LMP announces record number of promotions for 2021
A record number of 12 members of our department have received approval for promotion effective July 1, 2021.
These promotions are richly deserved and a testament to their significant academic contributions and their impact. If you see them in the hall (or on Zoom), please congratulate them.
We would like to acknowledge the Promotions Committee for the work they did in supporting our faculty during this process: Cathy Streutker, Sharon Nofech-Mozes, Hong Chang, Harry Elsholtz, Barry Hoffman, Julia Keith, Richard Kirsch, Michael Pollanen, Susan Poutanen, Margaret Rand, Janice Robertson, Joan Sweet and LMP admin staff, Patricia Cayetano and Xilonem Lopez.
Congratulations to all!
Promotion to Professor
Kevin Katz
North York General Hospital/ Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Katz is celebrated for his sustained scholarly contributions in infection prevention and control, and preventing emergence of drug-resistant strains of organisms and nosocomial spread through his collaborative research program that has changed practice.
His leadership roles in public health organizations have contributed to the advancement of IPAC (infection prevention and control) practices that have been cited by international organizations and foreign governments.
Karim Mekhail
St. George Campus
Dr. Mekhail is an internationally recognized expert on spatial genome organization and its effects on human health and disease.
His seminal research papers have identified key players that remodel the three-dimensional genome in order to mediate fundamental processes including gene expression, DNA repair, and global protein synthesis.
His groundbreaking research has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature and Nature Communications and supported by excellent, sustained funding.
Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Dr. Schmitt-Ulms is distinguished as an international expert in Alzheimer’s disease, prion disorders, and related dementias.
His innovative work, which is supported by 67 career peer-reviewed publications and excellent, sustained funding, leads us closer to identifying therapeutic strategies to mitigate these neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, Dr. Schmitt-Ulms has adopted multidisciplinary, cutting-edge approaches and models, and his expertise is highly sought by prominent neurodegenerative researchers.
Catherine Streutker
Unity Health Toronto
Dr. Streutker is renowned as an international expert in the diagnosis of the pathology of gastrointestinal diseases with an emphasis on upper gastrointestinal tract malignancies.
She has developed expertise in the assessment of pathology specimens that have come from cutting-edge endoscopy procedures, such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection, ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration, and sponge cytology of the esophagus.
She has also had a sustained leadership role in HER2/neu testing in gastroesophageal cancers, leading to invitations to participate in international guideline committees.
Her scholarly activities, supported by a career total 120 peer-reviewed publications, are complemented by a translational research program in gastric carcinoma, as well as an interest in the histology of animal models of GI disease.
Promotion to Associate Professor
Jayantha Herath
Ontario Forensic Pathology Service
Dr. Herath has made significant contributions in strengthening Forensic Pathology as an academic discipline in Canada.
He is celebrated for being a leader and innovator in the development of the first national competency-based curriculum in Forensic Pathology and for enhancing interprofessional education for many end-users including lawmakers and police forces.
His excellent scholarly contributions in quality assurance also contributed to his reputation as an expert Forensic Pathologist.
Sonya MacParland
Toronto General Research Institute
Dr. MacParland is recognized for her innovative research program focused on translating fundamental knowledge about the immunobiology of the liver into clinical applications. She has developed a unique approach: studying the liver using advanced genomics and nanotechnology.
She has also made significant contributions to our understanding of the immunological basis of liver diseases that have been published in leading journals.
Additionally, she has studied nanoparticle uptake by liver cells with the intention to utilize this characteristic to restore the immune response against liver tumours, and to slow or reverse ongoing liver damage. Dr. MacParland’s expertise led to fruitful collaborations with multidisciplinary teams at national and international levels.
Jacob Pendergrast
University Health Network
Dr. Pendergrast has made exceptional contributions in teaching and curriculum development at the undergraduate, post-graduate, and continuing medical education level.
His innovative endeavors in developing new curricula and resources have improved education and practice in hematology and transfusion medicine with far-reaching impact.
His advocacy work supporting equitable access to healthcare for patients with thalassemia and sickle cell disease has also led to changes in practice.
Anna Plotkin
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Plotkin has made outstanding contributions to the development of professional practice in gynecologic pathology, with national and international impact.
Notably, she initiated and developed international educational modules and created opportunities to improve gynaecology pathologic diagnoses and engage local pathologists in many countries through her work with national and international organizations such as the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, American Eurasian Cancer Alliance, and Canadian Association of Pathologists.
Her local educational initiatives in undergraduate, post-graduate, and continuing medical education has also received considerable attention.
Marjan Rouzbahman
University Health Network
Dr. Rouzbahman has attained a national reputation, and growing international reputation, for her exemplary professional practice in gynecologic pathology.
She has developed expertise in two rare areas of gynecologic malignancies – classification of uterine mesenchymal neoplasms and non-Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) associated cervical adenocarcinoma.
Her significant contributions to the standardization of diagnostic criteria and classification of rare gynecologic malignancies based on histomorphology and ancillary molecular biomarker assays have led to changes in clinical practice.
Adam Shlien
Hospital for Sick Children/ SickKids Research Institute
Dr. Shlien is an accomplished translational researcher. His breadth of knowledge in bioinformatics, genomics, and translational genomics led to groundbreaking research in understanding the genetics of paediatric cancers, such as osteosarcoma, has earned him international recognition.
He has successfully translated his research discoveries into new diagnostic modalities that have significant clinical implications in the diagnosis, and treatment of childhood cancers.
His work has been published in the highest-ranking journals, and presented in top international meetings and institutions. His research contributions are widely acknowledged as significant given his invitations to participate in international think tanks.
Elzbieta Slodkowska
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Slodkowska has rapidly established herself as a prominent national expert and leading educator in breast pathology and immunohistochemistry.
She has made significant contributions in standardizing breast cancer pathology reporting and her expertise in breast biomarker testing has contributed to the advancement of professional practice. In turn, her growing expertise led to invitations to serve on international breast cancer committees.
Hoon-Ki Sung
SickKids Research Institute
Dr. Sung is a rising leading investigator. The innovative nature of his work has already had a major impact on the field of obesity.
He has built an independent and growing research program focusing on the role of adipose tissue in modulating metabolic homeostasis and understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying intermittent fasting (IF)-mediated metabolic benefits, and prevention of high-fat diet-associated obesity.
His successful research program is indicated by excellent, sustained peer-reviewed funding and a strong publication record in leading journals that has received considerable attention in the scientific community.