LMP Celebration of Excellence 2026: awardees

Elizabeth Dieroff

Beth Dieroff has recently finished her second year in LMP. She is currently working in Dr. Long Nguyen’s lab, researching clonal heterogeneity and fitness in breast cancer. Going into her third year, she is looking forward to the more specialized LMP courses that focus on the mechanisms underlying different types of diseases. She is also eager to continue exploring research through the various opportunities offered by the LMP department. 

Maya Honda-Granirer

Maya Honda-Granirer is an incoming fourth-year student in the Pathobiology Specialist program and is majoring in Biochemistry. She is currently conducting research to develop and evaluate digital pain management tools with Dr. Hance Clarke’s team. She is deeply grateful for the invaluable learning and research opportunities provided by the LMP program. She looks forward to her fourth-year LMP courses and continuing to be a part of the vibrant and diverse LMP community. Beyond her undergraduate studies, Maya aims to pursue research that connects fundamental scientific insights to real-world patient care.

Charlotte Selda (pictured)

Charlotte Selda recently completed her third year in the Pathobiology Specialist Program with a major in Biochemistry. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she explored a range of research areas, including the neurobiological substrates of motivation and the long-term cognitive effects of chemotherapy agents. As she enters her fourth year, Charlotte is excited to continue exploring her scientific interests through advanced LMP courses, new research opportunities, and experiences in clinical settings. 

Logan MacDonald

Logan MacDonald has recently graduated from the Pathobiology Specialist program with an Immunology Minor. Throughout his undergraduate studies, he conducted research in Dr. Susan Done’s lab, investigating the molecular alterations that drive breast cancer progression. Building on this foundation, Logan is excited to continue his academic journey in the MD Program at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine this fall.

Cathy R. Cao

Dr. Cathy R. Cao completed her undergraduate medical studies at the McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. She is a PGY5 resident, completing her training in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology at the University of Toronto. She has a special interest in thoracic and cardiovascular pathology and spent the last year of her residency at Toronto General Hospital, where she learned from leading experts in cardiothoracic disease. She hopes to apply her skills to her upcoming fellowship training at the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service in July.

Within her residency program, Cathy is a staunch advocate for resident wellness and community. She is indebted to the support of her mentors, her peers and family and is incredibly grateful and humbled to receive the Dr. Stanley Raphael Award.

Chien-Yi Lu

Dr. Chien-Yi Lu earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto, where his research focused on the biosynthesis of platelet granules and mechanisms underlying inherited platelet disorders. He also holds a dual MSc degree from Georgia State University and China Medical University, where his research investigated antiviral compounds targeting Flaviviruses and non-antibiotic antimicrobials against Pseudomonas infections. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, he trained as a Medical Laboratory Technologist at National Cheng Kung University.

Dr. Lu is soon completing his Clinical Chemistry Fellowship. He is excited to begin his new role as a Clinical Chemist at LifeLabs.

Rajeevan Selvaratnam

Dr. Rajeevan Selvaratnam is a clinical biochemist at the University Health Network. He earned his PhD at McMaster University, where he focused on the fundamental and biophysical aspects of protein-ligand interactions using NMR spectroscopy with Dr. Giuseppe Melacini. Subsequently, he completed a clinical chemistry fellowship at the University of Minnesota, which led to clinical practice in a large community hospital setting. 

Driven by his affinity for academia and student mentorship, Dr. Selvaratnam transitioned to his current academic appointment at UHN to help train the next generation of clinical biochemists. His teaching philosophy emphasizes asking “why?” and exploring beyond the textbooks, an approach rooted in his own undergraduate years at the University of Toronto. Coming full circle, Dr. Selvaratnam is deeply honored by this recognition and dedicates the award to the students he mentors.

Phedias Diamandis

Dr. Phedias Diamandis is a Neuropathologist at the University Health Network and a Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. He completed his combined MD/PhD and residency training at the University of Toronto, where he now serves as an Associate Professor. His research program integrates chemical biology, mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and deep learning to resolve phenotype-level heterogeneity within glioblastoma niches and other neurological diseases. 

A leader in computational pathology, Dr. Diamandis focuses on the clinical translation of AI-driven diagnostic platforms to improve diagnostic objectivity and precision medicine. Through his commitment to open-science tools and high-performance computing, he aims to bridge the gap between advanced multi-omics research and real-world clinical implementation to improve management of complex brain diseases. He also runs an online education platform that aims to educate trainees and the public on concepts related to neuropathology.

Ashley Di Meo

Dr. Ashley Di Meo is a Clinical Biochemist at University Health Network, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. She completed her PhD and postdoctoral training in clinical biochemistry at the University of Toronto and serves as a Council Member of the Ontario Society of Clinical Chemists. 

Dr. Di Meo is an early-career educator who contributes to curriculum development and provides clear, clinically focused teaching. She is involved in teaching and mentoring trainees across levels, supporting their learning and development. Her research interests focus on macro-troponin interference in cardio-oncology. 

Christine Cserti-Gazdewich

Dr. Christine Cserti-Gazdewich is an Associate Medical Director of the Blood Transfusion Laboratories at University Health Network and its client sites, a clinical hematologist in the Blood Disorders Program in the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology.

Her work focuses on hemovigilance and immunohematology in transfusion and transplantation. Prior to client partnerships, she conducted research with a team at Makerere University/Mulago Hospital in Uganda, examining blood group relationships with malaria and the clinical performance of red cell transfusions in profound anemia. Recently, she has been advocating for national hemovigilance and was awarded the Ortho Award by the Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine in 2022 for contributions to transfusion medicine in Canada.

