Neurology UofT Awards

Collegiality Award

Peter Ashby Collegiality Award

This award, established by Mrs. Ashby, Dr. Kester Kong (a mentee of Dr. Ashby), and the Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, honours one resident at any training level (i.e., PGY1 and above), one full-time faculty member and in 2024, the division included one fellow in any subspecialty, who, through exceptional long-term efforts, have made outstanding and consistent contributions to the well-being of their communities, the benefit of patient care, education, and wellness among all members, and whose assistance is given without expectation of remuneration or reward.

Previous recipients:

 

Photo of Dr Peter Ashby

The Peter Ashby Collegiality Award is presented at the Silversides Day in June. 

 

Year

Faculty

Resident

Fellow

2023-2024

Dr. Antonio Strafella

Dr. Jaime Cazes & Dr. Robert De Santis

Dr. Jane Liao

2022-2023

Dr. Daniel Selchen

Dr. Annie Zhu

 

Faculty Education Award

John Edmeads Mentorship Award

The John Edmeads Mentorship Award recognizes one neurology faculty member for their outstanding mentorship of neurology residents during the current academic year. Faculty of all academic position descriptions who are at the rank of Assistant Professor or above can be considered for the award. The award recipient is chosen by all of the residents. 

The award is named in memory of Dr. John Edmeads (1936-2006), who practised for many years at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre as an internationally renowned headache specialist, and was widely recognized as an exemplary mentor and teacher. The award recipient is announced at the Division’s Annual Residents and Fellows Day in June.

Previous recipients:

Photo of Dr John Edmeads

Beginning in 2021-2022, any three-time award winner will be inducted into the “Hall of Fame” and retire from future consideration of this award.*

Year

Recipient

2023-2024

Dr. Alexandra Muccilli

2022-2023

Dr. Will Kingston

2021-2022

Dr. Alexandra Muccilli

2020-2021

Dr. Houman Khosravani

2019-2020

Dr. Brian Murray

2018-2019

Dr. Aaron Izenberg

2017-2018

Dr. David Tang-Wai*

2016-2017

Dr. Karl Boyle

2015-2016

Dr. Dalia Rotstein

2014-2015

Dr. Aaron Izenberg

2013-2014

Dr. Dan Selchen

2012-2013

Dr. Marika Hohol

2011-2012

Dr. David Tang-Wai

2010-2011

Dr. Frank Silver

2009-2010

Dr. Liesly Lee

2008-2009

Dr. Marika Hohol

2007-2008

Dr. Brian Murray

2006-2007

Dr. David Tang-Wai

Neurology Faculty Hospital Teaching Recognition Awards

Our division has many excellent teachers at various stages of their career and distributed across a number of hospital sites, who deserve recognition for their contributions to the education of our learners. This award demonstrates the respect and appreciation for exemplary neurology teaching at our individual academic sites. Faculty of all academic position descriptions and academic ranks who are at least one year into their appointment can be considered for the award.

To ensure the residents as a group have sufficient exposure to faculty at a given site for a valid selection process, a minimum number of 10 residents should have rotated through that site before their faculty can be considered for this award. This requirement resets after an award winner was chosen at that site. The Co-Chief Residents will lead the voting and selection process.

A single award recipient is chosen by all residents annually from each of the following hospitals/categories, if the above criteria are met:

1. Community neurology teaching sites[1]
2. Baycrest Centre and Women’s College Hospital (WCH)[2]
3. St. Michael’s Hospital (SMH)
4. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SHSC)
5. University Health Network & Mount Sinai Hospital (UHN & MSH)

[1] These include Markham Stouffville Hospital, Michael Garron Hospital, North York General Hospital, St. Joseph Health Centre, Scarborough Health Network, and Trillium Health Partners. Eligible sites, potentially including new ones not listed here, will be identified each year before the voting process.

[2] These two academic sites are combined as they have disproportionately less full-time faculty than the other three sites.

Previous recipients:

Any three-time award winner will be inducted into the “Hall of Fame” and retire from future consideration of this award.

Year

Recipient

Faculty hospital

2023-2024

Dr. Gyl Midroni

Dr. Will Kingston

Dr. Claire Sandoe

Dr. Jeremy Zung

Dr. Ginette Moores

St. Michael's Hospital

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Women's College Hospital

North York General Hospital

University Health Network

2022-2023

Dr. Charles Kassardjian

Dr. Christine Hawkes

Dr. Christine Lay

Dr. David Fam

Dr. Emily Swinkin

St. Michael's Hospital

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Women's College Hospital

St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto

University Health Network

2021-2022

Dr. Joyce Tang 

Dr. Lorraine Kalia

Dr. Marissa Lagman

Dr. Thomas Steeves

Dr. Will Kingston

North York General Hospital

University Health Network

Women's College Hospital

St. Michael's Hospital

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

 

Neurology Faculty Teaching Award & The Starkman Prize

The Neurology Faculty Teaching Award & The Starkman Prize is the top teaching award of the Division that recognizes the one neurology faculty member for their outstanding dedication and contribution to resident teaching and education during the current academic year. Faculty of all academic position descriptions who are at the rank of Assistant Professor or above can be considered for the award. The award recipient is chosen by all of the residents.

