We are thrilled to present an incredible lineup of physician subject matter experts who will come together to share their knowledge and insights. This event promises a day of enriching learning experiences in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Dr. Lisa Robinson
Dean of Medicine at Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDr. Lisa Robinson began her service as Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Temerty Medicine) and the Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions at the University of Toronto (U of T) on July 1, 2024.
She is a Professor in the departments of paediatrics, biochemistry, and the Institute of Medical Science at U of T. She is also a Staff Physician and former Head of the Division of Nephrology at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a Senior Scientist in the Program in Cell Biology at the SickKids Research Institute.
Her research integrates molecular biology, cell biology, advanced microscopic techniques, and biochemical approaches to advance the understanding and treatment of kidney disease. Dr. Robinson holds a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 1 in Vascular Inflammation and Kidney Injury.
After earning her M.D. at Temerty Medicine, Dr. Robinson completed training in paediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario in London, Ontario and paediatric nephrology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina where she was also an Assistant Professor.
In addition to her focus on research and innovation, Dr. Robinson has a deep commitment to education and mentorship. She is the founder and former director of Kids Science, a SickKids Research Institute program that provides opportunities for middle- and high-school students to improve their understanding of science and technology, and to make positive educational and career choices. In 2014, she launched the Student Advancement Research (StAR) Program, a SickKids summer research program for high school students.
Dr. Robinson has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as Councillor of the Society for Pediatric Research, member of the Innovation and Discovery Task Force of the American Society of Nephrology, the President of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Nephrologists and President of the American Pediatric Society. Prior to her appointment as Dean, Dr. Robinson held the position of Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations at Temerty Medicine. She has also received numerous awards and honours, including being named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology.
As Dean, Dr. Robinson oversees Temerty Medicine, which is consistently recognized as one of the world’s top centres for clinical medical education and research. It is home to nearly 6,000 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners and more than 10,000 faculty and staff. As Vice-Provost Relations with Health Care Institutions, Dr. Robinson supports the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, composed of U of T’s fully affiliated and associate affiliated hospitals. U of T’s bonds extend to another 20 community-affiliated hospitals and healthcare sites in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.
Anthony Henry
President at The Walnut Foundation- Mobilizing Community and Healthcare Systems to Improve Prostate Cancer Outcomes in Black Communities
Anthony is currently President of The Walnut Foundation, a Black men’s prostate cancer support and self-help group. He previously served as an advisor to the board from 2012 to 2019 and as First Vice-President from October 2019 to June 2023. Prostate cancer is prevalent in Anthony’s family. He is one of four family members with prostate cancer and so he is very passionate about the issue. Anthony, like a number of the men at The Walnut Foundation, have decided that the best way to improve health outcomes for Black men is to be there as a support, to provide guidance to other men in our community who are so impacted before diagnosis, during treatment and post treatment. He believes we owe this to our men until such time as research can catch up and help to improve the odds for black men on the prostate cancer incidences and mortality file.
He further believes we need to remove the shroud of secrecy around prostate cancer and start dialoguing more to help each other. He is a trained Peer Navigator with the True North Peer Navigator Program which operates out of Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada. He also volunteers with the annual Movember campaign which seeks to raise awareness and funds to support prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s mental health.
Professionally, Anthony has been a Financial Advisor with Manulife Wealth Inc. and predecessor companies for the past 30 years. He is currently a Managing Partner at his office in the Greater Toronto area.
Dr. Ewurabena Simpson
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist at CHEO- Breakout Sessions / Workshops
- Advancing the care of Sickle Cell Disease: Education, Advocacy, and Progress
Dr. Simpson received her medical degree from McGill University and completed her General Pediatrics training and Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto. During her fellowship training, she also completed a Master’s in Public Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a Global Health Scholar.
Dr. Simpson is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at CHEO and she is also appointed as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. Her major clinical and research interests have centered upon health systems improvement for children and adolescents with sickle cell disease and other chronic hematologic disorders.
In July 2021, Dr. Simpson was appointed as Assistant Dean for the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine. In this role, she aims to strengthen faculty-wide approaches for supporting our diverse community of trainees, staff and faculty and to prioritize a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging within the Faculty and greater community.
Dr. Mireille Norris
Geriatrician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences CentreDr. Mireille Norris is an Internist and Geriatrician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She was appointed Faculty Lead for Black and Indigenous medical learners in 2020 by the department of medicine and is the lead for the Core Internal Medicine Black and Indigenous pathway for the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Norris has a focus of interest in dementia care, fall prevention, quality improvement and medical education. Her interest in under represented physician education has been enhanced by the experience of recruiting and mentoring International Medical Graduates for the Hospitalist Training Program.
Her own experience as a Black female French speaking physician was instrumental in empowering her trainees which are now successful in many provinces, the United States and Europe. Since March 2023 she took on the role of Black Health Theme Lead for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Her passion for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity is also reflected in a number of initiatives. They include, participation on the Sunnybrook President Anti-Racist Task force, launching of SPARK (Sunnybrook Program Accessing Research Knowledge) with co-founders and accomplices (Drs Jill Tinmouth, Nick Daneman and Csilla Kalocsai), mentoring membership with the Black Physicians Association of Canada, collaboration with the Network for the Advancement of Black Learners and successful changes to the CaRMS application for core internal medicine which lead to increased inclusivity. Recently she has also contributed to the Royal College Committee on CANMEDS Equity Working Group on Advocacy and she is the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Black Health Innovation and Advancement which reports to the Association of Faculty of Medicine of Canada. In 2023 she received a Life time achievement award from the Black Physicians of Canada and in 2024 an Excellence in teaching award from the Black Physicians Association of Ontario and the King Charles III Coronation award.
She has been providing geriatric medicine care to marginalized communities at TAIBU in Scarborough, Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto, Centre D’Acceuil Heritage and Bendale Acres in Scarborough and coaches students in providing care to those communities. Her areas of expertise in geriatric medicine include dementia care, fall prevention, ethno-cultural geriatrics and she has collaborated in geriatric oncology both as an educator and consultant.
Dr. Husam Abdel-Qadir
Cardiologist at Women's College Hospital/The Peter Munk Cardiac CentreHusam Abdel-Qadir is a cardiologist at Women’s College Hospital and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network and Associate professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He graduated from U of T’s medical school with the Silver Medal then completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, followed by a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research at the Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. This research is supported by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Outcomes and an early career Chair in Heart and Brain Health and a National New Investigator Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
His work has been recognized by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Young Investigator Award and Atrial Fibrillation Research Award, European Society of Cardiology Young Investigator Award, and the Polanyi prize in Medicine/ Physiology.
Dr. Abdel-Qadir is a board member of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario and was the former Director of Continuing Professional Development. He is also a member of the Advisory Board to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Dr. Bourne Auguste
Nephrologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences CentreDr. Bourne Auguste is a nephrologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, specializing as a Clinician in Quality and Innovation. He holds a Master of Science degree in System Leadership and Innovation from the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and has received advanced training in quality improvement methodology from the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (C-QuIPS).
Dr. Auguste is currently the co-director of the certificate course in quality improvement at C-QuIPS and serves as the co-chair for Black Health and Chronic Kidney Disease Working Group with the Ontario Renal Network. His professional interests focus on quality improvement, assessing gaps in health equity, and advancing patient care through innovative practices.