LMP faculty members recognized with 2026 Dean’s Alumni Awards
Two faculty members in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology have been named recipients of the 2026 Dean’s Alumni Awards from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
- Dr. Michael Pollanen received the Humanitarian Award in recognition of his international impact in forensic pathology, human rights, justice and global health.
- Dr. Daniel Beriault received the Emerging Leader Award for his work advancing laboratory medicine, public health responses to the opioid crisis, laboratory test utilization and evidence-based practice.
The Dean’s Alumni Awards honour outstanding members of the Temerty Medicine alumni community whose work advances human health through excellence in clinical care, research and education.
Read the full Temerty Medicine story to learn more about this year’s recipients.
Dr. Daniel Beriault: Emerging Leader Award
Dr. Daniel Beriault (who completed our Postdoctoral Diploma Program in Clinical Chemistry in 2016) is a nationally recognized clinical biochemist whose innovative work is transforming laboratory medicine and public health responses to the opioid crisis.
As co-founder of Toronto’s Drug Checking Service and Dosecheck, he has played a key role in implementing point-of-use technologies that allow for rapid analysis of substances which helps to reduce overdose risk and inform policy decisions.
Beriault is currently the Division Head of Biochemistry for all Unity Health Toronto sites, as well as a leader in laboratory test utilization and guideline development who works with initiatives such as Choosing Wisely Canada to promote evidence-based practices. Through his significant scholarly contributions and commitment to advancing care for our most vulnerable populations, Beriault stands out as a national leader in his field.
Dr. Michael Pollanen: Humanitarian Award
Dr. Michael Pollanen is an internationally respected forensic pathologist whose career has been devoted to advancing human rights, justice and global health. He completed his PhD at U of T in 1995 and an MD in 1999).
He is the Chief Forensic Pathologist (CFP) and a Deputy Chief Coroner for Ontario, as well as a U of T professor of laboratory medicine and pathobiology.
He has worked with international organizations on inquiries into torture, deaths in custody and mass atrocities in more than twenty countries and has participated in extensive volunteer forensic missions.
He founded the G. Raymond Chang Forensic Pathology Fellowship at U of T, a global training initiative that builds local expertise and capacity in underserved regions, which has catalyzed other related advocacy and research. Pollanen’s humanitarian impact is exceptional in scope, depth and sustainability and extends far beyond his formal academic and clinical roles.
