Aug 23, 2018

Dermatology: Recent Appointments & Awards

Division of Dermatology
Gold medal

Afsaneh Alavi

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Staff Dermatologist, Women's College Hospital
Director, Wound Healing Fellowship, Women’s College Hospital

Canadian Dermatology Association, 2018 President's Cup Award
The President’s Cup is an award given at the discretion of the CDA President to a member who has been of particular assistance to the president and/or the association over the past year and who the president feels made a significant contribution to the Association and to Canadian dermatology. Congratulations Dr. Alavi!


An-Wen Chan

Associate Professor, University of Toronto
Staff Dermatologist, Women's College Hospital
Phelan Scientist, Women's College Research Institute

CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Advisory Board Member
Dr. An-Wen Chan was recently invited to become a member of the CIHR 2018 Institute Advisory Board for the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis for a term of three years. As a member of the Board, Dr. Chan will provide strategic direction to strengthen skin research and its ties to the broader health system community in Canada.

WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Advisory Panel Chair
Dr. Chan was also invited to Chair the World Health Organization’s Advisory Panel of the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) for a term of two years. The ICTRP was developed to ensure that a complete view of clinical trial research is accessible to all those involved in healthcare decision making, ultimately improving global research transparency and quality. 

Canadian Dermatology Foundation, Research Grant
Dr. Chan received funding from the CDF's annual research grant competition. He received a CDF Research Grant of $55,000 that will support his research on the risk of keratinocyte carcinoma associated with anti-hypertensive drugs.


Phil Doiron

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Staff Dermatologist, Women's College Hospital
Staff Dermatologist, Toronto Western Hospital


University of Toronto, 2018 Clinical Teacher of the Year (Dermatology Program)
For the second year in a row, Dr. Phil Doiron has been selected to receive the Bernice Krafchik Teaching Award for the most outstanding teacher for the academic year by the U of T Dermatology Residency Program. Well done Phil!


Aaron Drucker

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Staff Dermatologist, Women's College Hospital
Scientist, Women's College Research Institute


Canadian Dermatology Foundation, World Congress of Dermatology Research Grant
Dr. Aaron Drucker received the top-funded grant in the Canadian Dermatology Foundation’s (CDF) annual research grant competition. The CDF is the largest peer review granting agency in Canada that is devoted exclusively to supporting dermatology and skin research. He was awarded with the World Congress of Dermatology Research Grant of $55,000, which will support his work developing methods to study atopic dermatitis, a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease, using population-based data in Ontario.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Institute Priority Announcement Bridge Grant
Dr. Drucker has also been awarded a CIHR grant of $100,000 - primarily through the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis - for his project entitled Atopic Dermatitis: Exploring Prevalence and Disparities (ADEPD). The study aims to address gaps in the knowledge about atopic dermatitis by looking at the different burdens of the disease across different parts of the country and for different segments of the population.


Vincent Piguet

Professor and Director of the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Head of Dermatology, Women’s College Hospital
Scientist, Women’s College Research Institute


Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Research Grant
Dr. Vincent Piguet received a CFI grant of $80,000 through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund – Funding for Research Infrastructure to support his research establishing a Skin immune cells and Pathogens Facility (SPF). The project will lead to novel insights and research on the roles of key immune cells present in the skin and mucosal surfaces called dendritic cells (DC), as well as open opportunities to new technologies and development of novel antiviral agents or adjuvant therapies to boost antiviral immune responses.


Jennifer Salsberg

Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
Staff Dermatologist, Bay Dermatology Centre
Staff Dermatologist, Women's College Hospital


University of Toronto, Assistant Professor, Division of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Jennifer Salsberg has received an appointment at the University of Toronto at the rank of  Assistant Professor.


Neil Shear

Professor, University of Toronto
Head of Dermatology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Affiliate Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute


Canadian Dermatology Association, President
Dr. Neil Shear has been elected as the new President of the Canadian Dermatology Association, effective June 23, 2018. Dr. Shear brings to the Association his impressive leadership experience which he has consistently demonstrated throughout his career. In his term as President, Dr. Shear will be focusing on collaborative care to enhance skin health in Canada.

Rambam Health Care Campus, Visiting Professor
In April, Dr. Shear was also honoured with a visiting professorship at the Rambam Health Care Campus, a one thousand bed academic hospital in Haifa, Israel, that provides comprehensive medical services for adults and children in all fields of medicine.