C.P. Shah Alumni Award of Excellence in Public Health Event – Dr. Mary Jo Haddad

Mary Jo Haddad RN, CM began her career in academic healthcare as a Registered Nurse in Michigan.  She joined the Hospital for Sick Children in 1984 and served in several progressive leadership roles including Chief Nurse, Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer and served as President and CEO from 2004 to 2014.

She is recognized for her innovative leadership and commitment to children’s health through a distinguished career in health care in Canada and the US, and leading numerous national and international initiatives.  A champion of research and innovation, she led the creation of the Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, building capacity and commitment to discovery, research and commercialization. She served as the Founding Chair of MaRS Innovation (now TIAP) and as a Founding Director of the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

Mary Jo is President of MJH & Associates, providing strategic leadership and advisory services.  As Corporate Director, she serves on the Board of TELUS as Chair of the People, Culture and Compensation Committee and on the Governance Committee. She also served as a member of the Board of TD Bank Financial Group (2014-2020) on the HR Committee. She maintains a strong commitment to giving back as a mentor and leadership coach and as an advocate for children and youth through her volunteer work as past Director of the Board of Kids Health Links Foundation, SickKids capital campaign and as founding Chair of Children First Canada, a not for profit committed to helping make Canada the best place for kids to grow up.  She is also a founding visionary of the Prosperity Project and a member of the Board of Capitalize for Kids, where she serves as Chair of the Governance Committee and member of the Human Resources committee.

Mary Jo holds a Master of Health Science from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Windsor and is a Nursing Graduate of St Clair College. She is a Member of the Order of Canada (2010) and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2014). She received the Premier’s Award for Outstanding Achievement, was named one of Toronto Life’s 50 Influential People (2012) and named one of Canada’s inaugural Top 25 Women of Influence in health sciences (2011) and is a recipient of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame. She received the Life Sciences Ontario Leadership Award in (2020). In 2025 she received the Champions for Children Award from Children First Canada.  Her contributions have been recognized with Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from University of Windsor, Ryerson University and The University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

Dr. Haddad was appointed Chancellor of the University of Windsor where she proudly served from 2019-2025 and launched the Chancellor’s Leadership Series and scholarship, to foster the development of future leaders in Canada.

Joanne Thanos, an MHSc graduate in epidemiology and community health, is a distinguished leader in the health and not-for-profit sectors. With extensive experience in public health, policy, and equity, diversity, and inclusion, she has significantly modernized public health policy in Ontario. She is currently a Senior Director at the Ontario Medical Association, a role that involved the transformation of its 140-year-old governance structure. Joanne has a long-standing relationship with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), serving in various roles within the Public Health Sciences Alumni Association. She is a member of the DLSPH Dean’s Advisory Council and also sits on the Board of Directors of the University of Toronto Alumni Association, contributing to the EDI committee and chairing U of T’s Mentorship community of practice.

The C. P. Shah Alumni Award of Excellence in Public Health is awarded to a distinguished individual who has advanced the field of public/population health or health systems in Canada through their contribution and/or sustained efforts in the practice of public health or managing health care systems, teaching, and research. The recipient of this prestigious award serves as inspiration to current and future generations to continue to strive to make an impact in public health and health systems in Canada and beyond.

• 2024: Jane Philpott
• 2023: Matthew Anderson
• 2022: Laura Rosella
• 2021: Lawrence Loh
• 2021: Eileen de Villa
• 2020: Onyenyechukwu Nnorom
• 2019: Sue Mah
• 2018: Penny Sutcliffe
• 2017: Mary-Anne Pietrusiak
• 2016: Joanna Cohen
• 2015: Jeff Reading
• 2014: Vivek Goel
• 2012: Martin Schechter
• 2010: David McKeown
• 2007: Sheela Basrur