Congratulations to Terra Ierasts, Director, Performance Improvement & Excellence with UHN Data & Analytics, on being named one of the Top 50 Data & Analytics Professional Award winners at the 2025 OnCon Icon Awards.
Finalists were voted on by peers and members of the public to determine the winners with the following criteria:
- Made a considerable impact on their organization and/or previous organizations;
- Made strong contributions to their professional community through thought leadership;
- Innovate in their role/career;
- Exhibit exceptional leadership
The awards were presented virtually at OnCon 2025 on April 29.
Congratulations to Dr. Michael Patlas, a radiologist within UHN's Joint Department of Medical Imaging, and a professor and the Chair of the Department of Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, on being awarded a Gold Medal Award from the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR).
This accolade, CAR's highest honour, is bestowed upon long-standing members who have made significant contributions to the association and the field of radiology in Canada.
Dr. Patlas is an internationally acclaimed radiologist and researcher, with an impressive portfolio of more than 240 peer-reviewed papers, editorials, and book chapters. His influential paper, "The Clinical Importance of Visceral Adiposity: a Critical Review of Methods for Visceral Adipose Tissue Analysis," has been cited more than 1,090 times, underscoring his impact on the medical community.
Throughout his career, he has mentored numerous trainees, fostering the next generation of radiologists with his expertise and guidance. His dedication to the profession and mentorship have left a lasting legacy, inspiring many to pursue excellence in radiology.
This recognition celebrates Patlas' outstanding achievements and his unwavering commitment to advancing radiology at UHN and in Canada.
Congratulations to Barbara Bailey, a nurse practitioner with the Toronto Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at UHN's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and President of the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario (NPAO), on receiving the Mae Gallant Leadership Excellence Award in Cardiovascular Nursing.
Barbara's journey as a nurse practitioner is defined by a deep commitment to evidence-based practice. Through groundbreaking research, publications in high-impact journals, and presentations on national and international stages, she has helped advance cardiovascular nursing. Her work in creating innovative patient education initiatives has also had a direct impact on improving outcomes, empowering patients and teams alike.
But Barbara's impact goes far beyond clinical expertise. As a mentor and preceptor, she has guided countless nurse practitioner students, sharing knowledge and compassion in equal measure. Her role as an adjunct clinical faculty member at the University of Toronto is a true testament to her passion in nurturing future leaders in cardiovascular care.
Within multidisciplinary teams, Barbara fosters collaboration with intention and purpose. She has co-chaired key committees, led quality and safety rounds, and now leads the NPAO. Her work with the Heart and Stroke Structural Heart Disease Council further underscores a commitment to driving change across the profession.
This nomination for the Mae Gallant Leadership Excellence Award is more than recognition — it's a reflection of what happens when leadership lifts others, when research meets practice, and when teamwork becomes the foundation for lasting impact.
Congratulations to members of TeamUHN who were honoured at the 2025 Annual Nursing & Health Professions Staff Scholarships & Awards, presented by UHN Foundation.
The event, held during Nursing Week at the Windsor Arms Hotel, acknowledged 32 awards and 42 recipients, all made possible by incredible donor support.
"UHN's mandate has always been to put patients first, and provide a foundation for excellence in patient care, research and education," Pam Hubley, UHN's Vice President, Health Disciplines & Chief Nursing Executive, told the audience. "These awards ensure we have infrastructure to support nurses to learn, grow and develop their careers and also recognize their amazing accomplishments."
At the event, 27 award recipients, along with their donor, were formally recognized:
- Danica Ly, The Alumnae Association of the School of Nursing TGH Scholarship for Excellence at TGH; Established by the Toronto General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association.
- Judith (Judy) Cerovski, The Michael R. Applin Nursing Award; Established by Anne-Marie, Stephanie and Kate Applin, family and friends in celebration of the life of Michael R. Applin.
- Ian Jefferson Alagadan, Associated Medical Services Recognition Award for Nursing Exemplary End of Life Care; Established to recognize excellence in professional practice and compassionate end-of-life care for patients.
- Pelageya Grebneva, Elizabeth S. Barford Education Award for Neuroscience Nursing; Established by the Ralph M. Barford Foundation.
- Archna Patel, Thomas J. Bell Scholarship for Nurses Demonstrating Excellence in Palliativeor End-of-life Care; Established in honour of Thomas J. Bell.
- Jenna Kahn, Bennett Nursing Scholarship; Established to recognize excellence in care at Toronto Rehab.
- Tenzin Bhuti, Bennett Emerging Nursing Leaders Award; Established to recognize excellence in care at Toronto Rehab.
- Rebecca Yuen Ting Law, Orma L. Benson Memorial Scholarship; Established by Donna Creates.
- Olivia Howe, Bolton Nursing Scholarship; Established by Thomas G. Bolton.
- Janice Lin, Janine Boston Award for Nursing Excellence; Established by UHN in celebration of the life of Janine Boston, a dedicated nurse and clinical educator at UHN, and supported by the generosity of various donors.
- Pei Xuan (Rachel) Chen, Kathleen Butcher Scholarship; Established by Brian Start.
- Megan Smith, Yau-Fong Cheung Scholarship; Established in 1989 by Mr. King-Hong and Mrs. Stella Cheung.
- Tamar Telliyan, Frances Falconer Nursing Scholarship; Established by Eileen Mercier in honour of her mother, Frances Falconer.
