Neurology UofT Awards

This award, established by Mrs. Ashby, Dr. Kester Kong (a mentee of Dr. Ashby), and the Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, honours one resident at any training level (i.e., PGY1 and above), one full-time faculty member and in 2024, the division included one fellow in any subspecialty, who, through exceptional long-term efforts, have made outstanding and consistent contributions to the well-being of their communities, the benefit of patient care, education, and wellness among all members, and whose assistance is given without expectation of remuneration or reward.

The John Edmeads Mentorship Award recognizes one neurology faculty member for their outstanding mentorship of neurology residents during the current academic year. Faculty of all academic position descriptions who are at the rank of Assistant Professor or above can be considered for the award. The award recipient is chosen by all of the residents. 

The award is named in memory of Dr. John Edmeads (1936-2006), who practised for many years at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre as an internationally renowned headache specialist, and was widely recognized as an exemplary mentor and teacher. The award recipient is announced at the Division’s Annual Residents and Fellows Day in June.

Our division has many excellent teachers at various stages of their career and distributed across a number of hospital sites, who deserve recognition for their contributions to the education of our learners. This award demonstrates the respect and appreciation for exemplary neurology teaching at our individual academic sites. Faculty of all academic position descriptions and academic ranks who are at least one year into their appointment can be considered for the award.

To ensure the residents as a group have sufficient exposure to faculty at a given site for a valid selection process, a minimum number of 10 residents should have rotated through that site before their faculty can be considered for this award. This requirement resets after an award winner was chosen at that site. The Co-Chief Residents will lead the voting and selection process.

A single award recipient is chosen by all residents annually from each of the following hospitals/categories, if the above criteria are met:

1. Community neurology teaching sites[1]
2. Baycrest Centre and Women’s College Hospital (WCH)[2]
3. St. Michael’s Hospital (SMH)
4. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SHSC)
5. University Health Network & Mount Sinai Hospital (UHN & MSH)

The Neurology Faculty Teaching Award & The Starkman Prize is the top teaching award of the Division that recognizes the one neurology faculty member for their outstanding dedication and contribution to resident teaching and education during the current academic year. Faculty of all academic position descriptions who are at the rank of Assistant Professor or above can be considered for the award. The award recipient is chosen by all of the residents.

The award is given along with the Starkman prize, named in memory of Dr. Sidney Starkman who practiced and taught neurology for many years at Mount Sinai Hospital. The award recipient is announced at the Division’s Annual Residents and Fellows Day in June.

Established by Dr. Xavier Montalban and Dr. Antonio Strafella in 2018, the Division of Neurology Publication Award were created to award and recognize the high quality and excellent research papers from faculty members of the division. We are dedicated, proud and passionate about all our subspecialty work who demonstrate inclusiveness innovation and as an academic institution.

Established by Dr. Anthony Lang in 2004, the Division of Neurology’s New Initiatives Program is a self-investment program designed to enhance the development of the academic mission of the Division by providing a limited grant support for faculty to complete successfully an initial project for their career development. 

With the generous donation from the Fast Foundation, the division has been able to secure stable funding for the initiatives program for the Division of Neurology for at least 5 years. This program is renamed “Slamen-Fast New Initiatives in Neurology" in 2021.

The University of Toronto Adult Neurology Residency Program values, fosters and encourages excellence in teaching for both faculty and residents. To recognize the dedication, leadership and mentorship of neurology residents involved in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate trainees from all disciplines, the Neurology Education Committee, supported by Executive Committee, created a resident teaching award.

This award is named in honour of the outstanding contributions to neurology education and patient care made by Dr. Joseph T. Marotta (1926-2016) during his long and illustrious career at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto. The award recipient is announced and the award is presented at the Annual Residents and Fellows Day.

Residents spend a significant amount of time on inpatient service during residency. Inpatient clinical work is considered one of the most challenging part of residency and is often under-recognized.

Each of the three main teaching sites (i.e., SHSC, SMH and UHN) created a Neurology Resident Award of Excellence to recognize a resident annually who have consistently provided exceptional, high-quality work on the general neurology and stroke inpatient services.