2019 Award Recipients

When Dr. Charles was three years old, a family physician saved her life. This and other experiences as a patient inspired and shaped her career. Today, she works in the Family Health Team and as the medical director of the Veterans Centre at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where she is well known for her unwavering commitment to her patients.

She is actively involved in health system solutions both locally and provincially. As a teacher at the University of Toronto, Dr. Charles' work in academia has focused on older patients with complex chronic disease and developing patient-centred models of care to meet their needs in the community and in long-term care, including for veterans with dementia and complex health needs. As Physician Advisor at the Toronto Central LHIN, she liaises with local primary care providers to strengthen local primary care for patients. She also volunteers with SPRINT Senior Care where she shares her expertise on strategies for improving practice to help seniors live safely in the community. Dr. Charles is also an avid life-long learner who continues to pursue leadership and quality improvement training.

Dr. Farhan Muhammad Asrar (Mississauga), is recognized his contributions to diverse initiatives that have supported research, medical education, and training within family medicine, public health and space medicine. 

Dr. Tara Baldisera (Sudbury), is recognized for her leadership in offering interprofessional comprehensive concussion services in her community and contributing to research in paediatric and interprofessional concussion management.

Dr. John Brewer (Ottawa), is recognized for advancing health system improvements by forging partnerships and connecting patient care from the hospital to the community with a new EMR system.

Dr. Paul Gill (Goderich), is recognized for his work with the South West LHIN Partnering for Quality Digital Coalition that advanced administrative efficiencies and patient care by coordinating resources and standardizing and improving the quality of referral forms.

Dr. Tina Hu (Toronto), is recognized for her accomplishments as a medical resident supporting high risk and vulnerable populations through mental health and addictions research, community service, and patient care.

Dr. Peter Kizoff (Barrie/Tiny), is recognized for his role as a clinical leader, mentor and educator focused on palliative care and MAiD, which has enabled a robust care process in his community and become an example for neighbouring communities.

Dr. Arun Radhakrishnan (Ottawa), is recognized for his leadership in the areas of knowledge translation, mentorship, and chronic non-cancer pain management related issues, that have contributed to clinical and system-level impacts.

Dr. William Ruddock; Dr. Richard Helyar; Dr. Shira Thomas; Dr. Steve Traplin; Dr. Cary Shafir; Dr. Sid Brodovsky; and Dr. Carol Thomson (Guelph), are recognized for collaborating and operationalizing a strong, sustainable MAiD process and structure in the Guelph area that is being emulated by other communities.

Dr. Helen Senderovich (Toronto), is recognized for her contributions in knowledge translation and medical discovery, offering new insights into palliative care specifically through her work as an educator and researcher.

Dr. James Shaver (Barrie), is recognized for his creation of the Suspicion of Cancer Diagnostic Assessment Program within the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre to detect cancer in its earliest stages.

Dr. Richard Waldolf (Ottawa), for his leadership in the area of simulation innovation and his impact in leveraging this technique to support the education of the family medicine community locally and nationally. 

Dr. Catherine Yu (Toronto), for her leadership in supporting vulnerable populations by establishing and sustaining an integrated model of primary and community care with Health Access Thorncliffe Park.