Announcement: Meet the 2025 Alumni of Distinction Recipients

crystal trophies sitting on a table.

By Communications

With pleasure, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry announces the 2025 Alumni of Distinction Award recipients, symbolic of the excellence and pride we have in all of our alumni. These individuals have distinguished themselves as role models for the School's alumni, as well as current students and learners.

 


Ben Pliska

Dr. Benjamin Pliska, DDS’05

Alumni of Distinction Dentistry

Dr. Benjamin Pliska is helping to reshape the role of orthodontics in whole-person health through an interdisciplinary lens that bridges orthodontics and sleep medicine. As Clinic Director of the Graduate Orthodontics Program at the University of British Columbia, he is deeply involved in training the next generation of orthodontists to be both technically proficient and patient-centered.

Dr. Pliska holds specialist certification in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and a master’s degree in sleep medicine. His research efforts are focused on how the form and function of the face and upper airway are related to growth and development and obstructive sleep apnea disease in children and adults. The broad objectives of his research are to investigate the relationship of these elements to the craniofacial complex affects and obstructive sleep breathing disorders, and to develop evidence-based protocols for the orthopedic treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. In many ways, his expertise overlaps both Orthodontics and Sleep Medicine, and his work facilitates a synergistic approach between these fields for the management of obstructive sleep disorders.


Dr. John Denstedt

Dr. John Denstedt, MD’82, Resident Alum (Urology, 1987)

Alumni of Distinction Medicine

Dr. John Denstedt has spent his career at the forefront of urology and surgical innovation, shaping the field of endourology. Following his postgraduate training, he returned to Schulich Medicine & Dentistry to lead the Department of Surgery for over a decade. Under his guidance, the Department expanded significantly, driven by his dedication to research, mentorship, and academic excellence.

As a pioneer in minimally invasive approaches to urinary stone disease, Dr. Denstedt has authored over 270 scientific publications and delivered hundreds of lectures across more than 60 countries. He was the first Canadian Secretary of the American Urological Association (AUA) and served as President of the Endourological Society. With honours including the Ramon Guiteras Award from the AUA, Dr. Denstedt’s legacy is defined by excellence, influence and a deep commitment to advancing surgical care worldwide.


Cynthia Hawkins

Dr. Cynthia Hawkins, PhD’96, MD’97

Excellence in Basic Science Research

Dr. Cynthia Hawkins is a trailblazer in paediatric brain tumour research, whose discoveries have redefined how childhood cancers are diagnosed and treated worldwide. Early in her career, she helped identify brain cancer stem cells – an insight that reshaped cancer biology.

Her research into diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), one of the most lethal childhood brain tumours, led to the discovery of critical genetic drivers and helped establish the world's largest DIPG tissue bank. These breakthroughs transformed global classification and treatment standards. As a leader in paediatric low-grade gliomas, she has advanced molecular diagnostics that now guide targeted therapies – offering new hope to children and their families. At SickKids, she built Canada’s first clinically-licensed pan-cancer RNAseq platform, now used around the globe. A committed mentor and international collaborator, Dr. Hawkins’ work continues to drive precision medicine forward, earning her a reputation as one of the most influential voices in paediatric neuro-oncology today.


Dr. Jennifer Gunter

Dr. Jennifer Gunter, Resident Alum (Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1995)

Dr. Steven Blizzard Trailblazer Award

Dr. Jennifer Gunter is a fearless advocate and trusted voice in women’s health, known for challenging medical misinformation and breaking down stigma with science and candour. She rose to prominence by publicly challenging pseudoscientific claims, including those from celebrity wellness brands like Goop, sparking widespread discussions on evidence-based medicine.

A gifted communicator, Dr. Gunter educates through her CBC show Jensplaining, the podcast Body Stuff, a widely viewed TED Talk, and her popular newsletter The Vajenda. Her acclaimed books, The Menopause Manifesto and Blood, further empower women with scientifically grounded health information. With over 320,000 online followers, she’s a powerful voice for gender equity in medicine. Dr. Gunter’s impact on public health, policy and education exemplifies the spirit of the Dr. Stephen Blizzard Trailblazer Award, honouring her as a transformative leader and role model in health care.


