This award recognizes a resident who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to residency education in their own program, or provincially and/or nationally. The Resident-Leader has had a positive impact through exemplary teaching skills, development of educational curricula in teaching and assessment, advocacy of residency education, and any other efforts that have enhanced the educational experience, and/or contributed to innovation in residency education.

Ronelle Calver – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

“Dr. Calver has been a pillar of support through the COVID-19 pandemic. She frequently checks in to ensure resident safety and wellness, and has regularly shared various COVID-19 related resources and important updates with us in a timely manner, including time-sensitive updates on resident redeployment. She liaises with the program administrators and attends department meetings to advocate for resident issues.”

Kaitlyn Hayes – Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine

“Dr. Hayes brings her adaptability, bright energy, incredible enthusiasm and collaborative approach in fostering a high-performance culture. In PARO’s Leadership Program (PLP) she has played a vital unofficial role in instilling her fellow participants with a sense of comradery and team spirit.”

Clara Lu – General Internal Medicine

“She is an incredible communicator and strong collaborator. Her hard work, innovation and dedication to advocacy of residency education led to Clara’s creation of the Social Medicine Team, a team which continues to inspire a new generation of residents to integrate the social determinants of health into their clinical learning, thereby strengthening the care that is given to marginalized populations.”

Curtis Sobchak – Internal Medicine

“Dr. Sobchak exemplifies many key qualities as a resident, including those of professional, advocate, and most of all leader. He serves as a clear role model for Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities, providing a goal to strive for while maintaining humility and grace in his successes. He has significantly advanced the medicine culture at McMaster University, shining light on the work that needs to be done to support our BIPOC colleagues and applicants, and implementing such events as the Anti-Racism Town Hall to initiate this work.”

This award recognizes a resident who has demonstrated outstanding advocacy for medical students and resident colleagues through individual mentorship and exemplary role-modelling of the CanMEDS roles. The Resident Mentor can be recognized for his/her support and advocacy for the education and well-being of trainees in the clinical setting, supervision of research projects, exemplary teaching and coaching that promotes learning in a safe and positive learning environment.

Allison Chan – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

“Dr. Chan is an excellent resident mentor, and embodies all aspects of the CanMEDS roles. Her roles as leader and collaborator have successfully transitioned our academic half-day curriculum to an online format by coordinating with multiple faculty members, seamlessly including student learners, and often taking on teaching roles to fill gaps. As a medical expert, Dr. Chan has implemented novel musculoskeletal (MSK) anatomy and OSCE-style physical exam curriculums that run on a weekly basis to fill the learning gaps identified by the residents.”

Nina Mazze – Pediatrics

“Nina provided additional mentorship and teaching moments that enriched my overall experience on CTU. For instance, she went out of her way to find opportunities for me to practice pediatric-specific skills, such as calculating fluid maintenance and weight-based dosing. She did this despite consuming extra effort and time, as she wanted me to gain this experience.”

Gabriel Simchovich – Anesthesiology 

“Gabriel is an exceptional mentor who is kind, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive. I have come across many mentors in my medical journey thus far, and Gabriel stands out as the most exceptional one I have had.”

Kristen Zahn – Pediatrics

“Dr. Zahn has consistently demonstrated strong mentorship in her role as chief resident during the 2019-2020 academic year. She has been an exemplary model of the CanMeds roles to junior residents and medical students by demonstrating leadership – both administrative and professional – in advocating for resident health and education during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This award recognizes a resident who is committed to creating, promoting and advocating for a healthy and well-balanced training experience for Learners. Resident wellness is crucial to our mission in PGME to help ensure a safe, supportive and nurturing learning environment for residency education.

Mallory Granholm – Diagnostic Radiology

“Mallory has many strong attributes. One paramount attribute is her ability to listen, you simply know that your thoughts are heard, considered and will be acted upon. When we approach her with a concern, we know that we will be listened to non-judgementally and that in front of us is not only our friend, but also our strongest advocate. Mallory helped create and maintain a culture of open improvement and change where every resident, regardless of level, has an opportunity to bring forth a suggestion, concern, or grievance.”

Maggie Vincent – Emergency Medicine

“She regularly meets with administration to optimize the trainee environment and experience for learners. Maggie has created several wellness surveys to capture the feelings of residents, and collaborates with the program to ensure that this feedback results in actionable change. In particular, she worked closely with the program during resident appreciation week, and secured funding for a virtual wellness lunch.”

