2022 CAP-ACP Award Recipients Announced
Thu, 01 Sep 2022

Congratulations to the CAP-ACP 2022 Award Recipients!

Over the years, the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP-ACP) has honoured a number of Laboratory Physicians, Laboratory Technicians and Pathologists Assistants through our Awards Program.

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the 2022 award recipients. 

Most will be providing a webinar in the VES between fall 2022 and spring 2023 where we will celebrate with them.
 

President's Award
Catherine Ross, MD, FRCPC

President's Award
Awarded by the President for long and sustained service of an exceptional order to the CAP-ACP in whatever capacity, by an individual, member or non-member, a physician or non-physician.

Dr. Catherine Ross is a pathologist, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and professor emeritus at McMaster University. As the medical director for Ontario, Dr. Ross supports the work of the laboratories and the medical and scientific staff, the leadership, and the provision of high-quality, accurate and timely patient diagnostic services.

Dr. Ross graduated from McMaster medical school and completed her residency in Anatomic Pathology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She has a focused expertise practice in malignant hematological disease diagnosis.

 

She has a Master of Science degree in immunology (McMaster University) and a Master’s certificate in health care administration from the Schulich school of business. She has completed several leadership programs, including the physician leadership program of the Canadian Medical Association/Ontario Medical Association.

Dr. Ross is active in medical education and is the current co-chair of the examination committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for Anatomic Pathology.

Dr. Ross has worked with Cancer Care Ontario (CCO-OH) on the Complex malignant hematology steering committee and has supported work done by the Cancer Care Ontario Pathology and Laboratory Medicine program for many years.

She is also active with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), is past chair of the Section of Laboratory  Medicine, and is currently a member of the priorities and leadership group of the OMA.

Dr. Ross has a longstanding interest in patient safety and quality. In addition to being past president of the Canadian Association of Pathologists, she is the recipient of the Leadership in Patient Safety and Quality Assurance award from this organization.

Dr. Ross has more than 80 published articles, abstracts, and presentations.

During the pandemic, Dr. Ross was the Association's "virtual" President; having successfully lead the organization through the challenges of complete closure, of all in-person activities, to the most successful and robust virtual education programming ever offered.  Her leadership, devotion and direction was foundational to the success in delivering the mission and goals of the organization during an extremely difficult time in the specialty.  She is the only President who never met the Board or membership in person or wore the presidential chain of office.  We will make sure she wears it in Gatineau for a few hours and long enough for a photo.
 

Distinguished Service Award
Monalisa Sur, MBBS, FCPath, MMed, FRCPath(UK), FRCPC

Distinguished Service Award
Awarded in recognition of a CAP-ACP member who has contributed significantly to the development of the CAP-ACP as a truly representative association of all laboratory disciplines in Canada.

Dr. Monalisa Sur is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Division of Anatomical Pathology and associate member, Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Dr Sur is a Staff Pathologist at Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Josephs Health Care since 2002. Her primary areas of interest in clinical service, education and research are Hematopathology, and Gynecologic-Oncologic Pathology and applied molecular pathology in these areas. She is currently interested and advocating for Digital Pathology and Artificial Intelligence training and implementation in Anatomical pathology.

She is currently the Chair of the Anatomical Specialty Committee of the Royal College of physicians and surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and examiner for the royal college exams in Anatomical Pathology. Dr Sur is a member of the executive committee of the CAP-ACP. From 2014-2016 she was the chair of the Annual Scientific Meeting Committee of the CAP-ACP. Since 2018 she has been the resource development chair. She is also a member of the education committee and current chair of the PSQA section. In 2019, she organized the 1st leadership and wellness and work life integration interactive workshop in collaboration with MD management which was well received and attended and initiated the CAP-ACP to start a physician wellness special interest group for Pathologists. She is also member and Champion of the Climate Change and Environmental Pathology Special Interest Group within CAP-ACP. She is also in the editorial board of CJP and a reviewer for this journal.  She has been involved in many pan-Canadian recommendations for practice patterns and guidelines. She has also worked with the workload/workforce committee within CAP-ACP.

Dr Sur has also won the national CAP-ACP award for Leadership in Education in July 2016 and Leadership is Patient Safety & Quality Assurance in 2021.  Nationally, she has been conducting workshops at the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP-ACP) annual meeting and presented workshops at the International Academy of Pathology meetings (IAP).

These workshops have been geared towards residents, fellows and junior faculty and have received excellent feedback and evaluations. Dr Sur has been presenting at the National Resident Exam Review Course in Anatomical and General Pathology conducted through the CAP-ACP since its inception in 2011 for residents writing the FRCPC in Anatomical Pathology and General Pathology.
 

