The Difference We Make: Celebrating Women in Medicine

Highlights  

Dr. Kavita Sridhar, Critical Care  

Some of the most meaningful contributions in medicine happen quietly, behind the scenes. Dr. Kavita Sridhar is a brilliant clinician and educator, known for bringing compassion and thoughtfulness to difficult family conversations and complex decisions. As Co-Chair of Lakeridge Health’s Ethics Committee, she has also provided steadfast leadership, including helping lead the rewrite of Lakeridge Health’s resuscitation policy and education for clinical teams. This work has been adopted across the region as core guidance. Dr. Sridhar’s expertise, generosity and commitment have left a lasting mark on Critical Care, ethics and the colleagues who work alongside her. 

Dr. Brittany Prevost, Anesthesiology 

It’s often in the most difficult moments that a colleague’s impact is felt most. Dr. Brittany Prevost is known in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for her kindness, compassion and willingness to step in whenever support is needed. One night, with a critically ill patient and limited nursing staff, she stayed at the bedside, providing hands-on care until the patient was safely transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Her colleagues want her to know just how valued she is, not only for her expertise, but for the teammate she chooses to be. 

Dr. Amita Dayal, Family Medicine 

Sometimes mentorship comes from the person you thought you were teaching. Dr. Amita Dayal first met one of her colleagues 20 years ago as a family medicine resident, but her compassion and reflective nature quickly made the learning mutual. Today, through narrative medicine, published writing and the stories she shares, Dr. Dayal continues to help colleagues see their patients and their practice differently. She is a wonderful reminder that the best teachers never stop learning from the people around them. 

Dr. Donna Birbrager, Nephrology 

The way a physician listens can have an impact well beyond a single patient interaction. Dr. Donna Birbrager is deeply valued for making every member of the hemodialysis team feel heard and respected. She brings tremendous clinical knowledge, but leads with kindness, humility and a genuine openness to the perspectives of others. Her example is a powerful reminder that leadership doesn’t always need to be loud and that sometimes it is found in being present, asking questions and truly listening. 

Dr. Audrey Li, Oncology 

Sometimes the smallest gestures can mean the most. Dr. Audrey Li is known for being there in the moments when patients may feel most vulnerable: holding a hand, staying close and offering reassurance as they prepare for treatment. That same thoughtfulness extends to new members of the anesthesia team, whom she helps welcome and support. Her presence is a reminder that exceptional care is not only about what we do for patients, but how we make them feel along the way. 

Dr. Betty Lee, Medicine 

Sometimes, one conversation can change the direction of a career. At a time when a colleague was balancing a young family, hospitalist work and an emerging interest in palliative care, Dr. Betty Lee reached out with an opportunity. That call opened the door to training and, ultimately, a deeply rewarding new path in palliative care. Her encouragement is a wonderful example of what it means to see potential in someone else - and to help create the opportunity for them to pursue it. 

Dr. Suha Eltayeb, Obstetrics and Gynecology 

The best mentors do more than teach. They help others see what they are capable of becoming. Dr. Suha Eltayeb gave a fellow physician opportunities to learn, build surgical skills and grow in confidence, while offering steady guidance through challenging cases and stressful moments. Her kindness, trust and encouragement were as meaningful as her clinical expertise. By investing in her colleague’s potential and leading by example, Dr. Eltayeb has helped build her confidence, strengthen her skills and shape the physician she is becoming. 

Dr. Lisa Huzel, Respirologist/Intensivist and Assistant Medical Director, Critical Care 

As the most experienced female intensivist in her department, colleagues share that Dr. Lisa Huzel brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective which she shares generously. She is valued for her willingness to listen, coach and learn from colleagues at every career stage. Her drive extends beyond medicine: amid her clinical work and contributions to Lakeridge Health, she is also a national and international fencing champion! The combination of experience, humility and determination makes Dr. Huzel a remarkable mentor and an inspiring example of continuing to learn, grow and challenge yourself. 

Dr. Varuna Prakash, Critical Care 

In Critical Care, calm and confidence can make all the difference. Across the reflections shared about Dr. Varuna Prakash, colleagues describe a physician who brings both to even the busiest shifts. So much so that particularly hectic days are affectionately called the “Prakash Effect.” A leader in the Critical Care Response Team and Critical Care Clinical Assistant program at Oshawa Hospital, she also holds a Master’s in Quality Improvement and is passionate about improving patient care. Her knowledge, courage and compassion inspire those around her. For one colleague specifically, they share that seeing her lead as a fellow South Asian woman is also a source of tremendous personal pride. 

Dr. Kulsoom Fatima, Geriatrician 

Some physicians teach as much through how they treat people as through what they know. Dr. Kulsoom Fatima is admired for seeing the whole person behind every consultation and for the compassion she brings to the care of older adults. She extends that same respect to her colleagues, valuing their experience while encouraging them to keep learning and thinking differently. Her quiet, thoughtful leadership has strengthened the confidence and practice of those around her, a reminder that even after decades in health care, the right colleague can still change how you see your work. 

