Resiliency a common attribute among 2025 ob-gyn graduates
Fellows and residents who were forged by the pandemic reach milestone
Richard Pittini, vice chair of education and a professor in the ob-gyn department, was predicting what lay ahead for the cohort of fellows and residents who celebrated graduation last week at Hart House on a cool June evening.
The way he saw it, the ebbs of and flows of the system — whether through retirements or technological innovation or further specializations in the field — would create a perfect storm of opportunities.
“There hasn't been a cohort that has had so many openings to choose from. It's a burden but it's a pleasure, so good for them,” he said. “They’re in the right place at the right time.”
That certainly wasn’t the case when this group started their residency in the middle of the Covid pandemic’s first wave.
During the ceremony, Shannon Brent, speaking on behalf of graduating residents, recalled those early days. She said they met each other during the interview process in January 2020, unaware of what was to come.
“For our cohort, that interview trail was both the beginning and the end of social gatherings for quite some time,” she said. “The world changed. The last months of med school were, well, cancelled. We started residency on Zoom, with our colleagues' faces as grainy thumbnails on screen.”
It was months before they were in the same room again, and when they were, they were masked up and working hard.
In her remarks as chair, Kellie Murphy said, “There you were, on the frontlines. Off you went into new hospitals across the city, off to medicine, ICU rotations, contributing in any way you could.”
The residents had emotional, physical and intellectual challenges like no other. It wasn’t easy. Likewise for the graduating fellows, whose subspecialty training takes one to two years. During that time, they lead and educate while working “hundred-hour weeks,” said Howard Berger, professor and co-master of ceremonies with Sari Kives, an associate professor.
“They defy the rules of physics by being two places at one time,” said Berger.
There is so much medicine has taught you.Modupe Tunde-Byass
Before the recipients of the year’s awards were announced, the keynote speaker Modupe Tunde-Byass, an associate professor in the department, appointed all graduates as an MRP, “most responsible physician.” She offered some thoughts to build resiliency, create joy at work and avoid burnout.
Her advice was hard-won as an immigrant to Canada, U of T alumna, Black maternal health advocate, community practitioner, wife and mother, among others.
“You want to stay connected to family, friends for support. Cherish them often,” Tunde-Byass began, adding: “Get involved. Move from the bedside to the boardroom. Look beyond professional work. Embrace challenges, conquer failure, begin to build a legacy and give back to society.
“There is so much medicine has taught you.”
For the 2025 ob-gyn graduating residents and fellows, resiliency is high on that list.
Graduating fellows
dir. = program director
Advanced Gynecologic Cancer Care (dir. Lauren Philp)
Fatemah Honarpisheh
Advanced High-Risk Obstetrics (dir. Howard Berger)
Sergio Carmona & Priyadarshini Tripathy
Advanced Gynaecologic Surgery and Health Quality Improvement (dir. Abheha Satkunaratnam and Alice Pham)
Jessica Blom
Advanced Gynecologic Surgery (dir. Ally Murji and Jonathon Solnik)
Lacey Brennan
Advanced Endoscopic and Pelvic Floor Surgery (dir. Allan Kanee)
Nupur Dogra
Complex Obstetric Surgery (dir. Sebastian Hobson)
Alix Murphy
Fetal Therapy (dir. Greg Ryan)
Yada Kunpalin
Global Women's Health & Equity (dir. Rachel Spitzer)
Etoroabasi Ekpe
Gynaecologic Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (dir. Claire Jones)
Nickan Motamedi, Trish Dinh & Akanksha Kulshreshtha
Gynaecologic Oncology (dir. Stephane Laframboise)
Karlijn Cornel
High Risk Obstetrics (SHSC and NYGH) (dir. Noor Ladhani and Elad Mei-Dan)
Anat Pardo & Shanny Sade
High Risk Obstetrics (SHSC) (dir. by Noor Ladhani)
Evelyn Zielinski
Maternal-Fetal Medicine (dir. by Marie Czikk)
Maryam Alshatti, Maisah Binsadiqalbakri, Vesna Sokol Karadjole, Laurence Carmant & Charles Litwin
Mature Women's Health & Menopause (dir. Wendy Wolfman)
Taylor Roebothm & Elizabeta Shprits
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (SMH) (dir. Deborah Robertson)
Erica Pascoal
Paediatric Adolescent Gynecology (dir. Sari Kives)
Alana Francis
Perinatal (dir. Marie Czikk)
Juliana Gomes Poli & Mais Abu Nofal
Pregnancy Obesity Medicine and Surgery (dir. Cynthia Maxwell and Kristin Harris)
Caroline Le Jour
THP Community-Based Gynaecology Oncology (dir. Tomer Feigenberg)
Miri Ratner
Urogynecology and Reproductive Pelvic Surgery (dir. Danny Lovatsis)
Laura McLeod & Magdalene Payne
Vulvovaginal Health (dir. Amanda Selk)
Samantha Shiplo & Michal Sheinis
Award winners
Outstanding Resident Educator Award
Marina Vainder
Neelam Sierra Resident Advocacy Award
Julia Kfouri
AAGL Recognition for Excellence in MIG Award
Rosa Lakabi
Division of Gynecologic Oncology Resident Award
Sepand Alavifard
Division of Urogynaecology Resident Award
Alex Pittini
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI)
Alex Pittini
NASPAG Outstanding Resident Award
Orli Silverberg
SMFM Resident Award for Excellence in Obstetrics
Lindsay Reddeman
Dr. Paul Bernstein PGY3 Resident Achievement Award
Mary Boulos
Dr. Frederick R. Papsin Award
Sara Hojabri
Junior Program Director Award
Dalia Karol
Excellence in clerkship teaching (PGY1)
Hillarie Drever
Excellence in clerkship teaching (PGY2)
Xinran Liu
Excellence in clerkship teaching (PGY3)
Gurjot Gill
Excellence in clerkship teaching (PGY4)
Paul Naseef & Caroline Leps
Excellence in clerkship teaching (PGY5)
Simonne Holubeshen
Social Responsibility Award in Global Women’s Health and Vulnerable Populations – Resident award
Tommy Hana
Social Responsibility Award in Global Women’s Health and Vulnerable Populations – Faculty award
Yolanda Kirkham
Pics from the day!
