Royal Society of Canada elects two UHN researchers as new Fellows
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) announced this year's newly elected Fellows and incoming class of the RSC College, which included UHN researchers Dr. Shaf Keshavjee and Dr. Bo Wang.
The RSC is the nation's pre-eminent organization of scholars, researchers and artists. It celebrates excellence, promotes research and provides independent advice on matters of public interest, while fostering collaboration and mentoring future leaders to advance knowledge in Canada and beyond.
Congratulations Dr. Keshavjee and Dr. Wang:
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Dr. Shaf Keshavjee (Fellow) is a Senior Scientist, Director of the Latner Thoracic Laboratories, Chief of Innovation, and Co-Director of the AI Hub at UHN. He is a Professor of Thoracic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, and is the Donald K. Jackson Chair in Lung Transplant Research. Dr. Keshavjee's work has transformed lung transplantation through the development of the Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) system, which has doubled the number of lungs available for transplant. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of lung preservation, injury and repair related to transplantation. His team at UHN is developing diagnostics and therapies, including gene therapy and genome editing technologies, to further enhance lung repair.
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Dr. Bo Wang (Member of the College) is a Senior Scientist and the Chief AI Scientist at UHN, as well as a tenured Associate Professor in the Departments of Computer Science and Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Wang's research focuses on machine learning, computational biology, and computer vision, with an emphasis on developing novel machine learning algorithms to address clinical applications in biomedicine. His work has made significant contributions to these fields.
Over a hundred new Fellows were elected and recognized for their impactful achievements in the arts, social sciences, humanities, and sciences. The RSC also welcomed 59 new Members to the RSC College. The College consists of mid-career researchers who help the RSC address major challenges and seize opportunities in emerging fields in Canada and around the world.
Read the
press release for award details and additional information about the upcoming ceremonies honouring the awardees.
Dr. David Kirsch honoured by Sarcoma Foundation of America
Dr. David Kirsch, Head of the Radiation Medicine Program at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, was honoured with the 2025 Nobility in Science Award by the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) — the organization's highest scientific honour — at its 23rd Annual Stand Up to Sarcoma gala on Sept. 15, 2025, in New York City.
The Nobility in Science Award recognizes visionary leaders whose work has significantly advanced the understanding and treatment of sarcoma.
Dr. Kirsch, also the Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Radiation Medicine and Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, is internationally regarded for his groundbreaking research into bone and soft tissue sarcomas, his leadership in clinical trials, and his mentorship of the next generation of cancer researchers.
Dr. Kirsch leads a research laboratory focused on genetically engineered mouse models and human cancer cell lines to better understand sarcoma biology and responses to radiation therapy. He also serves as the overall principal investigator of SU2C-SARC032, a clinical trial that demonstrated the benefit of adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to pre-operative radiation for high-risk soft tissue sarcoma patients.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Kirsch has received numerous accolades, including the Michael Fry Award, the J.W. Osborne Award and an R35 Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Cancer Institute. He has been elected to several prestigious scientific societies and has mentored more than 60 trainees.
Briana Layard named AMS Fitzgerald Fellow
Briana Layard, Clinical Lead of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Team, has been named one of thirteen inaugural recipients of the 2025 AMS Fitzgerald Fellowship in AI and Human-Centred Leadership.
The prestigious two-year program, delivered in partnership with University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, supports emerging health system leaders as they shape the future of health care at the intersection of innovation, technology and empathy.
Layard joins a cohort of early- and mid-career professionals selected for their commitment to advancing digital transformation while preserving the human connections at the heart of care. The fellowship provides structured leadership development, mentorship and collaborative opportunities designed to equip participants with the tools to lead ethically and effectively in an AI-enabled health system.
As health care continues to evolve, the 2025 Fellows represent a growing community dedicated to challenging conventional thinking and driving meaningful change. Their work, including Briana's, will help ensure that AI and digital innovation enhance — rather than replace — the empathy, trust, and compassion that define quality care.
