Miriam Rossi Award

About

The Miriam Rossi Award for Health Equity in Undergraduate Medical Education aims to recognize University of Toronto MD Program faculty and administrative staff members for their commitment to diversity and health equity in undergraduate medical education. The award is named after Dr. Miriam Rossi, a pediatrician, teaching faculty, and former associate dean of student affairs in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and a strong advocate and mentor for minoritized groups and communities. It was established in 2017 in recognition of Dr. Rossi’s outstanding contributions to health equity in medical education. Dr. Rossi led several initiatives to improve diversity in the U of T medical school, in particular the creation of the Summer Mentorship Program (SMP), established to encourage young Black and Indigenous students, who are under-represented in medicine, to pursue careers in the health sciences. Like many of her contributions, the SMP was developed to help improve equity in the field of medicine, healthcare and society as a whole. The award recipient will receive a certificate of recognition and $250, and may be asked to participate in a workshop or other MD Program event. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals or groups may be nominated for this award.
• Nominees must either hold a faculty appointment with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and have taught or held a leadership position in the MD program, or be staff members in the MD Program.

Selection Criteria

Nominees should demonstrate outstanding effort in improving the equity environment in the MD Program at the University of Toronto through significant contributions to some of the following:

• Outreach, partnership, mentorship, recruitment and/or admission activities that contribute to the diversification of the undergraduate medical education student body, particularly with respect to improving the representation of groups that are under-represented in medical school (e.g., Indigenous, Black, lower income, 2SLGBTQIA+, etc.)
• Teaching and/or curriculum initiatives that contribute to undergraduate medical education student learning regarding the application of health equity principles in the management of the health of individuals and populations
• Teaching, curriculum and/or extra-curricular initiatives that contribute to undergraduate medical education student learning regarding health advocacy, particularly with respect to factors that improve health equity (e.g., principles of diversity, anti-oppression, inclusiveness, cultural competence, cultural safety, social justice in health, etc.)
• Research initiatives that contribute to health equity knowledge mobilization related to undergraduate medical education
• Faculty or staff development initiatives that foster and enable health equity teaching by MD Program faculty

While the award may recognize work related to any of the criteria listed above, preference will be given to nominees whose achievements span or integrate multiple criteria. Priority will also be given to achievements that have had a demonstrable impact within the University MD Program in particular and undergraduate medical education in general. Please note that teaching performance in Arts and Science, graduate, and post-graduate medical programs will not be considered for this award. While Teaching Effectiveness Scores are not scored by the Adjudication Committee, this data may be reviewed by the Chair to ensure that any candidates considered for the award are effective teachers.

How to Submit a Nomination

Nominations are currently closed. Nominations will next open in mid-September 2026.

All nominations must be submitted using the online nomination form. Nominations can be completed by anyone within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine with knowledge of the nominee’s work. 

Selection Process

Review and selection will be undertaken by the MD Program Teaching Awards Committee. Nominations that are not selected in the award cycle for which they are received will be retained for one additional year. Nominees may be asked to provide updated information to the Awards Committee for review. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Administrative Coordinator, Office of the Associate Dean, MD Program.