Congratulations Dr. Tirone David, an internationally acclaimed cardiovascular surgeon at UHN's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, on his selection among the first round of Canada's Walk of Fame Inductees for 2025 in the Science, Technology and Innovation category.
Recognized as a trailblazer in his field, Dr. David has redefined cardiovascular surgery having developed 15 groundbreaking procedures that went on to be implemented globally.
"This is an incredible honour, and I am humbled to be recognized in this way," says Dr. David.
Dr. David's legacy is unparalleled, and his decorated career is a testament to his dedication to improving outcomes for patients everywhere. His innovations have not only saved countless lives, but have set new standards for excellence in cardiovascular care.
Some of Dr. David's incredible contributions to cardiac surgery include:
- Developing 15 life-saving surgical procedures to treat heart disease;
- More than 15,000 open heart surgeries completed with almost 100 per cent success rate;
- Over 450 scientific papers published.
"None of these achievements would have been possible without the exceptional team I have had the privilege of working with throughout my career," Dr. David says. "I am also profoundly grateful to the donors whose generosity has fuelled my work and enabled the contributions I've made to cardiovascular care.
"I share this recognition with all of you — my colleagues, supporters, and the community that has inspired and sustained me every step of the way."
Julie Quenneville, CEO of UHN Foundation, says through "the generosity of our donors we were able to support Dr. David's big, bold ideas that ultimately revolutionized cardiovascular surgery.
"His groundbreaking innovations have not only rewritten the medical books but have also had a profound impact on patient care around the world. This incredible achievement underscores the vital role philanthropy plays in retaining top talent and driving life-changing advancements in health care."
UHN has been recognized by CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) for its commitment in hiring, mentoring and supporting IENs.
And, Jane Lucille Roxas, a nurse at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM), has also received CARE's 2024 Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Award.
CARE gives out the award annually to a registered nurse (RN) who has overcome challenges to achieve their Ontario nursing license, and return to their profession.
"Thank you for believing in us and giving us the opportunity to live our dreams and make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients," Jane said at a ceremony in the cancer centre on Nov. 11.
A native of the Philippines, Jane worked as a nurse for 14 years before coming to Toronto in 2021. With the support of CARE, she completed her Supervised Practice Experience Partnership clinical placement at the Princess Margaret and was hired in 2022 in the Malignant Hematology Unit at PM after receiving her registered nurse licensure.
UHN was honoured in recognition of its long support of IENs and its partnership in piloting a program with CARE that allows IENs to update their clinical currency of practice.
Pam Hubley, Chief Nursing Executive at UHN, re-affirmed UHN's commitment to champion IENs. She praised the invaluable contribution they make and noted that, since January, 2024, 38 per cent of new nursing hires at UHN are IENS.
She called Jane "skilled and knowledgeable, deeply compassionate, hard-working and resilient and focused on patient care."
"We're thrilled Jane is being recognized," said Anet Julius, Director of Professional Practice in Nursing at PM. "She embodies the team effort approach we provide and promote at Princess Margaret and throughout UHN.
"I cannot imagine a more worthy recipient."
The award is named for the late Joan Lesmond, an internationally trained nurse who championed diversity and inclusion in health care and worked tirelessly to promote the full integration of IENs into nursing in Ontario.
"These nurses have overcome so many challenges on their journey to registration," said Dr. Elaine Santa Mina, Chair of the Selection Committee for the Joan Lesmond IEN of the Year Awards. "Our CARE Centre member IENs are crucial to the future of nursing in Ontario.
"They bring a world of experience and a wide range of cultural competency to the health care workplace. We are always pleased to honour our employer partners who recognize the value IENs bring to their organization as they support them in their full integration and further career success."
CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) is a not-for-profit professional organization funded by the Ontario Government and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. CARE Centre assists IENs to become registered in Ontario and to re-establish rewarding health care careers in Canada.
Congratulations to the 2024 Gerald Kirsh Humanitarian Awards recipients — Dr. Wilson Kwong, palliative care physician and Education Site Lead with the Warren-Connelly Palliative Care Clinic at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM), and Aniela Walewicz, registered nurse with the Inpatient Oncology Unit at PM.
The Kirsh family, in partnership with The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, established the awards as a tribute to the exceptional care that they witnessed while Gerald Kirsh received treatment at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
The awards provide patients and their loved ones the opportunity to express their gratitude to a dedicated staff member or volunteer who played an integral role in their cancer journey. At the heart of the award are five core values: compassion, integrity, safety, stewardship and teamwork.
Dr. Kwong always envisioned a career path where he could focus on his two areas of passion: internal medicine and palliative care.
This vision became a reality. Today, he works with the Princess Margaret's palliative care team, where he supports patients and their caregivers, and also practices internal medicine in Scarborough.