The award is given along with the Starkman prize, named in memory of Dr. Sidney Starkman who practiced and taught neurology for many years at Mount Sinai Hospital. The award recipient is announced at the Division’s Annual Residents and Fellows Day in June.

Previous recipients:

Beginning in 2021-2022, any three-time award winner will be inducted into the “Hall of Fame” and retire from future consideration of this award.*

Year 

Recipient

2023-2024

Dr. Emily Swinkin

2022-2023

Dr. Alexandra Muccilli

2021-2022

Dr. Reza Vosoughi

2020-2021

Dr. Alexandra Muccilli

2019-2020

Dr. Gyl Midroni*

2018-2019

Dr. Antonio Gallo

2017-2018

Dr. Charles Kassardjian

2016-2017

Dr. Felix Tyndel

2015-2016

Dr. Catherine Maurice

2014-2015

Dr. Karl Boyle

2013-2014

Dr. Aaron Izenberg

2012-2013

Dr. Hans Katzberg

2011-2012

Dr. Thomas Steeves

2010-2011

Dr. Gustavo Saposnik

2009-2010

Dr. David Tang-Wai

2008-2009

Dr. Liesly Lee

2007-2008

Dr. David Chan

2006-2007

Dr. Marika Hohol

2005-2006

Dr. Gyl Midroni

2004-2005

Dr. Anthony Lang

2003-2004

Dr. Gyl Midroni

2002-2003

Dr. Colin Lambert

2001-2002

Dr. Gyl Midroni

2000-2001

Dr. Liesly Lee

1999-2000

Unknown

1998-1997

Dr. Neville Bayer

1997-1998

Dr. James Perry

1996-1997

Dr. Joseph Bruni

1995-1996

Dr. Anthony Lang

1994-1995

Unknown

1993-1994

Dr. Frank Silver

1992-1993

Dr. Trevor Gray

1991-1992

Unknown

1990-1991

Unknown

1989-1990

Dr. Trevor Gray

Faculty Research Award

Division of Neurology Publication Awards

Established by Dr. Xavier Montalban and Dr. Antonio Strafella in 2018, the Division of Neurology Publication Award were created to award and recognize the high quality and excellent research papers from faculty members of the division. We are dedicated, proud and passionate about all our subspecialty work who demonstrate inclusiveness innovation and as an academic institution.

Previous recipients:

Year/Recipient

Category 1.  Clinical epidemiology, clinical research, education and quality Improvement papers. 

Category 2.  Reports of research projects. 

2023

Dr. Alfonso Fasano
Dr. Carolina Barnett-Tapia

Dr. Don Weaver 
Dr Matthew Lincoln

2022


2021

2020

2019

2018

Dr. Rick Swartz
 

Dr. David Gladstone

Dr. Kristen Krysko

Dr. Mark Boulos

Dr. Aleksandra Pikula

Dr. Andrew Lim 
Dr Jennifer Rabin

Dr. Lorraine Kalia

Dr. Agessandro Abrahao

Dr. Mario Masellis

Dr. Lorraine Kalia

Slamen-Fast New Initiatives in Neurology

Established by Dr. Anthony Lang in 2004, the Division of Neurology’s New Initiatives Program is a self-investment program designed to enhance the development of the academic mission of the Division by providing a limited grant support for faculty to complete successfully an initial project for their career development. 

With the generous donation from the Fast Foundation, the division has been able to secure stable funding for the initiatives program for the Division of Neurology for at least 5 years. This program is renamed “Slamen-Fast New Initiatives in Neurology" in 2021.

Previous recipients:

Year

Recipients

2024

Drs. Agessandro Abrahao, Esther Bui, Houman Khosravani, Julien Hébert and Phavalan Rajendram

2023

Drs. Aleksandra Pikula, Christine Lay, Galit Kleiner, Manav Vyas and MaryJane Lim Fat

2022

Drs. Carmela Tartaglia, Dalia Rotstein, Houman Khosravani, Jeff Wang, Joanna Schaafsma and Suvendrini Lena

2021

Drs. Agessandro Abrahao, Mark Boulos, Esther Bui, Lorraine Kalia, Charles Kassardjian, Kristen Krysko, Sarah Lidstone, MaryJane Lim Fat, Jennifer Rabin, Aylin Reid, Raphael Schneider and Manav Vyas

2018-2020

Due to limited funding, no projects were awarded. 

2017

Drs. Aaron Izenberg, Aleksandra Pikula, Dalia Rotstein, Amy Yu

2016

Drs. Carolina Barnett-Tapia, Alfonso Fasano, Charles Kassardjian, Catherine Maurice

2015

Due to limited funding, no projects were awarded.

2014

Drs. Ari Breiner, Lorraine Kalia, Renato Munhoz, Gustavo Saposnik, Daniel Selchen, Elizabeth Slow

2013

Drs. Esther Bui, Alfonso Fasano, Hans Katzberg, James Perry, Carmela Tartaglia

2012

Drs. Danielle Andrade, Mario Masellis, Peter Tai 

2011

Drs. David Tang-Wai and Carmela Tartaglia

2010

Drs. Jason Lazarou, Brian Murray, Rick Swartz

2009

Due to limited funding, no projects were awarded.

