LMP Celebration of Excellence 2025: awardees

Ana Lehmann 

Ana Lehmann has recently finished her second year in the Pathobiology Specialist Program with a major in Physiology. She is an Arts & Science Internship Program member and is currently exploring opportunities to apply her learning to hands-on experience. As her third year draws closer, Ana is excited to dive into more specialized LMP courses and integrate that knowledge with other specialized life science courses outside of the department to contribute to research. 

Charlotte Selda  

Charlotte Selda has recently completed her second year of study in the Pathobiology Specialist Program, with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Immunology. Her research journey began in neurobiology, where she investigated the substrates of opioid motivation. She is currently working in Dr. Brian Nieman’s lab, studying the long-term effects of chemotherapy on brain structure and behaviour in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  As she enters her third year, Charlotte looks forward to exploring more specialized LMP courses and expanding her research experience within the department. 

Ashley Bhang

Ashley Bhang recently finished her third year in the Pathobiology Specialist Program. She is currently a summer student in the lab of Drs. Golnaz Karoubi and Tom Waddell, studying mechanotransduction during stem cell differentiation into distal lung epithelium. Going into her fourth year, Ashley is excited to continue learning from her professors, mentors, and peers in LMP. She looks forward to exploring diverse areas of research and pursuing her own scientific interests. 

Patrick Wang

Patrick is entering his final year of study in the Pathobiology Specialist Program with a major in Immunology. Over the past year, he has been involved with research investigating a mechanism of chemotherapeutic resistance in lung adenocarcinoma - moving into the summer, Patrick is excited to further apply what he’s learned to studying pathways driving multiple myeloma progression as well. Beyond that, Patrick is excited to learn even more about cancer biology in his fourth year courses in addition to further developing his understanding of cancer and oncological research. 

Find out more about Patrick in our Humans of LMP!

Christopher Situ

Christopher Situ recently completed his third year in the Pathobiology Specialist Program and a Neuroscience Major, where he enjoyed exploring the diverse mechanisms underlying human health and disease. Over the summer, he will continue his research on alpha-synuclein strain formation under the supervision of Dr. Joel Watts. In the fall, he will begin medical school at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, where he looks forward to engaging in novel clinical research opportunities and expanding his understanding of translational medicine.

Eric Kim

Eric recently graduated from the Pathobiology Specialist Program with an Immunology minor and actively participated in multiple research projects. At UHN, he worked in Dr. Shinichiro Ogawa's lab investigating the effects of cryopreservation on liver organoids for optimal cell therapy storage. At SickKids, he worked in Dr. Cynthia Hawkins' lab exploring the immune microenvironment of Diffuse Midline Glioma to identify potential therapeutic targets. Eric's time at university was shaped by his meaningful experiences in the LMP community, which he greatly valued. 

Aaron Chan

Aaron Chan recently completed his undergraduate studies in the Pathobiology Specialist Program. He has had the privilege of working in Dr. Jeffrey Lee’s laboratory where he contributed to the development of nanobodies as a non-hormonal contraceptive. Aaron is grateful to have been a part of LMP and to have grown alongside such a wonderful group of classmates. He is thankful to have shared this journey with them and is excited to see what the future holds for himself and his fellow graduates. 

Daniel Schlam Rozanes

Dr. Daniel Schlam Rozanes is a University of Toronto medical graduate and a PGY5 resident in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology. He has a special interest in the molecular basis of pediatric disease and spent his last year of residency at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), where he was exposed to world-renowned pediatric pathology and leading-edge molecular tools driving precision medicine. Prior to medical school, he completed a PhD at SickKids, focusing on fundamental cell biological processes that govern phagocyte immunity, with a special emphasis on rare diseases such as chronic granulomatous disease and cystic fibrosis.

Daniel is a strong believer in balance, healthy professional relations, and looking out for one another. He is profoundly grateful and humbled to receive the Dr. Stanley Raphael Award.

Mary Kathryn Bohn

Dr. Mary Kathryn Bohn completed her undergraduate degree in Integrated Science with a specialization in Biochemistry at McMaster University. She then obtained her PhD in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto where her research focused on improving interpretation of biomarkers of health and disease in pediatrics and pregnancy.