Dr. Kwong first entered the doors of the Princess Margaret while completing a palliative care fellowship at UHN in 2019, joining the team at PM a year later.
"It's rewarding to support patients and their families as they navigate palliative care, and I'm grateful to work alongside a compassionate team," he says.
Dr. Kwong's nominator praised his exceptional care, saying their family member "had the fortune of being a patient of Dr. Kwong." They noted he was a constant source of support during the emotional and physical toll of cancer.
The family emphasized that they will be forever grateful to him for genuinely listening and caring for their family member.
"It's an honour and very humbling to receive the Gerald Kirsh Humanitarian Award," says Dr. Kwong. "Upon reflection, it's a special feeling to know the simplest interactions can make a big difference.
"Palliative care takes a team-based approach with every person in the department playing an essential role, and I feel grateful to work alongside an incredible team."
Fellow award recipient Aniela launched a career in nursing in the division of vascular surgery at a hospital in Ottawa after graduating from the University of Ottawa in 2022.
In May 2023, Aniela jumped at the opportunity to join the team at the Princess Margaret, where she took on the role of registered nurse with the Inpatient Oncology Unit. Watching her mother's career path as an oncology pharmacist piqued Aniela's interest in oncology nursing.
Every day, Aniela arrives at work eager to provide exceptional medical and supportive care.
"It's encouraging to hear from patients and their loved ones that I'm doing a good job," she says of receiving the award, which left her shocked and honoured. "Learning that I've made an impact by building strong connections while providing care is special to hear.
"Patients and their caregivers get a lot of information during their cancer journey, which can be stressful and emotional. It's important as a health care provider to create a safe and open space where you can relate to patients on a deeper level based on their personality and interests."
A patient's family felt inspired to nominate Aniela for demonstrating deep compassion and authenticity. They felt Aniela built a unique connection and provided comfort throughout the journey with cancer.
"I feel honoured to support patients at The Princess Margaret and grateful for my colleagues," she says.
Along with recognizing Dr. Kwong and Anelia, their fellow nominees are also being recognized: Dr. Penelope Bradbury, Calvin Chow, Jesus Hipolito, Dr. Andrew Hope, Dr. Rajat Kumar, Dr. Arjun Law, Dr. Hassan Sibai, Dr. Derek Tsang, and Harjot Singh Vohra.
Thanks to staff members and volunteers at the Princess Margaret for embodying the core values of the awards.
Congratulations to a team from the Division of Cardiology at UHN's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre for receiving the Improved Indigenous Health Award at the 2024 Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation Awards Ceremony.
The team, with partners from Weenebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA), have been honoured for successfully introducing the Medly program — a digital health initiative for individuals with heart failure — to six Indigenous communities in the James and Hudson Bay areas.
Utilizing digital tools such as smartphones and smartwatches, Medly enables patients to track their health and symptoms while maintaining communication with their health care team, providing a personalized guidance on symptom management and notifying health care providers of any critical changes in the patient's condition.
To bring this initiative to life, UHN and WAHA co-developed a cardiovascular model of care that featured regular in-person visits to WAHA's six communities, virtual care consultations and remote management through Medly to reduce barriers to accessing specialized care for those living in the region.
This project was also made possible by TRANSFORM HF, which led community-based research activities to inform and support the ongoing execution of Medly and secured Ontario Health funding for the program.
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2024 Cancer Education Awards from the Cancer Education Program at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
The awards celebrate the dedication and commitment of staff and trainees in advancing cancer care and education and recognize those who demonstrate excellence in education, by creating or supporting innovative treatments and programs, or by displaying exemplary compassion, advocacy and patient care.
And the awards go to:
Excellence in Mentorship Award
- Dr. Jennifer Croke
- Dr. Kimberley Miller
- Dr. Chaya Shwaartz
Best Fellow Award
- Dr. Adam Bishop
- Dr. Sofia Canales Albarran
- Dr. Stephen Lowell Ciocon
Robert V. Brady Award for Best Resident
- Dr. Mitchell Elliott
- Dr. George Li
Excellence in Education Support Award
Innovation in Education Award
- The Red Blood Cell Disorders Hub Editorial Team: Oluwayemisi Abatan, James Bradley, Earleen Dover, Vanessa Ferguson, Josephine Fosuwaa, Ola Iyanda, Colleen Johnson, Filomena Mazzella, Bethany Morris, Kathy Raufi, Sinthu Srikanthan, Shirin Taki, and others.
Outstanding Contribution to Cancer Education Award
Video Award
The Cancer Education Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, which coordinates the annual awards, aims to provide high-quality, up-to-date cancer education to health care providers, trainees, and patients, and is a leader in transforming cancer education.
