Department of Paediatrics

This committee, under the direction Dr. Indra Narang, supports faculty members through the areas of career development in:

• Teaching/education skills
• Research and clinical care skills
• Mentorship
• Work life balance
• Assistance with CDCP/triennial review
• Career counseling
• Academic leave/retirement planning and promotions

Terms of Reference 

• To enhance excellence in teaching and educational endeavours. 
• To increase recognition of educational activities. 
• To develop and subsequently review core competencies on an annual basis core competencies and outcome measures for the teaching and educational components of the clinician-teacher and clinician-educator job activity profiles. 
• To develop an appropriate mechanism whereby members of the Department of Paediatrics will be evaluated according to the criteria developed under number 3 on an annual basis. 
• To assist in developing individual faculty member's roles as clinician-teachers and clinician-educators including maintaining a mentoring process. 
• To encourage, promote and coordinate faculty development for all aspects of teaching in the Department of Paediatrics. 
• To work collaboratively to promote educational research in the Department. 
• To foster liaisons with other groups with shared educational interests. 
• To make recommendations to the Chair with regard to necessary educational infrastructure and the resources required for this infrastructure development. 
• To advise the Chair on matters pertinent to education within the Department. 
• To develop from time to time as required a task force/ad hoc groups to review specific issues and report to the committee. 

Members 

• Adelle Atkinson
• Mark Feldman
• Karen Leslie
• Tina Martimianakis
• Jonathan Pirie
• Angela Punnett
• Lisa Robinson
• Rayfel Schneider
• Michelle Shouldice
• Victoria Snell
• Catharine Walsh
• Shelly Weiss
• Brie Yama 

Subcommittee 

Faculty Development is a subcommittee of the MEAC. 

Global Objectives

To develop an innovative and dynamic academic workforce by identifying and cultivating and supporting talent in research.

Responsibilities

The role of all Research Advisory Council (RAC) members is to serve in an advisory capacity to the Department of Paediatrics Chair on strategies and ideas focused on building and sustaining an innovative and dynamic research agenda in the Department of Paediatrics. These include strategies to train, retain, and recruit investigators/scientists in areas of gap and in emerging areas of clinical and bio-medical science that are aligned and responsive to strategies priorities at The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto.

Members 

• Seema Mital
• Uri Tabori
• Padmaja Subbarao
• Eric Benchimol

The Richard Rowe Award is named for Dr. Richard Rowe, Head of the Division of Cardiology from 1973 until 1986. Dr. Rowe demonstrated the very finest attributes of a clinical scholar. In his honour, the Richard Rowe Award recognizes physicians who have demonstrated excellence in the delivery of clinical care in its broadest sense over a significant period of time. All clinicians involved in activities within the Department of Pediatrics are eligible for this award. Members of the faculty are eligible to receive the award once in a ten-year period.

The Junior Faculty Award for Clinical Excellence Award recognizes physicians within the first 5–10 years of appointment to an Academic Health Science Centre. All clinicians involved in activities within the Department of Paediatrics are eligible for this award. Members of the faculty are eligible to receive the award once in a five-year period.

The Award for Outstanding Clinical Contribution or Innovation recognizes the important work being done every year by clinicians to improve the quality and outcomes of the lives of our patients and their families on a daily basis. This award will recognize a paediatrician who has led an initiative in innovative care delivery systems, quality improvement, patient safety, advocacy or other clinical endeavours.

This award is open to all physicians who are members of the Department of Paediatrics, full and part-time, junior and senior who have made an outstanding clinical contribution or innovation over the last few years. Nominate a colleague who, in the last few years has, for example, led an outstanding high-quality initiative, or built a successful new clinical service or program that has enhanced patient care.

All clinicians involved in activities within the Department of Paediatrics are eligible for the awards. Members of the faculty are eligible to receive the Junior Faculty Award once in a five-year period. Both the Dr. Richard Rowe Award and Award for Outstanding Clinical Contribution or Innovation can be won once in 10 years.

Nominees for the awards should demonstrate many of the following characteristics:

• Exemplary and well-rounded clinician 
• Practices in a collegial manner 
• Consistent, durable, and continuous high standard of clinical care 
• Team leader, facilitates collaboration locally and nationally 
• Leads in the application of clinical evaluative methods to activities of divisions/department 
• Develops new clinical techniques 
• Excellent mentor and role model 
• Leadership role in the department/national development of clinical standards 
• National/international presence (applicable for the Dr. Richard Rowe Award)

Nomination packages must include:

• Nomination letter
• Minimum two (2) letters of support
• Additional documentation (if applicable)

• Dr. Richard Rowe Award: Deborah Levy (2023), Adam Rapoport (2023), Shelly Weiss (2022), Elizabeth Harvey & Vicky Ng (2021), Carolyn Beck (2020)
• Outstanding Clinical Contribution: Hernan Gonorazky (2023), Anupma Wadhwa (2023), Olivia Ostrow (2022), Thomas Walters (2021), Michelle Science (2020)
• Clinical Excellence: Deborah Schonfeld (2023) Chia Wei Teoh (2022), Reshma Amin (2021), Vann Chau (2020)
• Saunder's Prize: Nayantara Ghosh (2023), Ziyad Alrajhi (2022)

Excellence in Continuing Medical Education is in recognition of continuing education initiatives in the Department of Paediatrics. There are three CE awards. See the Terms of Reference below:

CE Award for Excellence in Program Development and Coordination Terms of Reference (PDF)

CE Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching CPD (PDF)

CE Award for Long-term Contribution to CPD (PDF)

This award was established in honour of the educational legacy of Dr. Susan Tallett, who worked at SickKids for almost 40 years. Dr. Tallett is recognized as one of the most enthusiastic proponents of teaching and learning in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, an exceptional paediatrician, a compassionate leader and mentor, and a strong and effective advocate for education and equity at all levels.

