Dr. Gregory Cairncross, MD’74

Alumni of Distinction – Medicine

Dr. Gregory Cairncross has spent his career changing how brain cancer is understood and treated.

Along the way, his work has transformed the understanding and treatment of brain tumours, improving survival and quality of life for countless patients worldwide. His breakthroughs include demonstrating that oligodendroglioma, a type of brain cancer, responds to chemotherapy, and co-identifying a genetic marker that predicts treatment response and longer survival. These findings helped usher in the era of precision medicine in neurooncology and are now embedded in the World Health Organization classification of brain tumours.

A deeply admired mentor, clinician and leader, Cairncross’ scientific legacy continues to shape care, research and hope for improving brain health.

Dr. Teresa M. Chan, MD’08

Dr. Stephen Blizzard Trailblazer Award

As the Founding Dean of Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Medicine, Dr. Teresa M. Chan is helping redefine how future physicians are trained.

As a teacher, and later as a physician, Chan saw firsthand how social determinants and systems shape people’s lives. She is now translating those lessons into a new model of medical education.

By championing courses like Health Systems Science and embedding social determinants of health throughout the curriculum, she is preparing a new generation of physicians to meet community needs.

Dr. Timothy Foley, MCID’90

Alumni of Distinction – Dentistry

For more than three decades, Dr. Timothy Foley, has helped transform the lives of children with craniofacial differences. 

As the orthodontist on the Cleft Lip and Palate Team at Thames Valley Children’s Centre, he has provided life-changing care to generations of young patients. 

His dedication to clinical care is matched by his commitment to educating future dentists. During two decades in full-time private practice, he remained closely involved in teaching and supervision at Schulich Dentistry. Today, he serves as a full-time associate professor in the Graduate Orthodontics program.

Known for his kindness and professionalism, Foley has earned the respect of patients and students alike.

Dr. Amin Madani, MD’11

Young Alumni – Medicine

Dr. Amin Madani is helping shape the future of surgery through artificial intelligence (AI).

The surgeon-scientist has quickly established himself as an international leader in surgical AI. As founder and director of the Surgical Artificial Intelligence Research Academy at University Health Network, Madani leads work that unites surgical cognition, machine learning and operative data to develop tools that will meaningfully improve operating rooms around the world.

Paola Marignani, MSc’92, EMBA’13

Excellence in Basic Science Research

Paola Marignani, PhD, is helping unravel some of cancer's greatest mysteries.

The groundbreaking scientist earned international recognition for developing innovative mouse models that closely mirror human breast and lung cancers.

A pioneer in applying single-cell transcriptomics, machine learning and advanced computational approaches to cancer biology, Marignani has advanced fundamental understanding of HER2-positive breast and lung cancers. Her discoveries have uncovered key signaling and metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer cells, helping inform new treatment strategies.

Dr. Nabil Sultan, MD’04

Community Service

Dr. Nabil Sultan has built a legacy of service that reaches far beyond the clinic. Widely respected for his leadership in medical education and character-based physician development, he has dedicated decades to volunteer service focused on youth mentorship, community leadership and social responsibility.

Serving in leadership and advisory roles with organizations such as the Muslim Association of Canada and Western’s Muslim Students’ Association, Sultan has made a lasting impact, guiding young professionals toward careers of service, ethical leadership and civic engagement.