From: Vivek Goel, Vice-President, Research & Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives
Date: February 20, 2020
Re: 2020 Recipients of the President’s Impact Award (PDAD&C #43)

I am delighted to announce the recipients of the 2020 President’s Impact Awards. The President’s Impact Awards (PIA) celebrate and honour faculty members whose research has led to significant impact beyond academia, including, for example, on society, culture, public policy or law, practices or services, education, the development of products, processes or services from inventions, the economy, health, a profession, the environment, quality of life, or through public engagement. PIA nominees were also considered for the Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award, presented annually under the banner of the U of T Awards of Excellence (AWEX).

Recipients of the PIA are designated as members of the President’s Impact Academy for a period of five years, during which they receive an award of $10,000 per year to be used toward their research. The Academy meets to discuss matters relevant to research impact, offers advice to the Vice President, Research & Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives and advocates for sustained excellence in research and innovation impact within and outside of the University.

I want to thank all the nominators for their support and care in preparing the dossiers. I also want to extend appreciation to the members of the Selection Committee for their time and dedication to the process. Thank you all for your commitment to recognizing excellence in research impact at U of T.

Tom Chau
Professor, Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
Vice President of Research and Director, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

For contributions to the development of assistive technologies which give children and youth with severe physical limitations the ability to communicate independently.

Barbara Fallon
Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

For valuable linkages made between researchers and child welfare practitioners through timely and relevant knowledge exchange, vital to inform and direct effective child welfare policy and practice.

Stephen Hwang
Professor, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
St. Michael’s Hospital

For contributions that have advanced policy to improve the health of people experiencing homelessness and make social justice and health equity central to medical practice.

Audrey Macklin
Professor; Director, Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, Faculty of Law

For the profound impact that she has made on critical issues relating to migration and citizenship, and business and human rights, which has contributed to enhanced protection for some of society’s most vulnerable members. Professor Macklin is also the recipient of the 2020 Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award.

Anna Shternshis
Professor, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures
Director, Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies
Faculty of Arts and Science

For the Yiddish Glory project, bridging academic research and popular music, giving public voice to men, women and children who created music during the Holocaust.

The biographies of this year’s recipients as well as more information about the President’s Impact Award are available online and on U of T Celebrates.