Faculty Success Celebration 2025
On November 6, 2025, the Department of Medical Imaging celebrated the many incredible achievements of nearly 50 MI faculty members during its annual Faculty Success Celebration! The celebration, which was sponsored by Bayer, was held in U of T’s Hart House with catered dinner and a chance for faculty to socialize with each other. Prior to the awards being presented, MI Vice Chair, Research, Dr. Kate Hanneman delivered a presentation titled, "Less is More: Next-Generation MRI Contrast Agents."
Teaching Awards
Opening the awards ceremony was Executive Vice Chair Dr. Linda Probyn, who delivered opening remarks before presenting the first award for Outstanding Teacher in the Residency Program, of which there were 15 recipients. The Outstanding Teacher Award in the Residency Program recognizes faculty members who demonstrate outstanding communication, collaboration, empathy, engagement, feedback or mentorship to residents. Congratulations to award recipients:
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Dr. Probyn continued on, presenting most of the evenings awards. The second award she presented was the Outstanding Teacher Award in Fellowship, which recognizes the outstanding communication, collaboration, empathy, engagement, feedback or mentorship of faculty to fellows. Congratulations to the 16 award recipients:
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The next award of the night was the E.L. Lansdown Award for Exemplary Teaching, which honours Dr. Ted Lansdown, who served as Chair of the Department of Medical Imaging from 1974 – 1984. This award recognizes a faculty member selected by Diagnostic Radiology residents as an exemplary teacher—someone who demonstrates outstanding commitment to education, mentorship, and clinical excellence.
This year’s award recipient is Dr. Myles Margolis, MI Assistant Professor & Radiologist, Joint Department of Medical Imaging (JDMI)! Dr. Margolis serves as the Abdominal Division Peer Review lead, the Abdominal Imaging Fellowship Coordinator, and is a part of the Abdominal Division leadership team, including the Faculty Development section.
Dr. Margolis is celebrated by residents for his approachable teaching style, responsiveness, and dedication to creating a supportive learning environment. Known for his deep expertise in GI and GU fluoroscopic imaging, he is recognized as a knowledgeable and engaged educator who readily shares his experience and supports residents in developing confidence and competence in their practice.
The next award Dr. Probyn presented was the Master Teacher Award, recognizing faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching and a longstanding commitment to medical education. This award celebrates those whose passion for learning, mentorship and teaching excellence have left a lasting mark on the Department.
This year’s recipient is Dr. Oscar Navarro, MI Pediatric Radiology Program Director & Diagnostic Imaging Radiologist, The Hospital for Sick Children! Dr. Navarro’s dedication to teaching is evident in the feedback from residents and fellows who consistently describe him as an outstanding educator, inspiring mentor, and pillar of the fellowship program. His ultrasound teaching rounds are widely appreciated for being insightful, practical, and deeply engaging. He creates a welcoming learning environment where every trainee feels encouraged to ask questions, recognize their strengths, and build on their weaknesses. His enthusiasm for ultrasound is described as “contagious,” and his rounds as “amazing,” “fun,” and “never to be missed.”
Beyond his teaching sessions, Dr. Navarro is recognized for his unwavering commitment to mentorship and leadership. As a program director, he is known for his responsiveness, precision, and kindness, always taking feedback seriously and fostering a culture of dialogue and respect. His colleagues and trainees alike describe him as humble, dependable, and deeply invested in their success. Through his consistency, curiosity, and generosity of knowledge, Dr. Navarro has shaped the learning experience for countless trainees.
Research Awards
The first research award of the night was the Research Rising Star Award, which is presented to a faculty member who, within their first 10 years of faculty appointment, has demonstrated exceptional excellence in research at a local or national level.
This year’s award recipient is Dr. Afsaneh Alikhassi, MI Assistant Professor & Breast Radiologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre! Dr. Alikhassi is a dedicated breast radiologist whose research has had a significant impact on the advancement of breast imaging. Her work focuses on integrating innovative imaging modalities, improving diagnostic accuracy, and enhancing patient-centered care. Her research contributions have helped deepen our understanding of breast pathology and improve clinical practices in early detection and diagnosis.
With an extensive record of publications in highly regarded national and international journals, Dr. Alikhassi’s research has been widely cited. Her current H-index of 16 speaks to both the depth and reach of her scholarship.
Colleagues describe Dr. Alikhassi as a bright and innovative researcher who brings energy, rigor, and collaboration to her work. Since joining the Department of Medical Imaging, she has been a driving force in promoting research excellence within the breast imaging community.
MI Chair Dr. Michael Patlas presented the Excellence in Research Award, a tremendous accomplishment awarded to a senior faculty member who has demonstrated sustained excellence in research with a significant scholarly impact at the national or international level, with a focus on significant research projects in the past five years.
This year’s award recipient is Dr. Kate Hanneman, MI Vice Chair, Research, Associate Professor & Clinician Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute! Since her initial appointment just over a decade ago, Dr. Hanneman has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, with an h-index of 37 and over 4,200 citations. A recent Radiology study led by Dr. Hanneman was the first to show that long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution is associated with increased diffuse myocardial fibrosis on cardiac MRI. Findings that have advanced our understanding of how environmental exposures affect cardiovascular health. In another study of over 1.6 million emergency department imaging exams, she and her team linked short-term increases in heat and air pollution to increased imaging utilization, connecting climate stressors to real-time healthcare system strain.
