In a significant appointment, Dr. Lisa Robinson, a distinguished clinician-scientist and paediatric nephrologist, renowned for her groundbreaking work in unraveling molecular mechanisms underlying kidney diseases, has been named the Dean of the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Robinson, currently serving as Temerty Medicine’s vice-dean for strategy and operations, and co-chair of its finance committee.
Simultaneously, she has been appointed as Vice-Provost, Relations with Health-Care Institutions for the same term, emphasizing her commitment to fostering collaborations between academia and healthcare.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Dr. Robinson, a professor in Temerty Medicine’s department of paediatrics and the Institute of Medical Science, highlighted her excitement for the remarkable faculty, university, and the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) structure.
Dr. Robinson, an alumna of U of T, serves as a staff physician and former head of the division of nephrology at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Her expertise lies in caring for children with kidney diseases, particularly renal transplantation. A senior scientist at the SickKids Research Institute, Dr. Robinson’s research spans fundamental and translational realms, fostering collaboration among scientists, clinicians, and learners. Her work delves into immune responses concerning kidney injury, progression of kidney diseases, and expanding the donor pool for kidney transplants.
“I want to use the new knowledge we generate from this research to transform the way we care for children and adults with kidney disease,” stated Dr. Robinson, who holds a tier-one Canada Research Chair in vascular inflammation and kidney injury.
Beyond her research, Dr. Robinson is recognized for her commitment to mentorship and education. She founded the SickKids Research Institute’s Kids Science program, providing students from underserved communities with exposure to careers in science and technology.
Cheryl Regehr, the university’s vice president and Provost, commended Professor Robinson’s dedication to inclusive excellence, advocacy for the sector, and vision for the future, highlighting her pivotal role in the success of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
As Dr. Robinson steps into her role, succeeding Professor Trevor Young, her priorities include fostering a student-centric approach, addressing financial challenges, wellness, mental health, and mentorship. Additionally, she aims to strengthen the recruitment, development, and support of faculty and staff, creating an inclusive environment where every member feels valued.
Dr. Robinson also envisions leveraging TAHSN’s unique ecosystem to maximize research potential, accelerate translation, and emphasize commercialization and industry collaboration. Strengthening ties with partners across U of T’s three campuses is on her agenda, fostering interdisciplinary research and creating opportunities for collaboration.
“I want to make sure we have opportunities to bring together people who wouldn’t normally work with one another,” Dr. Robinson emphasized, outlining her vision for a future of innovation and collaboration in medical education and research.
