Melanie Kirby-Allen

Dr. Melanie Kirby-Allen is a Full Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto and a member of the Haematology Section in the Division of Haematology/Oncology. Kirby-Allen received her medical undergraduate training at the University of West Indies. She completed further training in paediatrics and in paediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Kirby-Allen joined the Division in early 2000 and is the co-director of the Hemoglobinopathy Program.

Education and experience

• 1982: MBBS, University of West Indies, Jamaica
• 1983: Diploma in Child Health, University of West Indies, Jamaica
• 1988: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Paediatric Subspecialty Certification
• 1983–1984: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados Senior House Officer, Paediatrics
• 1984–1986: Paediatric Residency, Queen's University, Kingston, ON
• 1986–1988: Paediatric Residency, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 1988–1990: Paediatric Hematology/Oncology sub-specialty training, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 1990–1991: Clinical Fellow: Bone-Marrow Transplant Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
• 1991: Paediatric Hematology/Oncology Sub-Specialty training, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

Achievements

• 1976: Island Scholar, Saint Vincent, and The Grenadines
• 1988: Fellow Royal College of Physicians of Canada
• 1989: Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics
• 1991: Canadian Hematology Society Award for Best Hematology Presentation, Royal College of Physicians of Canada Meeting
• 1992: Residents' Award for Excellence in Teaching, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
• 1995: Oncology Families Appreciation Award, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
• 1998: The Hour Glass Award, National Thalassemia Foundation of Canada
• 2004: Alvin Zipursky Teaching Award, Division of Haematology/Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, in recognition for outstanding contribution to medical education and mentorship
• 2009: The Claus Wirsig Humanitarian Award, The Hospital for Sick Children
• 2011: The British Methodist Episcopal Church and Toronto Police Service Community Award - Black History Month Community Award
• 2011: SCAGO – Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario Medical Excellence Award
• 2012: Camp Jumoke Service Award
• 2015: Continuing Medical Education Award for Sustained Excellence, Department of Paediatrics
• 2014–2015: The Angela Punnett Mentorship Award, Division of Haematology/Oncology
• 2017: Toronto Police Appreciation Award- service to children with Sickle Cell Disease in Toronto.
• 2017–2018: The Angela Punnett Mentorship Award, Division of Haematology/Oncology.
• 2019–2020: The Angela Punnett Mentorship Award, Division of Haematology/Oncology.
• 2021: MSA Citizenship Award, Medical Staff Committee, The Hospital for Sick Children.
• 2023–2024: Power Teaching Award, Department of Paediatrics.