Awards in Education Winners

Dr. Plant is currently the Director of Graduate Professional Development for IMS and an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. Her portfolio focuses on developing a skills-based curriculum for biomedical centered private and public sector careers, with her research focused on student confidence, agency and outcomes. 

Nafia is a 2nd year PhD student co-supervised by Dr. Yuliya Nikolova and Dr. Colin Hawco. Nafia currently serves as Co-President of the Institute of Medical Science Students’ Association (IMSSA), where she is committed to enhancing graduate education and student experience. In this role, she spearheaded the Undergraduate Research Skills Crash Course, creating teaching opportunities for graduate students while supporting undergraduates entering research.

Previously, as Director of Academic Affairs, she founded the IMSSA Academics Peer Review Program, supporting students in writing competitive scholarship applications and fostering mentorship. She also co-developed a workshop series with the Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program, organized the Three Minute Thesis (3MT), and is a member of the IMS Connects planning committee. Through her leadership, Nafia has strengthened professional development, teaching, and community engagement at IMS.