2023 RDoC AWARD RECIPIENTS

Four outstanding Canadians are being recognized for their contributions to improving the lives of resident doctors in Canada.

The RDoC Puddester Award for Resident Wellness recognizes individuals who work to improve the wellness of residents across Canada. This year’s recipients is:

Dr. Victor Do is a fourth-year pediatrics resident at the University of Toronto and tireless advocate for learner well-being.  To date, few have done more to move the needle forward on learner wellness advocacy, scholarship, and leadership nationally, provincially and locally. Dr. Do’s work at the national level includes lobbying Canada’s medical faculty deans to commit to a framework for promoting well-being in learning spaces and co-chairing the AFMC Culture of Academic Medicine initiative, which seeks to enshrine learner health promotion in medical faculty policy and practice. While at the University of Alberta Dr. Do championed the establishment of the Well Lab, which works to address systemic barriers to wellness within academic medicine. Dr. Do has published and presented extensively on learner wellness and is the go-to expert for many senior medical leaders on the topic. His staunch belief is that any space where medical pedagogy happens must be designed and operated in such a way that the well-being of the learner is prioritized. 

The RDoC Mikhael Award for Medical Education honours individuals who have contributed to improving undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in Canada. This year’s recipients are:

Dr. Michael Kenyon is a general internal medicine and critical care physician and educator based in Terrace, British Columbia. Dr. Kenyon’s passion for general and rural internal medicine has been an inspiration for many. He has been Instrumental in building internal medicine services within northern BC but also the resident training program which in a large part has made the service successful. The “Kenyon experience” where residents and fellows come to work under his (and now the whole groups) guidance and teaching is amongst the most highly rated rotations in British Columbia. In addition to his work in Terrace, Dr. Kenyon is past governor of the BC chapter of American College of Physicians. 

Dr. Bondzi- Simpson is a third-year resident of University of Toronto General Surgery (Research) program. Dr. Bondzi-Simpson’s initiative, dedication and passion led him to co-chairing the surgical Practices and Research Collaborative group at the University of Toronto and in December 2023 he organized a research symposium titled “Exploring Social Determinants of Health in the Surgical Population: Moving from Research to Action”. Outside the University of Toronto, Dr. Bondzi-Simpson is highly involved with community grassroots organizations and advocacy groups. He played a vital role in the inaugural and historic Black Physicians of Canada conference in 2023 serving as a member of the organizing committee as well as organizing and chairing a session titled “Intersection between Health, Advocacy, and Law” and leading the research poster presentation component of the conference. Dr. Bondzi-Simpson is a passionate mentor, which is best exemplified through his work at UpSurge, a mentorship program aimed at stimulating interest, providing support, and guiding underrepresented students in pursuing surgical careers. He has grown the program from the ground up and it has since served dozens of diverse trainees from across the country, helping them realize their aspirations to become a surgeon in a tangible, concrete way.

The RDoC Ross Award for Service to Resident Doctors recognizes non-physician staff members who have contributed to the enrichment of resident life in Canada. This year’s recipient is:

Janna Ethier is a senior program administrator for the internal medicine program at the University of Saskatchewan. In her role, Ms. Ethier goes above and beyond to advocate for the well-being of the residents within the program. The system level changes that Janna has helped institute, including a new system of approving vacation requests, have had a profound positive impact on the lives of residents. In addition to championing healthier ways to learn and work, Janna’s genuine care and support for residents and her fellow colleagues and her never failing dependability has made her a pillar within the internal medicine program at the University of Saskatchewan.