Dr. Andrea Gauster, Obstetrics and Gynecology 

The care a physician provides during a frightening moment can stay with a patient for years. A team member shared that while she was a patient when a rare complication arose following the birth of her son, Dr. Andrea Gauster’s calm, confident presence helped her feel safe even as the room filled with additional staff. Dr. Gauster’s compassion continued after the crisis had passed, with daily visits to check on both mother and baby until they went home. Two years later, when it was time to choose an obstetrician for her second pregnancy, there was no question: the patient requested Dr. Gauster by her side again. The contributor shared that this decision reflected the trust and reassurance she had never forgotten.  

Dr. Carolyn Tram, Critical Care 

As part of a team of women physicians who bring tremendous expertise and high-quality care to Critical Care at Lakeridge Health, Dr. Carolyn Tram is also helping care for those who provide that care. As Critical Care’s Wellness Lead, she works at both the hospital and program level to support physician well-being, including the well-being of trainees. Her commitment to both her patients and her colleagues is a reminder that supporting the people behind the care helps build stronger teams for the patients and families who depend on them. 

Dr. Sujiththa Suntharalingam, Hospitalist Medicine 

Respect and collaboration are at the heart of how Dr. Sujiththa Suntharalingam practices medicine. Even in difficult situations, colleagues describe her as kind, thoughtful and focused on finding patient-centred solutions. She makes a point of seeking the perspectives of nurses and others involved in a patient’s care, recognizing the expertise each person brings. Her approach is a reminder that excellent care is a team effort, and that making colleagues feel heard and respected ultimately strengthens the care patients receive. 

Dr. Parul Katyal, Anesthesia 

Sometimes a colleague’s support during a difficult moment can leave lessons that last throughout a career. When two nurses needed an advocate, Dr. Parul Katyal showed up prepared, having carefully documented what she had observed, and helped them find the confidence to speak for themselves. Her support went beyond that single meeting: she demonstrated the importance of being objective, documenting carefully and standing with confidence in challenging situations, lessons that one colleague continues to carry with her.  

Dr. Nedalina Kaneva Alexieva, Emergency Medicine 

Compassion can make an extraordinary difference when someone is experiencing loss. When a patient came to Bowmanville Hospital’s Emergency Department during a miscarriage, Dr. Nedalina Kaneva Alexieva created a private space where she could process what was happening with dignity. She took time to explain what to expect, answer questions and acknowledge the grief she was experiencing. For a patient facing an incredibly difficult moment, Dr. Alexieva’s kindness and compassion made her feel cared for as a whole person. It was an experience the patient says she has not forgotten. 

Dr. Rebecca Wray, Family Medicine

A colleague who has had the privilege of working with Dr. Rebecca “Becky” Wray for many years says she continues to be inspired by the way Becky leads. As a mother, physician, educator, palliative care provider, community partner and health-system leader, Becky brings kindness, humility and respect to everything she does. During COVID-19, she became a trusted voice, supporting vaccine efforts, education and knowledge sharing while continuing frontline clinical care. Her impact has also been recognized by senior leaders and the community, including with the 2024/25 Local Healthcare Hero Award. She is a powerful example that excellence and kindness are not mutually exclusive, and that patients, colleagues and communities are better for both. 

Dr. Julie Ann Francis, Gynecological Oncology 

Dr. Julie Ann Francis is recognized not only for her surgical expertise, but for how generously she uses her voice and experience to advance women’s health. As Division Head of Gynecological Oncology and Regional Lead for Colposcopy, she advocates for early cancer detection and regular screening, while encouraging young women pursuing careers in STEM and medicine. She was also among the first physicians in Canada trained to use the da Vinci surgical robot. Alongside an all-women division, Dr. Francis is helping advance care today while inspiring the women who will shape medicine tomorrow. 

Dr. Shannon Trainor, Thoracic Surgery 

Dr. Shannon Trainor is admired for bringing together surgical expertise, compassionate care and a determination to improve what is possible for patients. As Thoracic Division Lead and a recent Interim Chief of Surgery, her impact extends from the patients she cares for to the services available across Durham Region. Colleagues and community members have described her dedication as inspiring and credit her with helping make PET/CT a reality locally. Through her leadership, expertise and compassion, Dr. Trainor has made a difference in the lives of countless patients and helped strengthen cancer care closer to home. 

Dr. Cindy Wang, Chief and Medical Director, Anesthesia 

Great surgical care depends on strong teams, and colleagues across Lakeridge Health’s Surgical Program recognize Dr. Cindy Wang as an important part of what makes theirs successful. As Chief and Medical Director of Anesthesia at Lakeridge Health, she is valued as an engaged physician partner who listens, collaborates and advocates for both patients and the people providing their care. Her leadership has extended provincially, including serving as Chair of Ontario’s Anesthesiologists from 2024 to 2026. Her colleagues value not only the expertise she brings, but her commitment to making the team - and the care they provide together -stronger. 

To learn more about some of the exceptional women physicians who are building what’s next at Lakeridge Health, visit Where Physicians Build What’s Next.