Junior Scientist Award
Rola Saleeb, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Junior Scientist Award
Offered by the Canadian Association of Pathologists-Association canadienne des pathologistes (CAP-ACP) to recognize meritorious scientific work, experimental or non-experimental, in the field of Pathology by a young investigator. The award has two categories, “clinical” and the “basic science”. Up to one award, in each category, may be awarded each year.
Dr. Rola Saleeb is the Genitourinary Pathology site lead and the medical director of Immunohistochemistry at St. Michael's Hospital/Unity Health Toronto. She is also a Clinical Scientist at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Her areas of interest are Genitourinary Pathology and Molecular Pathology. She had her medical degree from Cairo University, Anatomical Pathology and PhD training from the University of Toronto, and a Transformative Pathology Molecular Fellowship from the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research (OICR).
 

Leadership In Education Award
Jason Karamchandani, MD
Leadership In Education Award
This award was established in December 2012 at the joint suggestion of the Awards Committee, the Continuing Professional Development Committee and the Pathology Education Section to recognize a member who has shown leadership in education in the CAP-ACP.

Dr. Jason Karamchandani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, and is a neuropathologist at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital. His clinical specialty is neuropathology and anatomic pathology. His research employs bio-informatic data to identify and to characterize biomarkers relevant to classification and prognosis of brain tumours and neuromuscular disorders. His laboratory at the Neuro will examine pathologies of both the central nervous system as well as neuromuscular disease.

Dr. Karamchandani also serves as the director of immunohistochemistry and special stains for the MUHC, program director for the McGill Anatomic Pathology residency program, and on the tissue and bio-banking committee of the MUHC research ethics board.

A graduate of Harvard University, where he received his AB Honours degree in biochemistry cum laude, Dr. Karamchandani earned his medical degree at Stanford University School of Medicine where he was class valedictorian. At Stanford, he pursued residency training in anatomic pathology, as well as fellowship training in surgical pathology and neuropathology.

Among his scientific achievements, Dr. Karamchandani has authored or co-authored 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He has published three book chapters, with the most recent describing the molecular alterations and clinical tests in tumours of the central nervous system, and tumours of the spinal cord.

Dr. Karamchandani served as the Treasurer for the CAP-ACP; he continues to oversee the financial reporting to the Board.  Dr. K is currently the Vice-President of the organization and is instrumental in leading many important projects for our national specialty society.  
 

Leadership in Patient Safety & Quality Assurance Award
Chris Naugler, MD, FRCPC

Leadership in Patient Safety and Quality Assurance Award

This award was established by the Section of Patient Safety and Quality Assurance in 2013 to recognize a member who has shown leadership in patient safety and quality assurance in the CAP-ACP.

Dr. Christopher Naugler is a Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. He is a former Clinical Section Chief, Department Head and Medical Director for Calgary Laboratory Services and later for Alberta Health Services/Alberta Precision Laboratories. As a Provincial and National leader in laboratory medicine, Dr. Naugler currently serves as the Chair of the General Pathology Residency Training Program for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada where he oversaw the development and implementation of Competency by Design training. He is also the President of the Alberta Medical Association Section of Laboratory Physicians. He is internationally recognized as an expert in pathology informatics and big data approaches to laboratory medicine research. Dr. Naugler has a special interest in the role of laboratory medicine in supporting patient safety and health system efficiency. He has also worked to raise the profile of Laboratory Medicine through numerous radio and print interviews and work with organizations such as the CD Howe Institute. As the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, he is currently overseeing the largest medical school curriculum re-design in the history of the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine.
 

Lloyd A. Kennedy Pathologists' Assistant Awards
Mr. William Tsui, MSc, PA(ASCP)CM, (CCCPA-CCCAP)

Lloyd A. Kennedy Pathologists' Assistant Award

The award was initially established in 2007; in 2010 it was renamed to commemorate Lloyd A. Kennedy and his devotion to PAs in Canada. Lloyd was well known and respected throughout the medical community, having contributed over 30 years of dedicated service in pathology at the Kingston General Hospital and Queens University.  Lloyd held the position of Past Chair of the Executive Committee and was also an active member of the AAPA.  He was chosen as the Pathologists’ Assistant of the year in 2009. Lloyd Left us peacefully on January 13, 2010 at the age of 56

The Lloyd A. Kennedy Pathologists' Assistant Award is funded by the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine at Queen’s University and Kingston General Hospital.

The award is presented to a Pathologists’ Assistant in good standing, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to continuing professional development in the area of medical laboratory practice.

William Tsui is a pathologist assistant at Mount Sinai Hospital and active in teaching and mentoring PA students, serving as a Clinical Preceptor for Western’s MClSc Pathologists’ Assistant program since 2014.