Dr. Bohn is soon completing the Clinical Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellowship. She is excited to begin her position as a clinical biochemist at Unity Health Toronto this summer.

Paul Hamel

Dr. Paul Hamel earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto in 1986 after completing his BSc at the University of Ottawa and is a Professor in LMP.

His research previously focused on the Hedgehog signaling pathway, particularly its role in mammary gland development and cancer. Currently, his lab focusses on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)/Intellectual Disability (ID)-associated protein, PtchD1. Paul teaches the LMP Pathobiology of Cancer course in collaboration with Dr. George Charames. Paul is also engaged in a number of global health research, program development, and teaching initiatives, including teaching global health courses in the Human Biology Program in the Faculty of Arts & Science and in the Public Health/Health Studies Program at University College.

Anjelica Hodgson

Dr. Anjelica Hodgson, originally from Ottawa, Ontario, is a Gynecologic Pathologist at University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the University of Toronto’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. She completed her pathology training at the University of Toronto affiliated hospitals and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Her practice covers the full spectrum of oncologic gynecologic pathology, and she participates in all levels of medical education. Her academic work is primarily focused on classification and prognostic of cervical adenocarcinomas and she is an expert author on this topic in the upcoming 6th edition book from the World Health Organization on the Classification of Female Genital Tract Tumours.

Stephen Smith

Dr. Stephen Smith presently serves as a staff Endocrine, Head & Neck and Dermatopathologist at Toronto General Hospital (University Health Network) while holding an appointment as an Assistant Professor in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Smith is a U.S.-born and trained physician, completing his training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He is fellowship-trained in Endocrine, Head & Neck Pathology at Yale University under Dr. Manju Prasad; and in Dermatopathology at The Ohio State University under Dr. Sara Peters. Dr. Smith holds board certification from the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology as well as Dermatopathology.

He maintains research interests in understanding diagnostic errors in surgical pathology, as well as in biomarker identification in dermatopathology, otolaryngologic and endocrine pathology. He extends his gratitude to the wonderful trainees who have nominated him and looks forward to continuing his career in training future pathologists.

Ozgur Mete

Dr. Ozgur Mete is a Senior Consultant Endocrine Pathologist at the University Health Network and Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. He completed medical school and pathology residency at Istanbul University, followed by fellowship training in endocrine pathology at the University of Toronto.

His research focuses on translating basic discoveries into clinical biomarkers for endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors, with additional interests in digital pathology, personalized medicine, and education. Dr. Mete has published extensively, co-editing five textbooks and contributing to over 250 peer-reviewed articles. He is Editor-in-Chief of Endocrine Pathology, a former President of the Endocrine Pathology Society, and a WHO expert editor for multiple tumor classification bluebooks.

Jan Delabie

Dr. Jan Delabie received his medical degree and completed his PhD from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He was a visiting professor at the Center for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo from 2013- 2018. He has been involved with 261 publications.

As a hematopathologist, his main interest is lymphoma in general. He has supervised five PhD students and co-supervised another five PhD students in the area of lymphoma. His most current interests are cold agglutinin disease and integrative data analysis in lymphoma.

Ilan Weinreb

Dr. Ilan Weinreb is Division Head of Anatomical Pathology at UHN and Associate Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. Dr. Weinreb has attained a sustained national and international reputation for his exemplary professional practice in head and neck pathology. He has made significant contributions to defining new diagnostic entities, especially of the salivary gland that are of clinical significance and developing a new salivary gland tumour classification based on histomorphology and molecular biomarker assays, which have led to changes in practice across Canada and internationally. He is also advancing the practice and discipline through his educational activities at the local, national, and international level.

Michael Seidman

Dr. Michael Seidman is a cardiovascular, autopsy, and rheumatologic pathologist, currently practicing at University Health Network. He is engaged in diverse clinical, administrative, research, and teaching endeavours.

His teaching specifically includes marked engagement in the graduate program, MHSc in Laboratory Medicine, for Pathologists’ Assistants and Clinical Embryology, and in the Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology residency program. He oversees the medical autopsy rotations and is involved in the lab quality management curriculum in both programs. In the MHSc program, he worked from the strong base established by Dr. Scot Hamilton to evolve a course curriculum aimed at preparing our LMP learners to be managers and leaders in any future endeavors.

