Ob-gyn resident is named a ‘Woman of Distinction’ — and puts award money into health care documentary

First-year ob-gyn resident Aditi Sivakumar has been named one of YWCA Toronto’s Women of Distinction for 2025, recognized as “a dedicated women’s rights advocate, elevating the voices of systemically marginalized communities.” The selection comes with a monetary award, which she will use to fund a video documentary about the challenges and resilience of pregnant women living with HIV.

For 40 years, the YWCA Toronto awards have promoted the work of women who advance gender equity in a number of areas in society, transforming the lives of women, girls and gender-diverse people. Sivakumar is celebrated for her advocacy work with Canada’s Walk of Fame, L’Oréal Paris and the World Health Organization, among others, as well as her My Empowerment Platform.

Sivakumar shared her vision for the documentary and how she drew inspiration from her video collaborator Mark Yudin, a professor in the department and on staff at St. Michael’s Hospital.

How did the idea for the video project come about?

I’ve long been committed to improve the health and well-being of women affected by intimate partner violence (IPV), and women living with HIV are particularly vulnerable due to the compounded risks of IPV. IPV not only increases the likelihood of HIV acquisition but also disrupts HIV care.

Also, I was alarmed by the fact that women living with HIV face over twice the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to HIV-negative women. I felt I needed to focus my advocacy efforts on this underserved population.

The idea for this project originated after an insightful conversation with Dr. Mark Yudin. We discussed our shared commitment to improving the care of HIV patients. In the past few years I’ve been increasingly interested in the ability of digital media to tell impactful health care stories and thought a video project would be the ideal way to highlight the resilience of pregnant women living with HIV, and how the medical community can provide optimal care for this group.

It felt serendipitous to win the YWCA award while I was thinking of all this, which could provide the funds to make this project a reality. This will be the second video I help direct and produce. Although I am often in front of the camera for advocacy work, I find great fulfillment in being behind the scenes.

What does it mean to you to win this award?

I’m truly honoured to have been selected as a YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction for 2025. It’s been about eight months since I moved to the city, and having my advocacy work recognized in a place I now call home means so much to me. To know that such a respected organization believes in my ability to continue my advocacy throughout my medical journey is empowering, as is the support of past mentors and new ones in the ob-gyn department who share my vision.

At moments like this, I always think of Chrysalis House, a local domestic violence shelter in Ottawa. This shelter holds a special place in my heart — it’s where my advocacy work began. The women, children, and staff there inspired my dedication to this cause. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.