Dr. Sarah Muttitt wins Enterprise ORBIE Award for excellence in technology leadership
Dr. Sarah Muttitt, joint Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at UHN and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), has received the Enterprise ORBIE Award at the 2025 Toronto ORBIE Awards, recognizing her exceptional leadership in health care technology.
Presented by InspireTORONTO, the ORBIE Awards celebrate top technology executives who have demonstrated excellence in innovation, leadership and impact. The Enterprise category recognizes CIOs from organizations with over $1 billion in annual revenue, making Dr. Muttitt's win a testament to her influence across Canada's largest health care institutions.
Dr. Muttitt has led transformative digital initiatives that have reshaped patient care and clinical operations. Under her leadership, SickKids achieved HIMSS EMRAM Stage 7 revalidation — an elite global recognition for advanced electronic medical record adoption. This milestone reflects her commitment to leveraging data and digital tools to improve outcomes, enhance safety and expand virtual care.
Her leadership also extends to UHN, where she has driven strategic alignment between IT and clinical priorities, fostering innovation and collaboration across departments.
The ORBIE Awards ceremony, held at the Westin Harbour Castle, brought together top technology executives from across the region. Dr. Muttitt's recognition celebrates her individual accomplishments but also highlights the growing importance of digital leadership in health care.
Her work continues to inspire a new generation of health IT professionals, proving that technology, when guided by strong leadership, can be a powerful force for transformation.
Dr. John Dick named 2025 Citation Laureate for groundbreaking cancer research
Dr. John Dick, Senior Scientist at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University Professor at the University of Toronto, has been named a 2025 Clarivate Citation Laureate. Clarivate's selection process recognizes influential, highly cited researchers — an international recognition often associated with future Nobel Prize recipients. He is the only Canadian among this year's 22 laureates, split among the fields highlighted by the four Nobel Prizes.
Dr. Dick's research identified leukemia stem cells, a small group of leukemic cells that have stem cell properties that allow them to sustain long-term leukemia cell growth, survive treatment, and drive future disease relapse. This work helped explain why many cancers return after therapy. By showing that these stem cells play a role in disease recurrence, his research influenced the discovery of cancer stem cells in many solid cancers and shaped how scientists approach cancer biology and treatment strategies.
At UHN, Dr. Dick holds the Helga and Antonio De Gasperis Chair in Blood Cancer Stem Cell Research. He is also a Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and holds the distinction of University Professor at the University of Toronto. His laboratory continues to study the sequence of events that lead from the normal cell of origin to leukemia stem cells, why these stem cells resist treatment, and how they might be targeted to improve long-term outcomes.
Clarivate, the organization behind the Citation Laureates, has recognized only 400 reserchers worldwide since 2002 and 75 Citation Laureates have later received Nobel Prizes.
Dr. Milos Popovic receives International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society award
Dr. Milos R. Popovic, Research Director of UHN's KITE Research Institute, has received a prestigious award from the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society (IFESS).
He was honoured with the first-ever Dejan Popovic Award for his exceptional contributions to the field of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) research and its translation into clinical practice.
The IFESS bestowed the award on Dr. Milos Popovic last week at the International Workshop on FES, which was hosted by the Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Vienna.
Dr. Milos Popovic is a leading figure in FES, a rehabilitation therapy that uses small amounts of electricity to activate nerves and muscles, helping restore function and independence in people who are paralyzed.
He has published hundreds of studies on how functional electrical stimulation can best be used to improve the lives of people with spinal cord injuries, stroke, traumatic brain injury, depression and other neurological conditions. His breakthroughs have reached patients through MyndTec, a company he co-founded, and his work at UHN, where he is commercializing a new dry electrode FES technology he developed, which enables FES to be embedded in clothing.
Dr. Dejan Popovic — no relation — had worked with Dr. Milos Popovic before. Dr. Milos Popovic studied under Dr. Dejan Popovic at the University of Belgrade in the 1980s before moving to Canada.
"I am deeply honoured to receive this award, which is named after a true trailblazer in the field of FES and my mentor," says Dr. Milos Popovic.
