Two IHPME Students Named Among 2026 Student Leadership Award Recipients

Two IHPME students have been named among the 2026 recipients of the University of Toronto Student Leadership Award.

By: Marielle Boutin

Abhishek Chopra and Alyssa Kelly are now recipients of the University of Toronto Student Leadership Award, recognizing students nearing graduation whose leadership has impacted both the university and their fellow classmates.

Abhishek Chopra

A Master of Health Informatics (MHI) candidate, Abhishek Chopra has demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentorship, and community engagement across his program cohort and the broader U of T ecosystem.

As a 2024-25 Graduate Student Representative, he advocated for inclusive programming while mentoring first-year students through the MHI Peer Mentorship Program. Working with other student council members, he played a key role in coordinating multiple student-facing initiatives, including the MHI Grad Gala, MHI Frosh, and MHI Alumni Night. He also assisted in planning the 2025 and 2026 Future of Health Leadership and Innovation in Practice (FHLIP) Conferences.

His academic and professional contributions extend beyond student leadership. As a trainee affiliate with T‑CAIREM, Abhishek supported the development of AI-in-medicine educational modules. Prior to receiving the UTSLA, has was recognized with Dean’s List Scholar designations (2021-2023), a U of T Global Affairs Certificate, and scholarships recognizing community engagement.

I took on leadership roles because I genuinely wanted to make the MHI experience better for the people around me. In my previous work, I learned that meaningful change comes from listening closely, staying engaged, and being persistent in finding practical solutions. I carried those lessons into my student leadership roles; whether it be working to secure funding for student events, independently leading a merchandise initiative to build a stronger sense of MHI community, and coordinating mentor–mentee connections so students had real, ongoing support.

Alyssa Kelly

A PhD candidate in the Health Systems Research (HSR) program, Alyssa Kelly’s journey at U of T is defined by countless contributions to its rich student leadership culture. As an IHPME student, she has served as Co-Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, a representative on various faculty governance committees, and held the Presidency of the IHPME Graduate Students’ Union from 2020-2022.

Her academic career has included the coordination of major academic events such as Research and Impact Day, leading interdisciplinary research, and supporting equity-driven initiatives through her roles in various advisory and working groups. In addition to the UTSLA, she has previously been recognized with the Outstanding Mentor Award and Teaching Excellence Award (2025), the Health Equity and Social Justice Award (2021), and the Graduate Student’s Union Outstanding Leadership Award (2021) among others.

After spending several years at U of T for my MPH and PhD, I’m grateful to conclude my time as a student by being recognized with this student leadership award. Given our challenging experiences with the pandemic and the current political climate, I feel that now, more than ever, it’s important to acknowledge and appreciate the voluntary efforts that students are taking to make the university a more inclusive and accessible space.