Daniel Xia

Dr. Daniel Xia has been a hematopathologist at the University Health Network and an Assistant Professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at U of T since 2017. He previously trained in Hematopathology and Molecular Genetic Pathology in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Current hematopathology classifications, particularly for leukemias, are largely driven by molecular and cytogenetic biomarkers. The integration of these with traditional bone marrow morphology and flow cytometry is not routinely taught during training. To address this, Dr. Xia introduced case-based teaching sessions for hematopathology residents and fellows at UHN, focusing on how to use cytogenetic and next-generation sequencing data from bone marrow samples in the 5th Edition World Health Organization and International Consensus Classifications. 

Ali Sakhdari

Dr. Ali Sakhdari is an American Board of Pathology–certified pathologist in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology with subspecialty certification in Hematopathology. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at University of Toronto and a consulting hematopathologist at the University Health Network, where he contributes to diagnostic service, education, research, and program development. He also serves as Co-Director of the Immunopathology Laboratory at UHN and Director of Outreach and Business Development for the Laboratory Medicine Program. 

His work focuses on lymphoma classification, hematologic neoplasms and emerging diagnostic technologies. Deeply committed to mentorship and education, Dr. Sakhdari leads teaching initiatives, collaborates internationally, and contributes extensively through publications, presentations, and funded translational research.

Anna Plotkin

Dr. Anna Plotkin completed her residency in Anatomic Pathology followed by a clinical fellowship in Gynecologic and Breast Pathology at the University of Toronto. She also holds a Master’s Equivalent in Physician Leadership from OMA/Schulich in Toronto and a Laboratory Medical Director Program from the College of American Pathologists.

An active member of several prestigious professional organizations, Dr. Plotkin serves as the Director of Continuing Professional Development at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, where she is also an Associate Professor. She has collaborated with leading global organizations, such as the WHO, to support pathologists in under-resourced regions, enhancing their expertise in laboratory medicine. She is the first pathologist awarded the Lifetime Teaching Award from the International Society of Gynecologic Cancer (IGCS). 

Davor Brinc

Dr. Davor Brinc completed his PhD and Postdoctoral Clinical Chemistry Fellowship at the University of Toronto and is certified by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. He currently serves as a Clinical Biochemist in the Laboratory Medicine Program at University Health Network and as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. 

His professional interests include point-of-care testing and quality indicators at the clinical–laboratory interface. He is actively involved in provincial and national clinical chemistry working groups, with a strong commitment to education and mentorship of clinical chemistry trainees and visiting international specialists.

Dr. Brinc receives this award for his work on LMP1203H: Basic principles of analytical clinical biochemistry, open to medical biochemistry residents, postdoctoral diploma in clinical chemistry fellows and graduate students. 

Niloofar Sina

Dr. Niloofar Sina’s journey in academic medicine began as a practicing clinical dermatologist prior to immigrating to Canada. Upon arrival, determined to return to clinical medicine, she earned her LMCC and began her path at University Health Network (UHN) and the University of Toronto, which has been her academic home ever since. 

She completed a dermatopathology fellowship at UHN under the mentorship of Dr. Ghazarian and subsequently began residency training in Anatomical Pathology, with a focus on thoracic pathology in her final year. She joined UHN directly as a dermatopathologist and thoracic pathologist in July 2025. 

Her dedication to education is reflected in weekly resident slide review sessions, initiated during her final year of residency and continued as staff. 

Dan Winer

Dr. Dan Winer is appointed in the University of Toronto Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology. He is also a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute, and an Associate Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging with adjunct affiliation to the University of Southern California. 

Dr. Winer is known as an early pioneer in three emerging fields of immunology: immunometabolism, mechanoimmunology and astroimmunology. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of a company, exploring gut microbiome metabolites in chronic diseases of aging, and co-founder of another start-up that runs medicine simulations. His work has been published in the world’s leading journals, including Nature, Cell, Cell Metabolism, Science Immunology, Nature Medicine, and Nature Reviews Immunology. 

Michael Ohh

Dr. Michael Ohh received his PhD from the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Fumio Takei and advisor Dr. Connie Eaves at the Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency. He trained as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. William G. Kaelin Jr. at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, where he made landmark contributions to our understanding of the general oxygen-sensing pathway present in all animal species throughout evolution. This discovery would lead to the recognition of his mentor W.G. Kaelin with the 2019 Nobel Prize. 

Michael is a tenured professor, graduate coordinator and Vice Chair of Education and has supervised over the past 25 years many undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows studying the role of oxygen-sensing in health and disease. He is most proud to see his trainees thrive in life and establishing their own academic enterprises at world-class institutions around the world.

Susan Done

Dr. Susan J. Done completed her medical training at Cambridge University and then moved to Canada, where she is currently a Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. She is a breast pathologist at the University Health Network and a member of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Research Institute. Her research is focused on breast cancer intratumoural heterogeneity, circulating tumour markers and early events in invasion and metastasis.

For the past 8 years, she has been the Program Director of the Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology Residency Program at the University of Toronto. In this role, she has had the joy and privilege to see young pathologists develop and go out into independent practice.

Jeff Lee

Dr. Jeff Lee completed his undergraduate studies in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia. He then pursued graduate studies with Dr. P. Lynne Howell at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. 

In 2010, Jeff returned to the University of Toronto to establish his laboratory in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. His research examines the molecular mechanisms by which viral and cellular fusogens mediate membrane fusion, with particular emphasis on sperm–egg interaction and viral entry. 

In 2019, he became Program Director of the LMP SURE program and Co-Undergraduate Coordinator of the Pathobiology Specialist program.In these roles, he has made significant contributions to undergraduate education through curriculum development, mentorship, and experiential learning initiatives that connect students with research, career exploration and personalized learning opportunities.