Laurie Elit

Dr. Lorraine Elit, MD’84

Community Service

Dr. Laurie Elit has dedicated her life to providing compassionate cancer care for women in some of the world’s most underserved communities. Inspired early in her training, she began her humanitarian work with a mission to Papua New Guinea and has since provided cancer care in low-resource settings worldwide, including Haiti, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and, most notably, Cameroon, where she has focused her efforts since 2016.

There, she treats gynecologic cancers and mentors local physicians through her roles with the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons and as Vice Dean for Research at the Baptist Institute of Health. She also leads a Master’s in Public Health program with Next Genu. Though retired from full-time practice in Canada, she continues to support care and training abroad. With over nine books and numerous publications, Dr. Elit’s career reflects extraordinary compassion, faith and commitment to global women’s health, leaving a lasting legacy of service and mentorship.


Saumik Biswas

Saumik Biswas, PhD’20

Young Alumni Basic Science

Saumik Biswas is an innovative scientist, entrepreneur and leader. His research on non-coding RNA, epigenetic mechanisms, and diabetic complications led to 16 peer-reviewed publications, multiple awards, and a patent application during his PhD training, distinguishing him as a top graduate of his cohort.

After completing Western's Medical Innovation Fellowship Program, he launched and incorporated Tenomix - a medical technology start-up. Under his leadership, the company developed the Lymphonator, a platform technology that integrates robotics, ultrasound imaging and AI to improve lymph node detection in colorectal cancer staging. This breakthrough earned top honours, including the Synapse Life Science Grand Prize, TechAlliance’s Breakthrough Technology Award, securing more than $4 million in funding for Tenomix in 3.5 years, and building successful clinical collaborations with top-tier North American hospitals like the Mayo Clinic. Named one of Business London’s Top 20 Under 40, Biswas is a forward-thinking leader whose drive, ingenuity and commitment to improving patient care continues to inspire future leaders through his visionary work.


Erin Walker

Dr. Erin Walker, DDS’10

Young Alumni Dentistry

Dr. Erin Walker is a health-care policy advocate, legal scholar, and practising dentist whose work bridges law, governance, and public health. With an LLM in Health Law from Osgoode Hall and an MBA focused on leadership and strategy development, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to health care reform.

At the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, she has played a leading role in major regulatory initiatives, serving as Chair of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. She is currently involved in revising dentistry's Code of Ethics, collaborating on the creation of an updated foundational document that defines Standards of Professionalism for Ontario Dentists. Dr. Walker’s research and advocacy are driven by a deep commitment to equity in health care access, shaped by her clinical experience and long-standing community service. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is an accomplished musician and passionate about the arts, believing in the transformative power of creativity and compassion across all domains of leadership.


Dr. Steven Macaluso

Dr. Steven Macaluso, MD’07, Resident Alum (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2012)

Young Alumni Medicine

Dr. Steven Macaluso is a triple graduate of Western University, having earned his BSc in Kinesiology in 2003, MD in 2007, and completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) in 2012. Now an Associate Professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, he is nationally recognized for transforming musculoskeletal education through MSKMedicine.com – an award-winning, open-access learning platform used by trainees worldwide.

Celebrated with top education awards, the site became an essential teaching resource during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to impact learners globally. As PM&R Postgraduate Program Director for over a decade, Dr. Macaluso has led major innovations in training and curriculum development, integrating EDID principles and strengthening Schulich Medicine’s reputation as a leader in medical education. Clinically, he provides care across multiple institutions and serves as Lead Physician for Team Canada’s wheelchair curling team. Dr. Macaluso’s dedication to education, mentorship and patient care continues to shape the future of rehabilitation medicine in Canada and beyond.