IHPME Comes Together for an Evening of Celebration, Community, and Connection at Moonshot 2025

IHPME community members gathered to discuss transformative strategies for primary care and beyond at Moonshot 2025.

By: Marielle Boutin

Moonshot 2025, held on Thursday, November 13, marked the eleventh anniversary of the annual flagship alumni and partner event hosted by IHPME.

Alumni, faculty, students, and community partners filled the Hart House Great Hall to enjoy a program featuring visionary ideas, celebrations, and meaningful networking.

Dr. Dominik Nowak, IHPME alumnus, immediate past president of the Ontario Medical Association, and family physician at Women’s College Hospital, served as Master of Ceremonies and set the tone for the evening, drawing from his experiences as a former student and in his various leadership roles.

IHPME Director Audrey Laporte and Dean Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, shared insights on the importance of fostering health systems innovation and the importance of collaborative leadership in achieving it.

The event also served as an opportunity to honour an esteemed IHPME faculty member with the announcement of a new award. Taylor Martin, IHPME’s Alumni Association President, took to the stage to announce the Tina Smith MHSc Leadership Award, established to recognize Tina Smith’s lasting impact as MHSc Program Director, a role she served in from 1996 to 2022.

Several awards were presented to select IHPME faculty and students that exemplify leadership and innovation.

Lillian Chow, a second-year Health Administration (MHSc) student and a registered practical nurse, was presented with the Don Ford Memorial Leadership Excellence Award for her commitment to lifelong learning and leadership practice.

Two awards for Leadership Excellence in Patient and Caregiver Engagement were presented, in memory of Cathy Fooks. This year’s monetary recipient was Catherine Stratton, whose doctoral work is rooted in knowledge translation and meaningful patient partnerships. The non-monetary recipient of the Cathy Fooks Award was Jared Bierbrier, a recognition for his dedication to patients and caregiving.

Presented with the Louise Lemieux-Charles Health System Leadership Award was Dr. Tara Kiran, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and IHPME. Dr. Kiran was celebrated for driving measurable progress through innovative leadership.

“Dr. Tara Kiran exemplifies every criterion for the Louise Lemieux-Charles Health System Leadership Award,” said MHSc Program Director Karen Born, who presented the award, “Her combination of rigorous scholarship, innovative methodology, and sustained impact on policy and practice makes her an ideal recipient of this prestigious honour.”

Lastly, Dr. George Pink presented the Peggy Leatt Knowledge and Impact Award to Assistant Professor at IHPME, Dr. Tara Gomes. Quoting a nominator, Dr. Pink said “Dr. Gomes’s research has been highly influential in understanding and responding to the opioid crisis. […] Her work not only deepens our understanding of drug-related harms, but also continues to shape responsive, compassionate, and system-level strategies to protect people at greatest risk.”

A highlight of the evening was the keynote address, given by Dr. Sacha Bhatia, Executive Vice-President of Primary and Community-Based Care at Ontario Health. Dr. Bhatia’s talk, “Building the New Future of Primary Care in Ontario,” explored the efforts of the province to strengthen primary care by looking at why the system is fragmented before inviting guests to look ahead towards the future and an integrated system that aims to connect two million Ontario residents to primary care.

Following the official program, guests enjoyed a lively reception featuring refreshments and musical entertainment.

“Every year at Moonshot, and this year is no exception, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous impact of our incredible community,” says Prof. Laporte. “What an outstanding turnout we had! A special thank you to Dr. Sacha Bhatia for his inspiring keynote on building the future of primary care, and to Dr. Dominik Nowak, our emcee who hosted with such energy and enthusiasm. We’re also grateful to all of our speakers who shared their insights throughout the evening. Congratulations to all of the award winners whose work in health systems leadership, caregiving, and research continues to shape the future of healthcare. This event is truly special, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2026.”

IHPME would like to thank Moonshot 2025’s sponsors, U of T affinity partners Manulife and TD Insurance.