Every year, physicians and staff at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) are recognized by academic institutions, professional organizations and their peers for excellence in teaching, clinical care and leadership.
From emergency medicine to family medicine, to pediatrics and beyond, over 40 of our physicians have received awards over the past year.
As a community hospital with a high-impact academic mandate, MGH trains hundreds of medical learners each year. The recognition our educators receive reflects a culture of academic excellence at MGH, one that is built by our staff who take the time to teach and mentor, all while providing high-quality care to our patients.
“Teaching is part of who we are at MGH,” said Dr. Peter Tzakas, Director of Medical Education at MGH. “Our physicians and clinical staff bring the same commitment to their learners that they bring to their patients, and it shows. These awards are so well deserved, and they’re a reminder that great care and great teaching go hand-in-hand.”
Please join us in congratulating this past year’s recipients.
2024-2025 Award Recipients
Dr. Juweiriya Ahmed - Resident, Family Medicine
- Resident Award, Advocacy for Patients – Michael Garron Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Jackie Bellaire, Family Medicine
- Recognized for 100% superior teaching scores – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Brittany Cameron, Emergency Medicine
- Award of Excellence in Teaching in Emergency Medicine (Early Career) – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Arianne Cohen, Family Medicine
- Recognized for 100% superior teaching scores and the New Teacher – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Jennifer Cram, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Outstanding MD Teaching – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. William El Masri, Otolaryngology
- Distinguished Alumnus Award – University of Toronto Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
- Resident Teacher of the Year – University of Toronto Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
Dr. Nima Farkhani, Emergency Medicine
- MD Program Teaching Award for Excellence – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. Steven Fishman, Psychiatry
- Undergraduate Teaching Excellence – University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Helena Frecker, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Chair’s Award for QuIPS & Integrated Undergraduate Teaching – University of Toronto Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Outstanding MD Teaching – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. Maja Gans, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Chair’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching – University of Toronto Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Outstanding MD Teaching – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. Raphi Gold, Psychiatry
- Postgraduate Teaching Excellence – University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Walter Himmel, Emergency Medicine
- Emergency Medicine Award, in recognition of exemplary performance, collaboration and commitment to department values – Michael Garron Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine
Dr. John Ihnat, Family Medicine
- Recognized for 100% superior teaching scores – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Nadia Incardona, Emergency Medicine
- MD Program Award – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Muneesh Jha, Emergency Medicine
- Excellence in Teaching in Emergency Medicine – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Courtney Jolliffe, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Outstanding MD Teaching – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. Neha Kanga, Family Medicine
- Postgraduate Program Award – Role Modelling Clinical Excellence – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
- Recognized for 100% superior teaching scores – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Sunil Kapoor, Anesthesia
- Recognized by the Postgraduate Education Committee for 100% superior teaching scores – University of Toronto Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Dr. Adam Kaufman, Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine
- Excellence in Teaching and Education in Emergency Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine Awards of Excellence 2025 – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
- Award of Excellence in Teaching in Emergency Medicine – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
- W. T. Aikins Award – Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Individual Teaching Performance (Clerkship) – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
- Recognized for 100% superior teaching scores – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Nadia Khan, Surgery
John H Fowler Excellence in Teaching Award – Michael Garron Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. James Kulchyk, Anesthesia
- Recognized by the Postgraduate Education Committee for 100% superior teaching scores – University of Toronto Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Dr. Kit Shan Lee, Family Medicine
- Recognized for 100% superior teaching scores – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Matthew Lee, Emergency Medicine
- MD Program Award – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Natalie Mamen, Emergency Medicine
- Emergency Medicine Award, in recognition of exemplary performance, collaboration and commitment to department values – Michael Garron Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Alex Meret, Pediatrics
- Spirit of Education Award – Michael Garron Hospital
Dr. Ruchi Mohindra, Emergency Medicine
- $250,000 grant (with Dr. Nadia Primiani) to upskill the Emergency Department through simulation training focused on geriatric patients – RBC
Dr. George Porfiris, Emergency Medicine
- Anna Jarvis Award for Teaching Excellence in Emergency Medicine – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Dr. Sara Porisky, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Outstanding MD Teaching – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. Nadia Primiani, Emergency Medicine
- Dr. Paul Hannam Grant (second recipient) – Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, Dr. Paul Hannam Memorial Fund
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion Award – Toronto Women in Emergency Medicine (TWEM)
- Dr. Paul Hannam Award – Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, Dr. Paul Hannam Memorial Fund
Dr. Razvan Purza, Anesthesia
- Clinical Excellence Award – University of Toronto Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Dr. Megan Reynolds, Emergency Medicine
- MD Program Award – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Roland Rocha, Medicine
- John H Fowler Excellence in Teaching Award
Dr. David Rosenstein, Emergency Medicine
- MD Program Award – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Inderjeet Sahota, Emergency Medicine
- Faculty Award for Excellence in Global Health – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. David Smith, Emergency Medicine
- Emerging Teacher of the Year – Michael Garron Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Robert Soegtrop, Emergency Medicine
- Emerging Teacher of the Year – Michael Garron Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Joju Sowemimo, Pediatrics
- Dr. John H. Fowler Excellence in Teaching Award – Michael Garron Hospital, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Dr. Kasia Stefanski, Emergency Medicine
- MD Program Award – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine
Dr. Melissa Tai, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Chair’s Award for Excellence in CME Teaching – University of Toronto Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Outstanding MD Teaching – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. Raymond Tanugroho, Pediatrics
- Teaching Excellence Award (MD Program Award) – University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, MD Program
Dr. Rajani Vairavanathan, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Award of Excellence – University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine
If you received an award in 2025 and it was not included in this list, please email @email with the details.