Congratulations to our staff who have won awards!

By Rachel Clark, Intern, Communications & Public Affairs

Congratulations to the following SickKids staff members who have been recognized by the health-care and science communities for their outstanding achievements and groundbreaking work. 

Michael Salter - CIHR Governing Council

Dr. Michael Salter, Chief of Research, was appointed by The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, to the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Michael is one of six top Canadian health researchers to receive this appointment.

CIHR's Governing Council comprises a group of up to 18 distinguished Canadians who together provide oversight and strategic direction for the organization and evaluate its overall performance.

David Malkin – 2018 Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant

Dr. David Malkin, Senior Staff Oncologist and Director of the Cancer Genetics Program, received renewed funding from the 2018 Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant for early tumour detection and prevention in Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.

Dr. Malkin and his team have used previous TFRI funding to analyse the effectiveness of the Toronto Protocol—a now internationally-adopted surveillance protocol. With their new grant, the team hopes to start testing drugs, while simultaneously creating a mathematical model that will help predict at what age – and in what organs – tumours will develop. The Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project involves the best cancer researchers in Canada.

Canada Research Chairs

Congratulations to Dr. Xi Huang and Dr. Michael Wilson who were named new and renewed Canada Research Chairs by the federal government this spring.

Dr. Xi Huang, Scientist, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, was named a new, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Cancer Biophysics. Dr. Michael Wilson, Scientist, Genetics and Genome Biology, was renewed as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Comparative Genomics.

Marilyn Monk – G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Award

Marilyn Monk, Executive Vice-President, Clinical, received a G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Award on June 21 from Ryerson University. Marilyn received the award in recognition and thanks for her exceptional contribution to Ryerson University. This award recognizes volunteers for their contribution to life and learning on campus and beyond.

Victor Blanchette – University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice Chancellor's Award

Victor Blanchette, Co-Chair, SickKids-Caribbean Initiative (SCI) and SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, received the University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice Chancellor's Award on April 7.

This award is presented to Victor for his work contributing to the betterment of the Caribbean region.

Basic Science Research Award from the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group

Congratulations to Dr. Georges Azzie and Dr. Adi Fahy who received Basic Science Research Awards from the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group.

Dr. Georges Azzie, Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, was awarded the Basic Science Research Award. Dr. Adi Fahy, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, was awarded the Basic Science Research Award.

Daryl Cheng – Royal Australian College of Physicians Trainee of the Year for 2018

Dr. Daryl Cheng, Clinical Fellow, was recognized as Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Trainee of the Year for 2018. Daryl was recognized for his outstanding contribution to the RACP and the community. The award was presented at the annual RACP Congress in May 2018.

Leandra Desjardins – Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Award in Support of Psychosocial Oncology Excellence

Dr. Leandra Desjardins, Research and Clinical Fellow, Psychology, received the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Award in Support of Psychosocial Oncology Excellence at the annual Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) conference. Leandra received this award for her poster titled The Association Between Executive Functions and Social Skills in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors: Let's Get Specific. She co-authored the poster with other SickKids staff members including Aden Solomon, Dr. Laura Janzen, Dr. Ute Bartels and Dr. Maru Barrera.

Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario (RNFOO) 2018 Award winners

Congratulations to Brittany Groom and Elizabeth Orr for receiving Registered Nurses’ Foundation of Ontario 2018 Awards.

Brittany Groom, Registered Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, received the Dorothy Wylie Scholarship from the RNFOO. Elizabeth Orr, Registered Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, received the Evelyn Cameron Memorial Bursary – Pediatric Nurses Interest Group.

Allison Daniel – CIHR Doctoral Research Award, Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship

Allison Daniel, PhD candidate, Nutritional Sciences, received the CIHR Doctoral Research Award from the federal government. This award recognizes students early in their academic research career, providing them with an opportunity to gain research experience. Alison was presented this award in May 2018.

Donna Wall – University of Toronto, Medicine by Design, New Ideas Award 2018

Dr. Donna Wall, Section Head, Blood and Marrow Transplant/Cellular Therapy program, received the New Ideas Award 2018 from the University of Toronto’s Medicine by Design initiative.

Donna received this award for her project that looks at the impact of inflammation on the success of blood stem cell transplants and whether patients experiencing inflammation due to infection or other immune responses need to undergo different preparation to reduce the risk of rejection.  

Dean’s Alumni Awards from the University of Toronto

Congratulations to Dr. Ronald Zuker and Dr. Vicky Ng for receiving Dean’s Alumni Awards from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Ronald Zuker, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Global Impact. Dr. Vicky Ng, Medical Director of the Liver Transplant Program, received the 25th Anniversary Award.

Stephen Scherer – Western University Honorary Degree & University Professor designation from the University of Toronto

Dr. Stephen Scherer, Senior Scientist and Director of the Centre for Applied Genomics, received a Doctor of Science, Honorary Degree (D.Sc.) from Western University. Stephen and his team contributed to the discovery of the global gene copy number variation (CNV). Defining CNV revealed that genes do not always exist in pairs of two alone chromosomes.

Stephen also received University Professor designation from the University of Toronto. He was recognized as a leading scientist who has revolutionized the understanding of the human genome through his research on human genomics and autism spectrum disorder.

Stanley Zlotkin – Simon Fraser University Honorary Doctorate

Dr. Stanley Zlotkin, Chief, SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, received an Honorary Doctorate from Simon Fraser University on June 15.

Stanley has long been engaged in improving global children’s health. He has developed a micronutrient powder that is helping to improve the health of millions of infants and children in the developing world.