Core Team
Key Contacts
Academic Administrators
Director
Dr. Mingyao Liu
Tel: 416-946-8286
Email: mingyao.liu@utoronto.ca
The Director reports in all academic matters to the Deans of SGS and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. The Director is ultimately responsible for all academic and administrative aspects of the IMS graduate program (including faculty and students), in accordance with University of Toronto policies and procedures. He is supported by the Associate Director, Graduate Coordinators, IMS Committees, and the administrative staff, each of whom have special designated responsibilities.
Associate Director
Dr. Lucy Osborne
Tel: 416-978-5012
Email: lucy.osborne@utoronto.ca
The Associate Director oversees a number of IMS' Strategic Priorities, including enhancing students' training experience through engagement with University and hospital leaders and departments, promoting discipline-specific academic activities through collaborative research programs, and collecting data to assess IMS educational programs. The Associate Director also oversees IMS' international and professional career development activities, and provides support and training for the Graduate Coordinators.
Graduate Coordinators
The Graduate Coordinators are responsible for administration of the graduate program, including:
- applications, admissions and enrollment procedures
- approval of faculty on program and defense committees
- nomination of students for awards, maintenance of current student award status and notification of award opportunities
- dissemination of policy and procedures to students and faculty
- meet with students as required on request
Graduate Coordinator
Dr. Isabella Caniggia
Tel: 416-978-5012
Email: caniggia@lunenfeld.ca
Graduate Coordinator
Dr. John Vincent
Tel: 416-978-5012
Email: john.vincent@camh.ca
Chair, Admissions Committee
Dr. Eyal Grunebaum
Email: eyal.grunebaum@sickkids.ca
Dr. Grunebaum is the chair of the Admissions Committee, which reviews IMS graduate student applications, makes recommendations for admission, and oversees admission policies.
Chair, Graduate Faculty Memberships
Dr. Karen Gordon
Email: karen.gordon@utoronto.ca
Dr. Karen Gordon is the Chair of the Faculty Appointments Committee in IMS. She is responsible for the review and processing of all applications for graduate faculty appointments and re-appointments to the Institute, making recommendations to the IMS Executive Committee and the Director.
Director, SURP
Dr. Ted Brown
Email: ted.brown@utoronto.ca
The Director of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is responsible for the development and implementation of the program. In collaboration with members of the IMS faculty, the summer research program provides both domestic and international undergraduate students with the opportunity to experience a summer in a laboratory, working on a project in biomedical research.
Director, Professional Development and Alumni Engagement
Dr. Reinhart Reithmeier
Email: r.reithmeier@utoronto.ca
Dr. Reithmeier is leading on the development of graduate professional development (GPD) course modules. These modules will provide graduate students with transferable skills, professional network and experiential learning opportunities to facilitate their transition from school to work. He is also developing initiatives to expand alumni engagement in the IMS.
Director, Curriculum
Prof. Nicole Harnett
Email: Nicole.Harnett@rmp.uhn.ca
Prof. Harnett’s portfolio includes chairing the IMS Curriculum Committee, overseeing curriculum development and evaluation and working with course directors and instructors.
Director, MScBMC Program
Dr. Jodie Jenkinson
Tel: 905-569-4263
Email: j.jenkinson@utoronto.ca
The Master of Science in Biomedical Communication (MScBMC), unique in Canada, is one of only four internationally accredited programs of its kind. The MScBMC Program engages students in the creation and evaluation of a range of visual tools, including medical illustration, media and user experience design, animation, and virtual simulations.
Director, Graduate Diploma in Health Research (GDipHR) Program
Dr. Catharine Walsh
Email: catharine.walsh@utoronto.ca
GDipHR provides selected 1st-year medical students an opportunity to participate in the continuum of research – from idea creation to data collection to scientific publication and/or presentation at a scholarly meeting – via a consecutive 20-month longitudinal research program. Students are also exposed to course work in a broad range of research concepts, topics, methodologies, and applications to health care.
Chair, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Dr. Sunit Das
Email: sunit.das@utoronto.ca
Dr. Das is leading efforts to improve the equity, diversity and inclusion of underrepresented and historically marginalized groups in the IMS and ensure diversity in all the IMS communities.
Chair, Awards Committee
Dr. Chung-Wai Chow
Email: cw.chow@utoronto.ca
Dr. Chow's portfolio includes chairing the Awards committee, which establishes policies, reviews, and processes applications for student financial awards by the IMS.
Chair, SAFE Committee
Dr. Samantha Anthony
Email: samantha.anthony@sickkids.ca
Dr. Anthony aims to increase engagement and connectivity between students, faculty and alumni. As the Chair of the Student, Staff, Alumni and Faculty Engagement (SAFE) Committee, she supports student groups, oversees student-led initiatives, and implements new tools and resources to support faculty and alumni engagement.
Chair, Student Recruitment Committee
Dr. Markus Selzner
Email: markus.selzner@uhn.ca
As Chair of the Student Recruitment Committee Dr. Selzner is helping plan and guide our student recruitment strategy, in order to continue to attract outstanding and diverse students to our graduate program and research labs.
Administrative Staff
The Administrative Staff manage the day-to-day running of the IMS.
Kamila Lear
Business Officer
Tel: 416-978-8886
Email: kamila.lear@utoronto.ca
Human resources, finance, payroll, office management and special issues.
Sarah Topa
Senior Partnerships & Communications Officer
Tel: 416-946-0987
Email: int.medscience@utoronto.ca
Communications and branding strategy and content, website management, strategic partnerships, student group support, Co-Chair SAFE Committee & Recruitment Committee, Career Mentorship Program Manager, alumni engagement and Temerty Medicine Connect.
Hazel Pollard
Admissions Officer
Tel: 416-978-5012
Email: adm.medscience@utoronto.ca
Student recruitment, admissions, International Visiting Graduate Students (IVGS) applications, registration and GEMS Agreement for incoming students, entrance awards and bursaries, faculty recruiting new students.
Sobiga Vyravanathan
Curriculum & Education Administrator
Tel: 416-946-8286
Email: cc.medscience@utoronto.ca
Course and program requirements, course enrollment, MSC1010-1011H course coordination, Teaching Assistant recruitment, Curriculum Committee support, IMS Scientific Day, Ori Rotstein Lecture and Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).
Alicia Sam
Executive Assistant and Faculty Affairs Administrator
Tel: 416-946-7143
Email: sf.medscience@utoronto.ca
Executive Assistant to IMS Director, Faculty Appointments, Internal Awards, Executive Committee, Awards Committee and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee support.
Emilie DesRosiers
Graduate Program Assistant, MSc
Tel: 416-978-6696
Email: msc.medscience@utoronto.ca
Program Advisory Committee (PAC), Registration and GEMS Agreement for continuing students, Leave of Absence, Program Extension, Transfer Examination, MSc Thesis Guidelines, MSc Final Oral Examination and Program Completion.
Joanne Lee
Graduate Program & Awards Assistant, PhD
Tel: 416-978-1053
Email: phd.medscience@utoronto.ca
External Awards, Program Advisory Committee (PAC), Registration and GEMS Agreement for continuing students, Candidacy, Leave of Absence, Program Extension, Qualifying Examination, PhD Thesis Guidelines, PhD Final Oral Examination and Program Completion.