On December 31, 2025, the Governor General of Canada announced 80 new appointments to the Order of Canada—one of Canada’s highest civilian honours. These appointments recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.
Among those recognized were UHN researchers Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, Chief of Innovation and Senior Scientist at UHN, and Dr. Allison McGeer, Clinician Investigator at UHN and Senior Clinician Scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health.
Dr. Keshavjee was promoted from Officer to Companion of the Order of Canada—the highest honour within the Order—for his transformative contributions to transplant surgery. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2014. Dr. Keshavjee co-developed the Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) system, which maintains donor lungs outside the body by mimicking body temperature and providing nutrients prior to transplantation—doubling the number of lungs available for transplant. He continues to lead research in lung preservation during transplant procedures. Dr. Keshavjee is also a Professor of Thoracic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto.
Dr. McGeer has been named a Member of the Order of Canada for her contributions to epidemiology, which have shaped national and global strategies for infection prevention. She is one of Canada’s most trusted epidemiological policy advisors and was a key figure in the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research has advanced knowledge in the fields of influenza epidemiology, prevention of health care-associated infection, and immunization. Dr. McGeer is also a Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology at the University of Toronto.
See the full list of appointees and read the official press release.
The Order of Canada, created in 1967, recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Canadian society. More than 8,250 people from all sectors have received this prestigious honour.