- Chantel Lutchman, Mary Ferguson-Paré Prize for Innovation in Nursing; Established by Dr. Mary Ferguson-Paré and the generosity of colleagues, friends and various donors.
- Kateryna Metersky, Mary Ferguson-Paré Research Award for Nursing; Established by Dr. Mary Ferguson-Paré and the generosity of colleagues, friends and various donors.
- Narges Moradi & Judith (Judy) Cerovski, The Marvin Gerstein Award; Established by The Frank Gerstein Charitable Foundation.
- Amanda Moreira, Evelyn Hall Education Award; Supported by Evelyn Robertson, the Associated Medical Services and the generosity of various donors.
- Ilham Elias, Marianne Johnston Scholarship; Established in honour of Marianne Johnston.
- Narges Moradi & Celeste de Peiza, Lichtblau Nursing Scholarship; Established by the Saul & Fela Lichtblau family.
- Tenzin Bhuti, Tecla Lin Nursing Award; Established in memory of Tecla-Lai Yin Lin, a dedicated and highly skilled registered nurse, who worked in the Complex Continuing Care program at the Toronto Rehab.
- Narges Moradi, Yoko Xu, Alysha Geauvreau & Celeste de Peiza, John Locke Churchill Scholarship; Established by John & Anne Clark.
- Alexandra Sobczak, John Maddigan Nursing Award; Established in 2019 to honour the memory of John Maddigan.
- Sukhdip Grewal, MSA Award for Excellence; Established to recognize a nurse or allied health professional who is focused on higher education in interprofessional care/collaboration.
- Chantal Shay Wiggins McKinnon, Dr. Marie Louise Murphy Medical Education Award; In celebration of the life of Dr. Marie Louise Murphy.
- Tina Cheung, Jennifer Hou, Sarah Marchewka & Summaiya Mankrod, Nursing & Professional Services Staff Scholarship; Supported by the generosity of various donors.
- Marilia Dsouza, Ginat Shleifer Scholarship for New Graduates; Established by UHN in celebration of the life of Ginat Shleifer, a nursing student who worked in the Emergency Department at Toronto General Hospital, and supported by the generosity of the Shleifer family.
- Licinia (Lucy) Simoes, The Jill Smirnis Award for Outstanding Patient Care in Emergency Service; Established by the Jill Smirnis Foundation in memory of Jill Smirnis.
- Joy Ann Patrice & Dela Luna, The Jill Smirnis Award for Excellence in Cardiology Nursing; Established by the Jill Smirnis Foundation in memory of Jill Smirnis.
- Julie Yip & Christine Dumbrique, Ilse Tacoma Nursing Award Scholarship; Established by UHN in honour of Ilse Tacoma. Supported by Ilse Tacoma, Ilse Verwey and the generosity of various donors.
- Celeste de Peiza, BD Lori Taylor Quality Improvement Nursing Fellowship Award; This scholarship was established in recognition of Lori Taylor, upon her retirement in 2023 after 44 years of employment with UHN.
- Anthea Chironda, Cathy Valenti Nursing Award; Established in 2020 by the Valenti family in honour of Cathy Valenti.
- Karen Tjew, Betty Watt Endowment Award; Supported by the generosity of various donors.
Earlier in May, UHN proudly celebrated National Nursing Week — an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary dedication, compassion and expertise UHN nurses bring to their work every day.
Marking the occasion, Hospital News announced recipients of this year's Nursing Hero Awards. Among them were five outstanding individuals and teams from UHN, selected from 220 nominations across Canada. Their achievements highlight the profound impact nurses have on patients, families, and colleagues.
Winners and honourable mentions from UHN are:
First Place Winner: Aideen Carroll, Advanced Practice Nurse Educator, UHN Centre for Mental Health: Aideen has transformed mental health nursing at UHN through visionary leadership, unshakeable advocacy and a passion for education. She launched the Mental Health Nursing Certification program and helped embed mental health training into UHN's clinical staff orientation — advancing the integration of mental and physical health care in practice.
Second Place Winner, Yannan (Bay) Cai, RN, 15B, UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre: Globally trained and fluent in Mandarin, Arabic and English, Bay brings a rare blend of clinical excellence, cultural sensitivity and calm leadership to every aspect of her work. She models therapeutic communication and practices trauma-informed care, earning the admiration of colleagues and the trust of patients.
Honourable Mentions:
Susan Wang, RN, UHN's West Park Healthcare Centre: For more than 19 years, Susan has exemplified the highest standards of nursing through her unwavering commitment to patient care, her quiet acts of generosity that uplift her team and her leadership within the Long-Term Ventilation program. She transcends the ordinary, leaving an indelible mark on patients, families and colleagues alike.
Rebecca Collier Doyle, Clinical Nurse Coordinator, UHN's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC): Rebecca places the needs of patients and their families at the heart of everything she does in PMCC's Structural Heart Valve Clinic. Her ability to navigate complex situations with clarity and compassion consistently sets her apart and exemplifies the best of front-line care.
Home Hemodialysis Nursing Team (Photo, L to R,) Celine D'Gama, Rose Faratro, Kalaivani Renganathan, Daniela Arustei, and Eduardo Magtoto; absent: Stella Fung: Merging expert clinical care with compassion, innovation and advocacy, the nursing team empowers medically complex patients to thrive independently at home on life-sustaining dialysis therapy. Beyond bedside care, they are active researchers and co-authors of peer-reviewed publications that have shaped national and international best practices in home dialysis.