2008

Drs. Danielle Andrade, Esther Bui, James Perry, Antonio Strafella, Kaviraja Udupa

2007

Due to limited funding, no projects were awarded.

2006

Dr. Lorne Zinman

2005

Drs. Ralph Kern, Richard Wennberg

Resident & Fellow Awards

James A Sharpe Award

Previous recipients: 

Photo of Dr James Sharpe

2023 - Dr. Juan Francisco Idiaquez

2022 - Dr. Durjoy Lahiri

2021 - Dr. Diana Olszewska

2020 - Dr. Paula Teixeira Marques

2019 - Dr. Dina Dababneh

2018 - Dr. Saira Saeed Mirza

2017 - Unknown

2016 - Dr. Christine Ghadery

2015 - Dr. Henk-Jan Mutsaerts

2014 - Dr. Carolina Barnett Tapia

2013 - Dr. Carolina Barnett Tapia

2012 - Unknown

2011 - Dr. Lorraine Kalia

2010 - Dr. Emily Crookshank

2009 - Dr. Mark Simpson

2008 - Dr. Esther Bui

2007 - Dr. Rick Swartz

2006 - Dr. Jodie Burton

2005 - Dr. Leanne Casaubon

John R Wherrett Award

Previous recipients:

Photo of Dr John Wherrett

2023 - TBD

2022 - Dr. Sarah Vinette

2021 - Dr. Neha Patel

2020 - Dr. Amirah Momen and Dr. Ryan Muir

2019 - Dr. Andrew Micieli and Dr. Julien Hébert

2018 - Dr. Raed Joundi

2017 - Unknown

2016 - Dr. Nadim Jiwa

2015 - Dr. Kristen Krysko

2014 - Dr. Claude Steriade

2013 - Dr. Jennifer Robblee

2012 - Dr. Gregory Day

2011 - Dr. Charles Kassardjian

2010 - Dr. Dalia Rotstein

2009 - Dr. Lorraine Kalia

2008 - Dr. Jiwon Oh

2007 - Dr. Thomas Steeves

2006 - Dr. Aimee Nelson

2005 - Dr. Aparna Shukla

Marotta Prize for Teaching in Neurology

The University of Toronto Adult Neurology Residency Program values, fosters and encourages excellence in teaching for both faculty and residents. To recognize the dedication, leadership and mentorship of neurology residents involved in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate trainees from all disciplines, the Neurology Education Committee, supported by Executive Committee, created a resident teaching award.

This award is named in honour of the outstanding contributions to neurology education and patient care made by Dr. Joseph T. Marotta (1926-2016) during his long and illustrious career at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto. The award recipient is announced and the award is presented at the Annual Residents and Fellows Day.

Previous recipients:

Photo of Dr Joseph Thomas Marotta

Year

Recipient

2023-2024

Drs. James Im and Brindan Sivanandan

2022-2023

Drs. Stephanie Kuntz and Neha Patel

2021-2022

Drs. Jane Liao and Ryan Muir

2020-2021

Drs. Julien Hébert and Jeremy Zung

2019-2020

Drs. Corey Bacher and Stephanie Reiter

2018-2019

Drs. Raed Joundi and Jeff Wang

2017-2018

Dr. Antonio Gallo

2016-2017

Dr. Matthew Burke

2015-2016

Dr. Will Kingston

2014-2015

Dr. Tara Rastargani

2013-2014

Dr. Gregg Day

2012-2013

Dr. Charles Kassardjian

2011-2012

Drs. Amer Ghavanini and Dalia Rotstein

2010-2011

Dr. Michel Shamy

2009-2010

Dr. Jiwon Oh

2008-2009

Drs. Vince Basile and Richard Swartz

2007-2008

Dr. Andrew Lim

2006-2007

Dr. Hans Katzberg

2005-2006

Dr Jason Lazarou

2004-2005

Dr. David Chan

Senior Resident Awards of Excellence

Residents spend a significant amount of time on inpatient service during residency. Inpatient clinical work is considered one of the most challenging part of residency and is often under-recognized.

Each of the three main teaching sites (i.e., SHSC, SMH and UHN) created a Neurology Resident Award of Excellence to recognize a resident annually who have consistently provided exceptional, high-quality work on the general neurology and stroke inpatient services.

Previous recipients:

Year

St. Michael's Hospital

Sunnybrook Hospital

University Health Network

2023

Dr. Megan Hird

Dr. Laavanya Dharmakulaseelan

Dr. Arjun Balachandar

2022

Dr. Justine Itorralba

Dr. Annie Zhu

Dr. Annie Zhu

2021

Dr. Sydney Lee and Dr. Foad Taghdiri

Dr. Brindan Sivanandan

Dr. Sarah Vinette

2020

Dr. Stephanie Kuntz

Dr. Monica Maher

Dr. Lauren Hophing

2019

Dr. Jane Liao

Dr. Amirah Momen and Dr. Phavalan Rajendram

Dr. Ryan Muir