Get to know our Administrative Coordinator, Awards & Events

Working behind the scenes on some of the Department of Medicine’s biggest events is Ramona Zacharias, the department’s dedicated Administrative Coordinator, Awards & Events.

A University of Toronto (U of T) alumna, Ramona completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy at U of T Mississauga. Although she had long felt the pull to return to school, it wasn’t until nearly 20 years later that she enrolled in the Master of Education program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), graduating in June 2025.

“Most of my career has been in healthcare and education, including roles at Toronto General Hospital, SickKids, and Humber College,” she says. “I did have a side hustle as an entertainment writer for about 20 years, which made use of that English degree!”

Throughout her career, Ramona knew she wanted to work at U of T. Her first university role was in the Department of Medicine (DoM), where she worked with Drs. Jacqueline James and Jeremy Gilbert in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. She later supported Dr. Anil Chopra in Emergency Medicine.

In 2022, Ramona left the department to take on a Special Events Coordinator role at U of T Mississauga. However, she found herself missing the DoM and returned in March 2023 to begin her current position.

“I appreciate the fast pace, unique opportunities, and focus on medical education, research, quality and innovation, and culture and inclusion,” she says. “This role has given me the opportunity to work closely with all those portfolios. It’s an exciting place!”

As Administrative Coordinator, Awards & Events, Ramona is responsible for planning and executing the department’s major events, including Professors’ Days, Associate Professors’ Days, Annual Day, and New Faculty Orientation. She also leads the annual Resident and Fellow Graduation Ceremony and coordinates City-Wide Medical Grand Rounds in collaboration with the Vice-Chair, Education.

In addition to event planning, Ramona supports faculty award nominations at all levels, from internal university recognitions to national and international honours. She is currently developing an awards database designed to help nominators and nominees more easily identify relevant award opportunities.

“I love the opportunity to work with – and celebrate – so many different members of our department,” she says. “Every event and award nomination is different and allows me to learn more about the amazing things people are doing. There’s a sense of community that comes with the territory that I really value.”

With large-scale events comes a unique set of challenges. Managing multiple moving parts requires careful planning and the ability to adapt quickly when unexpected issues arise.

“The pandemic made things even more challenging as I had to up my game to keep up with hybrid and virtual events, and that was quite a learning curve,” she says.

One event that stands out for Ramona is the Resident and Fellow Graduation Ceremony. As one of the department’s largest annual celebrations, it requires nearly a full year of planning and coordination, and its success depends on the collaboration of several internal and external partners.

“I have learned a lot about project and time management, teamwork, and leadership through this one event,” she says. “But when the day arrives and you get to watch everyone celebrate such a significant accomplishment, it’s extremely rewarding.”

Outside of the DoM, Ramona volunteers with Correctional Services of Canada as a member of a Citizen Advisory Committee. The committee serves as an objective liaison between the prison/parole system and the public, helping to foster community support and transparency.

Beyond her professional and volunteer work, music and travel are among Ramona’s greatest passions. Having spent much of her childhood living in different parts of Europe, she says she never lost her sense of wanderlust.

Her teenage years were largely spent hanging out in the MuchMusic window on Queen Street in Toronto.

“Now, I like to combine my two passions and plan my vacations around concerts – Twenty One Pilots in New York, Jack White in Brussels, Nine Inch Nails in San Francisco. Concerts are my happy place, wherever they might be.”