Sumedha Arya
MD FRCPC DRCPSC Msc
Dr. Arya is a specialist in transfusion medicine and hematology at Unity Health Toronto. She holds a primary academic appointment in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, with a cross-appointment in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Arya completed her residencies in Internal Medicine and Hematology at the University of Toronto, where she was recognized with several prestigious clinical and research awards. These include the Sopman Humanitarian Award, the American Society of Hematology's HONORS (Hematology Opportunities for the Next Generation of Research Scientists) Award, the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (JTH) Editor’s Award, and the Stephen Couban Award for Best Canadian Resident Research Abstract. She subsequently completed a fellowship in transfusion medicine through Canadian Blood Services and earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology from Harvard University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of transfusion medicine, clinical epidemiology, and health equity.
Dr. Arya is also actively involved in medical education and academic leadership. She has served on national and international educational committees, including the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Trainee Council and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) Clinical Transfusion Committee. As an Assistant Professor, she is actively engaged in postgraduate clinical teaching and mentorship.
Research Synopsis
Dr. Arya’s clinical and research interests encompass a broad range of topics, including patient blood management, obstetric anemia, immunohematology, and health equity within transfusion medicine and hematology.
She is particularly focused on understanding the social determinants of health, with recent work exploring the impact of neighborhood income on postpartum anemia (PMID 39613104). Dr. Arya is experienced in working with large datasets, aiming to improve patient outcomes and address disparities in healthcare.
Selected Publications
Arya S, Akbari-Moghaddam M, Liu Y, Press E, Muraca GM, VanderMeulen H, Barrett J, Zeller MP, Hacker MR, Callum J. Anemia Near Delivery Is Prevalent, Pernicious, and Associated With Lower Neighbourhood Income: An Analysis of Over 50 000 Pregnancies. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. 2024 Feb 1;47(2):102721.
Arya S, Mahar A, Callum J, Haspel RL. Examining Injustices: Transfusion Medicine and Race. Transfusion Medicine Reviews. 2024 Jul 1;38(3):150822.
Arya S, Howell A, Vernich L, Lin Y, Pavenski K, Freedman J. Re‐evaluating treatment thresholds in patient blood management: Female patients experience more perioperative anaemia and higher transfusion rates in major elective surgery. Vox Sanguinis. 2024 Oct;119(10):1090-5.
Arya S, Xiang T, Tang GH, Pavenski K. Including the patient in patient blood management: Development and assessment of an educational animation tool. Transfusion. 2023 Aug;63(8):1488-94.
Arya S, Wilton P, Page D, Boma‐Fischer L, Floros G, Winikoff R, Teitel J, Dainty K, Sholzberg M. “They don’t really take my bleeds seriously”: Barriers to care for women with inherited bleeding disorders. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2021 Jun 1;19(6):1506-14.