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Dr. Atul Humar returns to UHN to lead the Multi-Organ Transplant Program (Photo:UHN PhotoGraphics)
 
For the newest leader of University Health Network’s Multi-Organ Transplant Program, UHN is a comfortable place to be.
 
“In many ways, it feels like I’m coming back home,” said Dr. Atul Humar, the newly appointed Medical Director of UHN’s Multi-Organ Transplant (MOT) Program, who was selected for the job following anextensive worldwide search.
 
After spending six years in Edmonton, most recently as Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta and Director of the Alberta Transplant Institute, which he established, Humar has returned to UHN.
 
The internationally recognized transplant infectious disease expert received his medical degree from the University of Ottawa and completed training in Infectious Diseases and Transplantation in Toronto and Boston.
 
“My ties with UHN began in 1995 when I trained as the first infectious disease fellow in the MOT program,” Humar said.
 
They were on to something…
 
During an impromptu hallway-meeting, Dr. Gary Levy, his “transplant mentor” and then MOT program director, suggested Humar join the transplant program.
 
Humar agreed and went on to complete a fellowship in transplant.
 
By 1999, he had a staff appointment and established MOT’s Transplant Infectious Disease program.
 
Dr. Ed Cole, UHN’s Physician-in-Chief, said Levy and Humar recognized that to be successful, the program needed infectious disease expertise.
 
“Dr. Levy and Dr. Humar realized that transplant and infectious disease was an important area for a top-noticed program,” said Cole.
 
The area of expertise is particularly important since, due to the use of medications to prevent organ rejection, transplant patients are at higher risk for severe infections.
 
Early explorer to world renowned expert
 
“Early on, I viewed transplant infectious diseases as unexplored territory.  When I started, only a handful of people around the world were looking into infectious diseases and transplant.  It has really grown as a field,” Humar said.
 
Today, Humar is at the top of the field and has played a very active role in the American Society of Transplantation, the Transplantation Society and Canadian Society of Transplantation.
 
“He has made an international impact,” Cole said. “Particularly with respect to viral infections.”
 
Bench to bedside research
Humar enjoys working on transformational initiatives that bring research into clinical practice.  And, on this front, the new director has a very close relationship with his research partner, Dr. Deepali Kumar, who is also his wife.
 
They operate a joint research lab that focuses on preventing, diagnosing and treating infectious diseases in transplant patients. The guidelines developed from their research are used in transplant centres around the world and allow patients to lead healthier, normal lives. 
 
High expectations

Humar credits Levy for building a strong foundation for the program.
 
“Currently, Toronto General’s MOT program is one of the best in the world. It is a cohesive collaborative group,” he said, noting his determination to make the program even better.
“Over the next decade, we can be the best transplant program in the world – known for innovation in transplantation research, education and the best patient care,” he said.
 
That said, he is aware that becoming the No. 1 program in the world requires investment. He’ll focus on developing fundraising for strategic initiatives such as expanding ex-vivo treatment from lungs to kidney, heart and liver to create additional viable organs for transplant and continuing to develop cellular techniques, already on their way through the Regenerative Medicine Department.
 
On a personal note
 
Former colleagues are happy to welcome back the expert physician that Levy calls a “superstar”, known at UHN for his willingness to lend expertise and his determination to achieve goals.

When not focused on work, what does the doctor do in his free time? His face lights up when asked about his kids, ages 8, 10 and 12. He says even with the exceptionally busy Humar/Kumar schedule, “somehow it just works out” with time left over to squeeze in a few Bollywood movies. 
 

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