Department of Medical Imaging 2024 Faculty Awards
On November 20, 2024, the Department of Medical Imaging held its annual Faculty Awards to recognize the incredible achievements in teaching from our faculty. This year’s event was held in the Music Room at Hart House where faculty had the chance to socialize and network with each other before the awards ceremony.
Dr. Linday Probyn, Vice Chair, Education, opened the ceremony with remarks before presenting the first award, the Outstanding Teacher Award in the Residency Program, of which there were 24 recipients. This award recognizes Faculty members who demonstrate outstanding communication, collaboration, empathy, engagement, feedback or mentorship to residents. The award recipients for Outstanding Teacher in Residency were:
- Jorge Abreu Gomez
- Rawan Abu Mughli
- Afsaneh Alikhassi
- Robert Beecroft
- Andrew Chan
- Govind Chavhan
- Ailish Coblentz
- Sangeet Ghai
- Hournaz Ghandehari
- Mary-Louise Greer
- Guan Huang
- Ankush Jajodia
- John Kachura
- Supriya Kulkarni
- Sebastian Mafeld
- Daniel Mandell
- Myles Margolis
- Gilbert Maroun
- Shobhit Mathur
- Robert Moreland
- David Charles Salonen
- Mia Skarpathiotakis
- Kong Teng Tan
- Matthew Wu
Dr. Mini Pakkal, Felowship Director, presented the award for Outstanding Teacher Award in the Fellowship Program, of which there were also 24 recipients. This award recognizes Faculty members who demonstrate outstanding communication, collaboration, empathy, engagement, feedback or mentorship to fellows. The recipients for Outstanding Teacher in Fellowship were:
- Adriano Basso Dias
- Robert Beecroft
- Matias Callejas Canepa
- Andrew Chan
- Govind Chavhan
- Andrea Doria
- Sandeep Ghai
- Allison Grant
- Guan Huang
- John Kachura
- Gauri Rani Karur
- Ania Kielar
- Tae Kyoung Kim
- Sebastian Charles Mafeld
- Tom Marotta
- Prakash Muthusami
- Oscar Navarro
- Anastasia Oikonomou
- Amer Shammas
- Jennifer Stimec
- Monica Tafur Arciniegas
- Reza Vali
- Paraskevi (Laurie) Vlachou
- Matthew Wu
Associate Professor & Program Director, Nuclear Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Reza Vali, presented the Lisa E. Ehrlich Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Nuclear Medicine Residency Program, of which there were two recipients, one in Medical Imaging Faculty. Our faculty recipient was Dr. Nicholas Shkumat, MI Assistant Professor & Medical Physicist at the Hospital for Sick Children. After receiving degrees from McMaster (Medical and Health Physics) and the University of Toronto (Medical Biophysics), Dr. Shkumat completed a diagnostic imaging physics residency at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Shortly thereafter, he obtained certification by the American Board of Radiology in Diagnostic Medical Physics while holding a staff physicist position at the Cleveland Clinic. After nearly a decade in the US, Dr. Shkumat returned to Canada in 2015 accepting a position at SickKids and is involved in all aspects of diagnostic medical physics, with clinical, educational, and academic responsibilities in radiography, fluoroscopy, interventional radiology, CT, and nuclear medicine." Dr. Shkumat was selected by the residents to receive the teaching awards due to his excellent and comprehensive teaching in physics and radiation protection.
The next award, the E.L. Lansdown Award, in honour of Dr. Ted Lansdown, Chair of Radiology from 1974 – 1984, is given to the faculty member selected as an exemplary teacher by radiology residents. Dr. Probyn presented the award to Dr. Matthew Wu, Division Head, Abdominal Imaging at St. Michael’s Hospital & Lecturer, Department of Medical Imaging. Dr. Wu is known for his commitment to teaching across all levels. He leads daily case read-outs, oversees medical students in their rotations, and actively participates in exam preparation, including mock exams and practice sessions for residents. His approachable and friendly style has earned him multiple teaching awards from the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital. Colleagues and students alike praise Dr. Wu as a "conscientious and hardworking" educator who is "welcoming and approachable," and always takes the time to make complex topics accessible. His excellence in teaching and his support for the next generation of radiologists make him a deserving recipient of the E.L. Lansdown Teaching Award.
Dr. Probyn also presented the Master Teacher Award, which recognizes sustained excellence in teaching and longstanding contributions to the Education Program. The winner of this award was Dr. Tae Bong Chung, Chest Radiologist, JDMI & Assistant Professor in Medical Imaging. Dr. Chung has been a dedicated educator at multiple institutions, including Toronto General, Toronto Western, Princess Margaret, Mount Sinai, and Women’s College Hospitals. He has served as a primary supervisor for radiology residents and respirology fellows and as a longtime supervisor for Thoracic and Cardiothoracic Fellowships, mentoring countless trainees in chest imaging. Dr. Chung’s commitment to teaching is widely recognized, as evidenced by his numerous awards for Outstanding Teaching in the Residency and Fellowship Programs and the prestigious Edward L. Lansdown. His dedication, skill, and impact on medical education make him a well-deserving recipient of the Master Teacher Award.
