Note: View all past recipients to the current year.
Alumni Awards of Distinction
Exceptional Leadership Award
The Exceptional Leadership Award is presented to alumni who have demonstrated professional excellence, leadership and dedication to the community. The recipient is a true champion in the realm of medicine who demonstrates excellence as a community leader.
Recipients:
Maura Campbell
PhD 1993 - Dr. Campbell holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa and an MSc and BSc in Biochemistry from Queen's University in Kingston. She was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors for OBIO in March 2021 with over 30 years of experience in managing successful biotech companies and in February 2022 became President and CEO of Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO). Her rich and varied background attests to her expertise and significant contribution to the biosciences and health sector, confirming her eminent role in promoting innovation in this field.
Abhinav Humar
MD 1988 - Dr. Abhinav Humar is the Clinical Director of the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at UPMC, Chief of the Division of Transplantation in the Department of Surgery, and a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Ottawa and earned a research & clinical fellowship in transplant surgery at the University of Minnesota in 1996. He was named Top Doctor by Minneapolis-St Paul Magazine 2005-2008 and Pittsburgh Magazine 2011-2015.
Pierre Plourde
MD, 1983 - Dr. Pierre Plourde is a Medical Officer of Health with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Professor with the College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. He has done remarkable work in Haiti, including leading an annual interprofessional healthcare student elective in collaboration with Université Lumière in Port-au-Prince and his involvement in “Hand in Hand with Haiti.” This tremendous work was recognized in 2010 with the Dr. Jack Armstrong Humanitarian Award from Doctors Manitoba and again in 2022 with the Moira Walker Memorial Award for International Service.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a lifetime of significant contributions to the community and achievement in health care and medicine. Recipients are leaders in their respective fields and have demonstrated professional excellence and selfless dedication over their years of work.
Recipients:
Rob Beanlands
Dr. Rob Beanlands (MD 1983) is a renowned cardiologist, researcher and leader in the field of cardiology and cardiac imaging. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of Ottawa with Gold Medalist distinction. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for contribution to Canada (2012) and the Hermann Blumgart Award for research achievement (2013). He is an international leader in cardiovascular nuclear imaging and the founding Director of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute's National Cardiac PET Centre, the only PET facility in Canada dedicated to cardiovascular disease.
Isra Levy
Dr. Isra Levy (MSc, Epidemiology 1993) is a leading figure in the medical and public health field, having dedicated his career to improving health services in Canada. He joined Canadian Blood Services in January 2018 as the Vice President of Medical Affairs and Innovation. In 2021, Dr. Levy was inducted into the Order of Ottawa by Mayor Jim Watson, in recognition of his outstanding professional achievements and outstanding service to the community.
Rising Star Achievement Award
This Rising Star Achievement Award recognizes outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions to health care and medicine. This award honours young alumni with 10 to 20 years of professional experience in their medical specialty.
Recipients:
Andrew Boozary
Dr. Andrew Boozary (MD 2013) is a primary care physician, health policy practitioner, researcher and the founding executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at the University Health Network who works to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations. During the pandemic, Dr. Boozary was co-lead of the COVID-19 homelessness response in Ontario Health's Toronto Region. His commitment to improving health policy and health care is invaluable, and he continues to work for equitable, patient-centred health care delivery.
Chelsea Bertrand
Dr. Chelsea Bertrand (MD 2018) is a health care professional with an outstanding academic background. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Biology from Laurentian University before continuing her medical studies at the University of Ottawa. After completing her MD, she received recognition from the College of Family Physicians of Canada for her work in Indigenous health as the recipient of the Indigenous Medical Student Leadership Award in 2018.
Benjamin Hibbert
Dr. Benjamin Hibbert (PhD 2013, MD 2006) completed his BSc in Biology at the University of Ottawa in 2002, where he earned the Gold Medal in Science. He then completed his Doctorate in Medicine in 2006, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at The Ottawa Hospital. He subsequently completed his Cardiology training and the Clinician Investigator Program while obtaining his PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He was named the 2021 Investigator of the Year – Clinical Science by The University of Ottawa Heart Institute in recognition of his numerous research achievements.
Abir Yamak
Dr. Abir Yamak (PhD 2013) is a researcher in human and molecular genetics who obtained her PhD in Human and Molecular Genetics from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine in 2013, where she studied the regulation of heart development and disease, under the supervision of Canada’s Chief Science Advisor Dr. Mona Nemer. Following her PhD, she completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School/ Massachusetts General Hospital. Her thesis work focused on the transcriptional regulation of the heart during development and disease.