Dr. Tallett has been a pioneer in many ways, designing and implementing innovative educational initiatives that are now considered core to our practice, and a strong supporter of work-life balance. She has inspired countless students, residents, fellows and staff to reach their potential and so many attribute successes in their career trajectories to her compassionate mentorship and support.

Dr. Susan Tallett Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

The Dr. Michael (Mickey) Lester Award for enhancing the patient and family experience in Paediatrics (demonstrating excellent communication skills, humour and congeniality).

The award will recognize outstanding performance in enhancing the patient and/or family experience in Paediatric care:

• by a core paediatric resident; or
• by a subspecialty paediatric resident or clinical fellow.

Dr. Michael (Mickey) Lester Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

Recognizes trainees who have advanced equity, diversity & inclusion within SickKids Department of Paediatrics and/or the greater community.

Trainee Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

• Subspecialty Teaching: Elizaveta Limenis (2023), Bonny Jasani (2022), Jabeen Fayyaz (2021), Indra Narang (2020)
• Excellence in Continuing Medical Education: Ian Kitai (2022), Not awarded (2021), Not awarded (2020), Not awarded (2019)
• Dr. Susan Tallett: Damien Noone (2023), Angela Punnett (2022), Rayfel Schneider (2021)
• Dr. Mickey Lester (Resident): Alexandra Kilian (2023), Jaimie Bird (2022), Harry Chandrakumaran (2021)
• Dr. Mickey Lester (Fellow): Ahmed Abushama (2022), Catherine Proulx (2021)

The Emerging Research Leadership Award (formerly Junior Physician Researcher Award) recognizes outstanding achievements and progress in research by a physician during the first ten (10) years after the initial appointment to the faculty of an academic health sciences centre. 

Emerging Research Leadership Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

The Research Impact Award (formerly Physician Researcher Award for Scientific Accomplishment) recognizes the accomplishments of a physician within 10-20 years of appointment to an academic health sciences centre, who has generated a body of research that is exerting a major impact in a field of study. 

Research Impact Award Terms of Reference (PDF) 

The Sustained Research Excellence Award (formerly Physician Researcher Award for Career Excellence) recognizes sustained excellence in research by a physician with more than 20 years of appointment to an academic health sciences center, who has demonstrated far-reaching impact through innovation and/or leadership. 

Sustained Research Excellence Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

• Emerging Research Leadership Award (formerly Junior Physician Researcher Award): Linda Hiraki (2023), Catharine Walsh (2023), Daniel Morgenstern (2022), Sumit Gupta (2021), Vijay Ramaswamy (2020)
• Research Impact Award (formerly Physician Researcher Award for Scientific Accomplishment): James Dowling (2023), Evdokia Anagnostou (2022), Steven Miller (2021), Yaron Finkelstein (2020)
• Sustained Research Excellence Award (formerly Physician Researcher Award for Career Excellence): Robert Hamilton (2023), Rae Yeung (2022), Not awarded (2021), Brian McCrindle (2020)

The Department of Paediatrics established the Dr. Denis Daneman Faculty Mentorship Award in 2013 to recognize excellence in the mentorship of faculty. Please consider nominating a colleague for this award that has provided mentorship to you and/or others.

Faculty Mentorship Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

The Advocacy, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award recognizes and profiles the outstanding contributions of employees within the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. This award recognizes recipients who develop and/or implement activities, programs, or research related to the championship of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and health equity which foster the shared commitment to belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion into action. 

Advocacy, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

• Dr. Denis Daneman Faculty Mentorship: Ronald Laxer (2023), Jillian Baker (2022), Not awarded (2021), Jonathan Pirie (2020)
• Advocacy, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award: Ashley Vandermorris (2023), Ripudaman Minhas (2022), Lisa Robinson (2021)

The Paediatric Administrative Excellence Award was first awarded in 2007 to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Department of Paediatrics administrative staff throughout the year.  Nominees are selected based on their accomplishments, not only in their day-to-day activities, but also based on their contribution to their division, the Department of Paediatrics, and/or hospital-wide. Nominees are individuals who go above and beyond their job profile and live the SickKids values. There are two awards available based on job profile: 

• Administrative Assistant
• Coordinator (Administrative Coordinator/Education Administrative Coordinator/Divisional Administrative Lead) 

Administrative Excellence Award Terms of Reference (PDF)

• Administrative Award: Celine Roussel-Bilokon (2023), Jennifer Hyde (2022), Kelly Sobie (2021), Brittany Marshman (2020)
• Administrative Award - Coordinator: Sarah Fortino (2023), Christina Cesareo & Mary Antonopoulos (2022)