Continuing on, Dr. Probyn announced the Department’s Research Rising Star Award, presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional excellence in research at a local or national level within the first 10 years of their appointment. The winner of this award was Dr. Vivianne Freitas, staff physician, Breast Division, JDMI & Assistant Professor in Medical Imaging. Dr. Freitas has quickly made her mark in the research community, publishing over 20 papers in the past two years, including significant work in Radiology and AJR. Her innovative projects, such as the development of an AI algorithm for differentiating responders to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, have secured a $525,000 grant from the Canadian Cancer Society and have established her as a leader in the field. Dr. Freitas also serves as chair of the Canadian Breast Imaging Society’s AI working group and actively participates in expert panels. Her ideas are novel and collaborative, engaging multiple disciplines in breast imaging research. With a reputation for excellence, Dr. Freitas is a deserving recipient of the Research Rising Star Award, embodying the spirit of innovation and dedication to advancing medical imaging.
Dr. Andrea Doria, Vice Chair, CPi, presented the Excellence in Clinical Practice Improvement Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership or academic contributions that aim to improve the quality of healthcare. This year’s award winner was Dr. Mia Skarpathiotakis, Division Head, Breast Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre & Assistant Professor in Medical Imaging. Dr. Skarpathiotakis has led significant improvements in breast imaging, including the adoption of new screening protocols for women with implants, two-spirit, trans, and non-binary individuals, and those with dense breast tissue. She has enhanced patient safety by streamlining recall processes, standardized imaging protocols to improve efficiency and reduce radiation exposure, and developed online resources to help patients better prepare for diagnostic appointments. Amid staffing challenges, she has cultivated a collaborative environment and prioritized interdisciplinary work with surgical oncology, pathology, and oncology. Her leadership and commitment to quality care have made a lasting impact on healthcare delivery.
The Department’s Mentorship awards were presented by Dr. Probyn, starting with the Excellence in Trainee Mentorship, which recognizes faculty who have shown significant commitment to mentoring residents and fellows. This award went to Dr. Paula Alcaide Leon, staff neurologist, Toronto Western Hospital & Assistant Professor in Medical Imaging. Dr. Alcaide-Leon's commitment to mentoring residents and fellows in the Department of Medical Imaging has been widely recognized. She focuses on helping trainees excel in clinical practice, research, and education. By spending time understanding their career goals and challenges, she offers invaluable support and guidance. Dr. Alcaide-Leon is also an advocate for gender equality in radiology, creating a welcoming environment for open discussions about the unique challenges women face in the field. Dr. Alcaide-Leon’s unique combination of approachability, advocacy, and dedication to trainee success makes her a standout mentor.
The Excellence in Faculty Mentorship, recognizing faculty who have shown sustained excellence and commitment to faculty mentorship, was given to Dr. Ur Metser, Professor, Medical Imaging, Site Director, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre & Division Head, Molecular Imaging, JDMI. Dr. Metser also chairs the Provincial PET Steering Committee and co-leads the Nanotechnology and Radiochemistry Core at the TECHNA Institute.
Dr. Metser’s mentorship philosophy is rooted in providing both formal and hands-on educational training while fostering personal and career development opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of developing a career plan with clear goals, encouraging integrity, hard work, and intellectual curiosity among his mentees. Colleagues and former fellows praise Dr. Metser for his unwavering support, insightful guidance, and profound impact on their careers.
The final award of the night, presented by Dr. Probyn, was the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a faculty member who exhibits a sustained commitment and contribution in Teaching, Research, Leadership or Mentorship. This year’s award recipient was Dr. Walter Montanera, who retired on July 1, 2024 after an extraordinary career in academic neurology spanning 40 years. As an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto and a cherished member of St. Michael’s Hospital, Dr. Montanera has made an immense impact as both a diagnostic and interventional neuroradiologist. After training at St. Michael’s in the 1980s, Dr. Montanera returned to the University of Toronto and joined the staff at St. Michael’s in 1999. His contributions include serving as Director of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program (2001–2007) and winning the prestigious E.L. Lansdown Teaching Award twice. Beloved by colleagues and trainees, Dr. Montanera has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many radiologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons. With an h-index of 38 and nearly 13,000 citations, Dr. Montanera’s research has profoundly influenced the field, particularly through his role as a site lead and co-author of the ESCAPE trial, which revolutionized stroke treatment. His legacy of clinical excellence, research, and mentorship has left an indelible mark on the field of neuroradiology. Please join us in honoring Dr. Montanera’s remarkable achievements and his lasting contributions to medical imaging.
To close out the evening, Dr. Probyn also congratulated Dr. Charles Yan, the Department’s new Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program Director, who began his new role on July 1, 2024; she also congratulated Dr. John Kachura as the Department’s new Interventional Radiology Residency Program Director, which he officially assumed on April 2, 2024.
Congratulations to all 2024 Faculty Award winners!
Check back for photos from the event next week.