Dr. Hanneman’s work has influenced international guidelines, attracted major competitive funding, and positioned the University of Toronto as a leader in sustainable radiology. Beyond her research achievements, she has also mentored more than 35 trainees, many of whom have gone on to win research awards of their own.
CPi
The next award, presented by Dr. Probyn, was the Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice Improvement, which recognizes individuals whose leadership and innovation have led to measurable improvements in healthcare quality, safety and value.
The recipient for this year’s award is Dr. Andrea Doria, former MI Vice Chair, CPi & Staff Radiologist, The Hospital for Sick Children! In her role as VC, CPi, Dr. Doria has built a framework that integrates education, research, and clinical care into a unified system of improvement. She established the department’s first CPi Committee, launched annual CPi events, and created educational programs such as the Quality Leadership Workshops and Crafting Leadership Signature sessions. These initiatives have inspired both faculty and trainees to drive meaningful change.
Her leadership also extends beyond the university through the implementation of a coordinated “hub and spoke” model across 18 hospitals. These efforts have fostered a culture of continuous improvement, bridging academic and community settings and ensuring that best practices are shared widely.
Dr. Doria’s impact is equally evident in clinical innovation. At SickKids, she led the introduction of an ultra-rapid MRI protocol for children with suspected appendicitis, reducing diagnostic times from 11 hours to under 6, improving accuracy, lowering complication rates, and greatly enhancing patient safety and emergency department efficiency. Her work exemplifies how visionary leadership and system-wide collaboration can improve patient safety, efficiency, and equity in healthcare.
Mentorship Awards
The first mentorship award of the night was the Excellence in Trainee Mentorship Award, recognizing a faculty member who has shown significant commitment to mentoring MI’s residents and fellows, including helping trainees develop their professional careers while maintaining work/life balance, providing networking opportunities and assisting with teaching and/or research skills.
This year’s award recipient is Dr. Robert Bleakney, MI Assistant Professor and Staff Musculoskeletal Radiologist at Mount Sinai & Women’s College Hospital! Dr. Bleakney’s mentorship philosophy is grounded in the belief that mentoring is essential to the strength of the medical community. When done well, mentorship fosters professional growth, resilience, and compassion, benefiting not only individuals, but also the teams and patients they serve.
Those who train with him describe his generosity with time and expertise, and his readiness to step in when needed. His fellows emphasize that his guidance extends beyond day-to-day teaching — he advocates for their well-being, helps them navigate their careers, and creates a true sense of community within the program.
Dr. Bleakney treats everyone with genuine kindness, whether it’s a patient, a fellow, a colleague, or a member of the cleaning staff. His respect for all people is constant and deeply felt. His unwavering dedication to teaching, advocacy and the well-being of his trainees make Dr. Bleakney incredibly deserving of this award.
The Excellence in Faculty Mentorship Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated dedication to mentoring others, helping colleagues not only advance in their professional paths, but also to navigate the challenges of academic and personal life with balance and integrity.
This year’s award was presented to Dr. Derek Muradali, MI Professor & nine-year tenured Radiologist-in-Chief of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP)! Throughout his nearly 30-year career, Dr. Muradali has been a guiding force in breast imaging. As Division Head of Breast Imaging for 20 years, he founded the Women’s Imaging Division and Fellowship at the University of Toronto, the first of its kind in Canada, which has since inspired similar programs across the country. His leadership and persistence helped shape a program now renowned for its excellence and for the many accomplished clinicians and educators it has produced.
Dr. Muradali’s mentorship philosophy speaks to humility, compassion, and selflessness. He believes that mentorship is not simply about teaching, but about helping others awaken their potential: guiding them with patience, kindness, and forgiveness. He writes that the most successful mentors are those “who can achieve an inner silence with regard to their own goals, accomplishments, and path […] with the security and inner peace to willingly become invisible, unseen, and even forgotten under the brilliance of those they seemed destined to guide.”
Through his unwavering commitment to education, his generosity of spirit, and his dedication to creating opportunities for others, Dr. Muradali has profoundly influenced generations of radiologists and advanced the field of breast imaging in Canada.
Lifetime Achievement
The final award of the night was the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Dr. Patlas. This award recognizes a faculty member who exhibits a sustained commitment and contribution to teaching, research, leadership or mentorship. There were four nominees for this year’s award: Drs. Susan Blaser, Phyllis Glanc, Supriya Kulkarni and Derek Muradali.
This year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award is Dr. Phyllis Glanc, MI Professor & Radiologist, Division of Body Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre! Dr. Glanc is an internationally recognized leader in radiology whose career has been defined by excellence in clinical innovation, education, leadership, and mentorship. A pioneer in women’s imaging, she has been instrumental in the development and advancement of the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) for ultrasound, bringing clarity and structure to adnexal imaging and improving diagnostic accuracy and patient care around the world.
Beyond her clinical and research achievements, Dr. Glanc has made an extraordinary impact as a mentor and educator. As Chair of the Continuing Professional Development Committee, she created meaningful and high-quality learning opportunities for radiologists across Canada. Her commitment to mentorship is deeply personal, she is known for her generosity, guidance, and unwavering support of the careers of those she has trained and inspired.
Dr. Glanc’s career exemplifies the values of this award: a lifetime of dedication, leadership, innovation, and service that has profoundly shaped the field of medical imaging.
Congratulations to all 2025 Faculty Award Winners and nominees! See and download photos from the event here.