Congratulations to Annabel Fonesca, (L), and Chelsey McFarland on receiving the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) Provincial Donation Champion Award. An accolade from Ontario Health, it recognizes outstanding dedication, contributions and advocacy for organ and tissue donation.
Annabel, an administrative assistant at UHN who works collaboratively with TLGN, has been essential in streamlining electronic medical record processes and ensuring clear, timely communications across internal teams, external partners and stakeholders. Her work has fostered an informed and collaborative environment that allows staff to work more effectively and improve quality of care.
Chelsey is a registered nurse and clinical facilitator for critical care students in the Medical Surgical/Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (MSNICU) at UHN's Toronto Western Hospital. (TWH). She has gone above and beyond in educating students, patients, caregivers and fellow colleagues about organ and tissue donation with TGLN. Her passion and initiative have made a significant impact on the success of the program at TWH.
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this year's 22nd annual Oncology Nursing Day Awards at UHN, which highlighted the achievements, research and leadership of dedicated oncology nurses.
The theme for 2025 — "Striving for Summit – Empowering Oncology Nurses towards Excellence" —celebrated oncology nurses across Canada, including the more than 700 at UHN.
"Striving for the Summit towards excellence in oncology nursing means each nurse needs to be surrounded by a supportive interprofessional team, as well as by leaders and compassionate colleagues and friends, to thrive," said Anet Julius, Director of Professional Practice at Princess Margaret. "We are fortunate to be a member of a very supportive team here at UHN."
Oncology Nursing Day was established to celebrate the incredible role oncology nurses play, providing exceptional patient care, leadership and research. Oncology nurses participate in patients' cancer journeys, from treatment, symptom management to end-of-life care and/or survivorship.
Congratulations to this year's winners:
- Jasica Theobald, Ambulatory Clinics, Tahnia Tejani, 17A Inpatient Solid Tumour/Radiation, and Kalique Dzidah, Malignant Hematology Day Unit (MHDU), who won the "Rising Star Oncology Nursing Award," a prize for new nurses who contribute to excellence in nursing and enhance patient experience through patient-centred care.
- Samantha Scime, Clinical Nurse Specialist Adolescent & Young Adult Program, who won the "Michael Kamin Hart Award for Excellence in AYA Cancer Care." The family of Michael, who died from lymphoma as a young adult, supported the establishment of the AYA Program in 2013, and generously fund this award.
- Kezia Rafique, Thoracic/Sarcoma Ambulatory Clinics, Hailey Vlahos, Thoracic/Sarcoma Ambulatory Clinics, and Daiva Didzabalis, Malignant Hematology Day Unit, who won the "80/20 Professional Development Projects Award." The award provides financial support to a staff nurse to undertake a nursing practice-based initiative that focuses on improving patient/family outcomes and/or creating a quality work environment.
- Miguel Lobo, 15A Inpatient Malignant Hematology Unit, and Jason Hu, Nursing Resource Unit, who won the "Award of Excellence in Nursing Preceptorship, Mentorship, and Teaching." The award recognizes an outstanding contribution to the overall growth, development, and education of nurses and/or nursing students in oncology through preceptorship, mentorship, or teaching.
- Christy Manuel, Clinical Coordinator, Leukemia, Yun-Jin (Judy) Kwon, Malignant Hematology Day Unit, Nadine Affar, Malignant Hematology Ambulatory Clinics, and Meagan Franchetto, Clinical Research Coordinator III, who won the "Lisa Herschorn Nursing Scholarship Award." The award was introduced last year by friends and family of the late Lisa Herschorn, a patient at the cancer centre who greatly appreciated the nursing staff. The award provides financial support to nurses who aim to advance their education and who demonstrate caring, compassion and leadership.
- Nancy Gregorio, Breast/Melanoma Ambulatory Clinics, and Yannan (Bay) Cai, 15B Inpatient, Malignant Hematology, who received the "Rose Dean Essence of Oncology Nursing Award," in recognition of an outstanding contribution to nursing within the cancer program aligned with the "best of nursing" themes. Those themes are: the power of the presence of nursing; the use of knowledge in providing excellent practice; and the ability to create and foster an environment that enables nurses to be their best.
- The "Outstanding Oncology Nursing Team Award" went to new hires at 15B Malignant Hematology/Autologous transplant/ Cellular Therapy: Camryn Nickson; Kevin Alesna; Carolyn Lee; Carla Yang; Emily Srebot; Roberta Liti.
Read more about UHN Oncology Nurses' remarkable achievement in Oncology Nursing Research and Scholarship, Accomplishments from 2023-2024.
Congratulations to TeamUHN members at Toronto Western Hospital who have been named Hidden Heroes during April, which includes Be A Donor Month, National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week and Green Shirt Day.
The award recognizes individuals who work behind-the-scenes to support organ and tissue donation and transplantation. They are nominated and selected by hospital staff and receive a certificate of appreciation.
This year's winners, who come from multiple disciplines and areas of the hospital, are:
- Loraine Frances, registered respiratory therapist
- Rick Neves, registered nurse
- Francisco Nolasco, patient support worker
- Kyung Park, staff clinical pharmacist
- Dr. Irene Telias, clinician scientist — staff intensivist
Congratulations to Dr. Gang Zheng, a Senior Scientist at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, on being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Founded in England in 1848, the Royal Society of Chemistry remains a world-leading organization that recognizes the highest level of accomplishment in the field of chemistry.
Congratulations to Dr. Philippe Bedard, a clinician investigator at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, on receiving the 2025 European Society of Medical Oncology Targeted Anticancer Therapies (ESMO TAT) Honorary Award.
The award, established in the early 1990s, is in recognition of his contributions to advancing targeted anticancer therapies. It was presented at the annual ESMO TAT Congress in March.
The award is in recognition of his contributions to advancing targeted anticancer therapies.
Renowned for his leadership and research excellence in early-phase clinical trials with novel cancer drug treatments, including immunotherapy and personalized medicine, Dr. Bedard's work has been key in bringing innovative therapies to patients.