In 2020, William was appointed Education/Clinical Coordinator and Lecturer for the Master in Health Science (MHSc) in Laboratory Medicine, Pathologists’ Assistant Program at the University of Toronto. He was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the practicum component of the program where the PA students learn and hone important on bench skills to be a successful PA. He led numerous pathologist course coordinators and site lead PAs to support the program. William developed a two-week didactic and practical Boot Camp initiative to support the students transition into a laboratory environment.

William completed his undergraduate studies in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Toronto before obtaining his MSc in Pathology at Western University in 2010.  William is a recipient of the LMP Leadership Grant for emerging leaders in 2021 and holds both ASCP and CCCPA certifications.
 

PA Section Distinguished Service Award
Mr. Sanowar Hossain, PA (CCCPA-CCCAP)

PA Section Distinguished Service Award

Established in 2018 and presented to a member of the CAP-ACP PA section as a mark of recognition, of significant contributions and outstanding devotion, to the development of Pathologists’ Assistants, as a truly representative Section (for all PAs) in Canada.

Sanowar Hossain is a certified Pathologists’ Assistant working in the Anatomic Pathology department for more than 16 years.

I am a foreign-trained medical graduate from Bangladesh and did a College Certificate (AEC) in Biotechnology at Dawson College, Montreal. I started my career at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal in 2006. Since 2015, I have been working as a Pathology Scientist in Alberta. I have been involved with the PA section of CAP since 2008, and I was the organizing committee chair for the 2010 annual conference. I was the chair of the membership committee of the PA section of CAP-ACP, and  I just stepped down from the director position of the Initial Applications Review Committee of CCCPA-CCCAP after serving over five years.

I have a certificate in Laboratory Quality Management, mid-level leadership development, and Change Management. Currently, I am doing the Human Resource Certificate course at Simon Fraser University. I have an interest in lean and change management. Laboratory medicine is an ever-evolving science,  and I believe lean and change management can help us to keep on track with the current demand. At the beginning of my PA career, we never used a standardized grossing template, and today most of our templates are standardized as synoptic templates.  It took many years and effort of several dedicated PAs from all over Canada to be where we are today. I feel privileged and honored to be a part of this journey.

I have personally worked with Sanowar since the start of the CCCPA.  He has been an active leader in reviewing all applications for the certification of pathologists assistants.  He has always been available and present in this important committee.  Thank you Sanowar!
 

Medical Technologist/Technician Award for Continuing Professional Development
Mr. Alfred Cuellar

Medical Technologist/Technician Award for Continuing Professional Development

Presented to a Medical Laboratory Technologist/Technician in Pathology (Histology, EM, Genetics, Immunohistochemistry, Cytology) or Hematology, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to continuing professional development in the area of medical laboratory practice.

Alfred Cuellar, Technical Coordinator IHC Pathology, McGill University Health Centre – Glen Site

Alfred Cuellar has worked in the Immunohistochemistry Lab since 2001. He has been the Immunohistochemistry Lab Coordinator since 2010. He started his employment with the MUHC in 1990 in the Department Of Pathology, Histology Lab.
The McGill University Health Centre’s IHC Lab was a pioneer in bringing patient on-slide multi-tissue controls, which greatly improved the accuracy and reliability of their biomarkers sensitivity.
Alfred understands the significant role the IHC Lab plays in helping Pathologists with their diagnosis.
Alfred has stained thousands of IHC slides, but he never forgets that every slide has a personal story. 
 

William Boyd Lectureship
George Yousef, MD, PhD, FRCPC, MSc, MBBCh

William Boyd Lectureship

The William Boyd Award is the most prestigious lectureship of our association and pays attribute to an outstanding Canadian pathologist. Dr. Boyd was at the forefront of research, a great educator, an effective and an excellent diagnostic pathologist and a man for great enduring human strength. These attributes inspire us through lectureships which recognize fellow pathologists who have and are continuing in these great traditions.  This Award was established in 1981 to honour the memory of Dr. William Boyd and recognizes the contribution to Laboratory Medicine of a senior member of the CAP-ACP. 

Dr. George Yousef is Program Medical Director and head of the Laboratory Medicine Program at University Health network in Toronto and a Professor and Vice-Chair of the department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is also a Scientist at Princess Margaret Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children and the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. He is the editor of a book on
"Molecular Pathology in Cancer". He has over 280 published research papers and review articles and 15 book chapters. Dr. Yousef is a founding member of the International Scientific Committee of Kallikreins and the Vice President of the International Society of Enzymology. He is the editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Pathology. He has served on academic and governmental advisory committees, including the international kallikrein Committee and the International Society of Urologic Pathology Kidney Cancer Classification. He served a member of the Royal College Examination Board in Anatomical pathology.

Dr. Yousef is the Editor In Chief of the Canadian Journal of Pathology and continues to manage this Journal content with tremendous leadership and dedication to our specialty.  He is also active in the Section for Advanced Diagnostics.