped build a stronger Ontario and Canada. Dr. Lawless practices general surgery, traumatology, and critical care medicine.

Dr. Bernard Lawless

Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2025 Fall Project Grant Program

Eleven research projects based at Unity Health Toronto have been awarded more than $8 million in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2025 Fall Project Grant Program. Overall, Unity Health had a funding success rate of 21.5 per cent, higher than the national success rate of 16.2 per cent.

The funded projects investigate a wide range of critical health issues including:

  • trauma-focused responsive AI;
  • opioid-related harms and treatment among First Nation Peoples;
  • mental health and addiction service use in patients with cystic fibrosis; and,
  • the nuclear transport of the proteins TAZ and YAP.

Congratulations to these researchers!

Retired Teachers of Ontario/ Les Enseignantes et Enseignants Retraités de L’Ontario (RTO/ERO) Chair in Geriatric Medicine

St. Michael’s geriatrician Dr. Jennifer Watt was recently appointed the Retired Teachers of Ontario/ Les Enseignantes et Enseignants Retraités de L’Ontario (RTO/ERO) Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Dr. Watt’s research focuses on geriatric syndromes, such as frailty, falls and cognitive impairment. Her 2025 study on traumatic brain injuries in older adults was shared by more than 280 media outlets.

Dr. Jennifer Watt

Thor Eaton Professorship in Fibrosis

Dr. Andras Kapus, scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, was re-appointed to the Thor Eaton Professorship in Fibrosis Research, beginning December 2025 for a five-year term. Dr. Kapus’ research focuses on cell and molecular biology of organ fibrosis, including kidney fibrosis and polycystic kidney disease.

Dr. Andras Kapus

J. Michael Lazarus Award

Dr. Ron Wald, nephrologist at St. Michael’s Hospital, was honoured with J. Michael Lazarus Award for his dedication to kidney health. This prestigious award comes from the National Kidney Foundation based in New York City. Dr. Wald’s research areas are critical care nephrology and maintenance dialysis. 

Dr. Ron Wald