Four members of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine have earned coveted national awards from the association that is the voice of academic medicine in Canada, underscoring our broad community’s influential role in shaping the future of health care, medical education and scientific research.
The awards from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) are among the most prestigious honours in Canadian academic medicine, celebrating individuals whose work stretches across education, research, leadership and social accountability.
This year’s bumper crop of awardees put a spotlight on the diverse ways that Faculty members and trainees lead and innovate: from shaping national educational standards, to driving research advances, and empowering learner-led change.
Here are the four exemplary uOttawa Faculty of Medicine members recognized with 2026 AFMC Awards:
Dr. Jason Frank — AFMC President’s Award for Exemplary National Leadership in Academic Medicine
“This recognition is a tremendous honour that I am pleased to share with the CiMED team and all the many education leaders in our Faculty that I have the pleasure of collaborating with.”
Dr. Jason Frank
Dr. Jason Frank, a clinician-educator who is a leading figure in medical education and health professions training, earned the AFMC President’s Award for Exemplary National Leadership in Academic Medicine. This prize recognizes an individual whose sustained contributions have significantly advanced medical education and health care systems across Canada.
A champion for interprofessional collaboration and educational innovation, Dr. Frank’s high-impact achievements are shaping important national conversations on health care training, competency frameworks, and learner support.
Founding director of the Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CiMED), his work is strengthening the educational landscape for future clinicians and educators.
“This recognition is a tremendous honour that I am pleased to share with the CiMED team and all the many education leaders in our Faculty that I have the pleasure of collaborating with,” says Dr. Frank, a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and an attending physician at The Ottawa Hospital.
Dr. Mary-Ellen Harper — AFMC Scientist Award
“I’m very grateful to my colleagues and trainees whose curiosity, teamwork, and dedication make our collective research progress possible.”
Dr. Mary-Ellen Harper
Dr. Mary-Ellen Harper earned the AFMC Scientist Award, recognizing her many achievements in research focusing on metabolic health and the multifaceted role played by mitochondria – organelles within our cells.
This award celebrates researchers whose work exemplifies leadership, scientific excellence, and a strong track record of mentoring students and trainees.
A globally recognized scientist, her research program investigates the importance of mitochondria in health and disease. And her role in fostering robust research environments and training the next generation of scientists underscores uOttawa’s prominence in Canadian medical research ecosystems.
Director of the University of Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology and professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Dr. Harper says she’s “truly honoured” to receive the AFMC Scientist Award.
“This recognition reflects the shared commitment of our research community in Ottawa, where collaboration and mentorship continually shape new discoveries. I’m very grateful to my colleagues and trainees whose curiosity, teamwork, and dedication make our collective research progress possible,” she says.
Dr. Lorenzo Madrazo — AFMC John Ruedy Award for Excellence in Graduate Health Professions Education Scholarship
“My work wouldn’t be possible without the support and encouragement of the many mentors and collaborators I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years at uOttawa.”
Dr. Lorenzo Madrazo
Dr. Lorenzo Madrazo was recognized with the AFMC John Ruedy Award for Excellence in Graduate Health Professions Education Scholarship. This award celebrates excellence and scholarly achievement in health professions education research at the graduate level.
A lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and an internal medicine physician at The Ottawa Hospital, Dr. Madrazo’s contributions reflect a strong commitment to advancing the science of teaching and learning in health professions. His research enriches understanding of how education can be structured, assessed and improved to better prepare clinicians and health professionals for complex challenges in practice.
Dr. Madrazo says he’s “very grateful for the opportunity to highlight work on how we can better support resident leaders” and looks forward to the conversations this will spark at ICAM this year. The AFMC awards ceremony will take place at ICAM 2026 in April.
“My work wouldn’t be possible without the support and encouragement of the many mentors and collaborators I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years at uOttawa,” he says. “This award reflects their efforts as much as mine.”
Sara Siddiqi — AFMC Learner Changemaker Award
“I am excited to build upon this work by shaping research that benefits patients and advocating for equitable spaces for students and beyond in my career.”
PhD Candidate Sara Siddiqi
Sara Siddiqi, a PhD candidate in Epidemiology, earned an AFMC Learner Changemaker Award. This award honours learners who demonstrate remarkable initiative and impact within their educational communities.
Siddiqi’s work exemplifies the spirit of innovation and social accountability. By pushing boundaries in how learners engage with curriculum design, research, or health advocacy, she is setting a high standard for student leadership within academic medicine.
Among other roles, she’s successfully advocated for new student supports at uOttawa, co-authored a toolkit on EDI in research, and leads a team of research collaborators across Canada to support her dissertation work. She says receiving this AFMC award inspires her to accomplish more.
“I am hopeful that my contributions to advocating for equity, diversity, inclusivity, raising student voices on committees, and leading research is helpful to the community,” she says. “Looking ahead, I am excited to build upon this work by shaping research that benefits patients and advocating for equitable spaces for students and beyond in my career.”