Linda Kocovski

Dr. Kocovski completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Honours (MBBS – Medical Degree) at the University of Sydney in 2009 and an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc), with Distinction in Forensic Science and Anthropology at the University of Toronto in 2003. She completed her postgraduate training at McMaster University in General Pathology and then Forensic Pathology in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Dr. Kocovski has worked as a forensic pathologist with the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service since 2017 (Hamilton Regional Forensic Pathology unit 2017-2019, and Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit in Toronto 2020-present). She was also the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Program Director for the Forensic Pathology Subspecialty Training Program in Hamilton from 2018-2019 and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at McMaster University.

She currently holds additional university faculty appointed positions with the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, and Northern Ontario School of Medicine University. She currently oversees the provision of medicolegal autopsy services in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She has served as the site supervisor for pathology residents and medical students at the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit in Toronto since 2023.

Gabor Kovacs

Dr. Gabor G. Kovacs (MD, PhD) is Professor of Neuropathology and Neurology at the University of Toronto. He is Consultant Neuropathologist and Neurologist at the University Health Network (UHN) and a Principal Investigator at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease. Dr. Kovacs holds the Rossy Chair in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) Research at UHN and is the Co-Director of the Rossy Program for PSP Research.

Dr. Kovacs is a board-certified neurologist and neuropathologist and received a PhD in Neuroscience. His major research interest is the neuropathology of neurodegenerative diseases to identify early biomarkers and therapy targets. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and edited three books on Neuropathology including the recent edition of Greenfield’s Neuropathology.

Stephan Ong Tone

Dr. Stephan Ong Tone is an early career researcher and clinician scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Sunnybrook Research Institute, and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences and Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. He is also Associate Graduate Faculty in Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology.

He completed his BSc, MD, and PhD in Neurological Sciences at McGill University, followed by residency training in Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto and a Cornea and External Diseases fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Ong Tone specializes in diseases and surgery of the cornea, anterior segment, and cataracts. His research program builds on his success in conducting state-of-the-art basic science, translational, and clinical research, coupled with his specialized surgical expertise. This has allowed him to identify knowledge gaps in the care of individuals affected by corneal diseases, propose strategies to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms leading to corneal dysfunction, develop novel therapeutics aimed at preventing disease progression, and improving surgical outcomes.

He has made significant contributions in characterizing corneal endothelial cell migration during corneal regeneration, and its importance for a novel surgical technique called Descemet’s Stripping Only. His research bridges clinical ophthalmology and translational science to advance patient care in vision-related diseases such as Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

He is emerging as a world leader in corneal diseases and has been recently selected for a 2025 Ontario Early Researcher Award.

Find out more about Stephan in our Humans of LMP!

Fang-I Lu 

Dr. Fang-I Lu is a pathologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. She is honored and humbled for being the recipient of this year’s LMP Leadership Acknowledgment Award for her role as the program co-director for the University of Toronto’s Master of Health Science in Laboratory Medicine - Pathologists’ Assistant field.

In this role, she successfully led the program to be granted full accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Several current and former Pathologists’ Assistant students won prestigious research awards at national and international meetings and hold leadership positions at local and national Pathologists’ Assistant organizations.

Dr. Lu would like to thank all current and former program leaders, faculty members, administrative staff and students for making this program a success. She looks forward to further developing the Pathologists’ Assistant community in LMP and beyond through impactful education, innovative research and mentorship.

Avrum Gotlieb

Professor Gotlieb is grateful to McGill University and the University of California San Diego for the inspiring training he received in Pathology and in fundamental biomedical research. For the past 49 years the University of Toronto has provided him with incredible opportunities to create and grow the academic mission in Pathology focusing on Pathobiology and on teaching of, and research in, mechanisms of disease.

He was fortunate to work with and mentor exceptional students whose curiosity and hard work challenged the boundaries of pathobiology. He met and worked with talented and motivated educators, researchers and administrators in championing innovation and excellence at LMP, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, the University of Toronto and the scientific and professional societies and journals he volunteered at and, in some cases, created and led, both international US based societies and Canadian societies.

The future is bright for those who stay the course and lead the faculty with clarity of vision and purpose to promote merit-based excellence in our biomedical community and pursue our core academic mission to understand the fundamental principles of wellness (biology) and disease (pathobiology) to deliver successful health care.