This award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding advocacy for residents through individual mentorship and exemplary role-modelling of the CanMEDS roles. Mentors can be recognized for their support for resident research, contribution to a positive learning environment, advancing resident wellness and/or professional and personal support.

Kesava Reddy – Department of Surgery

“Dr. Reddy truly understands the marathon of residency, and on a daily basis attempts to connect with us for teaching moments, refining details of our inpatient management and outpatient consultations. His dedication to the residency program is demonstrated in the self sacrifice of his incredibly burdened schedule, where he still manages to find time to attend every Carms interview and weekly academic half day case rounds.”

Matthew Sibbald – Department of Medicine

“Dr. Sibbald is passionate about his role as a mentor and eager to share his knowledge and experience with mentees. Whenever I have encountered barriers to the goals I have set, he has made himself available and provided advice that set a course for overcoming them. At every meeting, he has tangible suggestions for ways to grow my project, my professional network or steps toward meeting my short and long-term career objectives.”

Kathleen Tafler – Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

“She seeks every resident’s input, no matter how junior, and makes us feel as though we are heard. Before any OR day with Dr Tafler, she checks in with all learners to understand their goals for the case. She then caters the OR day around the learners so that everyone can achieve their learning goals. It is clear that she wishes to make us the best surgeons that we can be and that she works hard to ensure that our environment is optimal for learning and growth.”

Connie Williams – Department of Pediatrics

“Dr. Williams is an inspiring instructor, who links theory to practice and provide positive learning environment. I have a limited neonatology experience before I came to McMaster University compared to many other fellows who have already finished neonatology fellowship overseas. I was struggling to apply the knowledge to bedside as I have not seen such case during my residency. Dr. Williams opened her door to me and become our weekly “coaching chats.” She worked with me to develop learning plan, discuss pathophysiology and management of difficult cases and encourage me look up literature to explore the evidence.”

This award recognizes a faculty member who is committed to creating, promoting, and advocating for a healthy and well-balanced training experience for Learners. Resident wellness is crucial to our mission in PGME to help ensure a safe, supportive, and nurturing learning environment for residency education.

Brian Healy – Department of Oncology

“Dr. Healy models daily wellness. He has been very open with our residents and program about previous struggles with his own wellness. He was able to work through his struggles by making positive changes in his life, and shares his experiences and what he has learned to model wellness to our resident group. This has led him to spearhead an initiative whose role is to support and promote a culture of wellness for residents.”

Heather Waters – Department of Family Medicine

“So much of being a wellness champion is not what you do, but how you do it. Dr Waters is always curious about how residents are doing and what they think. She is serious when it’s called for but brings humour when levity will benefit the situation. She models how to take action, how to ask for help, how to reflect on feedback, and how to change course. And she works to create a residency program that provides the structure and culture where learners even have the possibility of making choices in the interest of our own wellness.”

The Program Administrator is a key individual for the success of a residency program, working in partnership with the Program Director and faculty in ensuring a positive learning environment for residents. Program Administrators are essential for moving residency programs forward in implementing new initiatives in residency education. This award recognizes a Program Administrator who has demonstrated outstanding advocacy for residents and excellence in supporting all aspects of residency education.

Michelle Salfarlie – Family Medicine

“Michelle has gone above and beyond to ensure that everything runs smoothly for the residents. It is evident from her willingness to help and genuine kindness that she truly cares about the residents as both physicians and individuals. From our welcome emails after match day to responding to our many requests and questions, residents know we can rely on her for timely and helpful support. Michelle makes it a point to be extremely accessible to students whether over email or via phone to accommodate for our variety of schedules.”

Brooke Taylor – Clinician Investigator Program

“Ms. Taylor has made it a priority to address trainee concerns in a timely and efficient manner. She routinely goes above and beyond what is expected and will frequently respond to emails/concerns after regular hours and on weekends. Moreover, she frequently takes the initiative to organize and schedule key lectures from internationally recognized clinician-researchers for the benefit of the trainees in this program.”

Jan Taylor – Internal Medicine

“Jan Taylor is the glue holding the McMaster Internal Medicine Residency Program together, particularly during the past year with unprecedented challenges and obstacles. Jan demonstrates compassion, leadership, and immense flexibility to ensure the success of residents in this program. She is a fierce advocate for residents and does a tremendous job ensuring resident goals are prioritized.”