Appointment of Professor Lisa Robinson as Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions (PDAD&C #20)

From: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President and Provost
Date: December 13, 2023
Re: Appointment of Professor Lisa Robinson as Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions (PDAD&C #20)

I am delighted to announce that the Agenda Committee of Academic Board has approved the appointment of Professor Lisa Robinson as Dean of Temerty Faculty of Medicine for a five-year term from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029, after an extensive international search. The Executive Committee of Governing Council also approved her appointment as Vice-Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions for the same term.

Dr. Robinson, MD, FRCP(C), FASN, FCAHS, is a Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto, former Head of the Division of Nephrology at SickKids, and a Senior Scientist in the Cell Biology program at the SickKids Research Institute. She received her MD degree from the University of Toronto and trained in Internal Medicine at The Toronto Hospital. She completed her residency in Paediatrics at Western University and completed her Paediatric Nephrology and research training at Duke University, where she also served as faculty. 

An accomplished clinician scientist, Dr. Robinson currently holds a Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in vascular inflammation and kidney injury. Her specialization is in caring for children with kidney disease, with a focus on renal transplantation. For 21 years, her fundamental and translational research program at the SickKids Research Institute has pioneered collaborative research between discovery scientists, clinician-scientists, clinicians, and learners at all levels. Her research program is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and has previously been supported by the National Institutes of Health (USA), Heart and Stroke Foundation, Kidney Foundation of Canada, and a Canada Research Chair Tier 2.

Dr. Robinson serves as the Vice-Dean, Strategy and Operations and Co-Chair of the Finance Committee, Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Robinson has supervised many undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows. She is also the founder of Kids Science, a SickKids Research Institute program which provides unique opportunities for middle and high school students from underserved communities to enhance their understanding of careers in science and technology.

Dr. Robinson is the recipient of many prestigious honours and awards, including serving as the President of the American Pediatric Society, being named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, serving on the Innovation and Discovery Task Force of the American Society of Nephrology, serving on Council of the Society for Pediatric Research, receiving the President’s Award of the Hospital for Sick Children, receiving a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Synapse Mentorship Award and an MD Program Teaching Award of Excellence, and being named a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology.

I am grateful to the Advisory Committee for their commitment over the course of this search, and to Professor Patricia Houston, who has agreed to continue as Interim Dean until June 30, 2024. Professor Robinson’s commitment to inclusive excellence, her advocacy for the sector, and her vision for the future will be key to the success of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine in the years ahead. Please join me in congratulating Professor Robinson on her new roles as Dean and Vice-Provost.