Endowed Chairs & Fellowships

The Heart Institute offers a total of 12 Endowed Chairs to support our world-renowned physicians and scientists in their leadership, research, and educational activities. 

We are grateful to the donors for their support of these Endowed Chairs.

• Gordon F. Henderson Chair in Leadership
  Held by the President and CEO
  • Thierry Mesana, MD PhD
• Vered Chair in Cardiology 
  Held by the Chief of Cardiology
  • Rob Beanlands, MD 
• Michael Pitfield Chair in Cardiac Surgery
  Held by the Chief of Cardiac Surgery
  • Marc Ruel, MD
• Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery Research
  Held by an active cardiac surgeon who provides research and academic leadership in cardiac surgery
  • Marc Ruel, MD
• Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery Valve Research
  Held by an active cardiac surgeon conducting research to advance knowledge of cardiac valves
  • Thierry Mesana, MD PhD 
• Donald S. Beanlands Endowed Chair in Cardiology Education
  Held by an active cardiologist who provides leadership in cardiology education
  • Lyall Higginson, MD
• Endowed Chair in Electrophysiology Leadership
  Held by the Director of the Electrophysiology Program
  • David Birnie, MD
• Merck Frosst Canada Chair in Atherosclerosis Research
  Held by an Institute researcher leading translational research in atherosclerosis. These funds were established by Merck Frosst in recognition of Drs. Ruth McPherson, Ross Milne, and Yves Marcel, the founders of the Institute’s Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis Research Group.
  • Ruth McPherson, MD PhD 
• Minto Chair in Interventional Cardiology Leadership
  Held by the Director of the Interventional Cardiology Program
  • Christopher Glover, MD
• Pfizer Chair in Hypertension Research
  Held by a researcher leading hypertension research
  • Frans Leenen, MD PhD 
• Saul and Edna Goldfarb Chair in Cardiac Imaging
  Held by an active clinician leading cardiac imaging research
  • Benjamin Chow, MD
• Women’s Heart Health Research Chair (term Chair)
  Held by a researcher leading women’s heart health research 
  • To be announced

2018-19 Endowed Fellowship Competition Results

STRATEGIC RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

The Strategic Research Fellowship provides stipend for a two-year term to a postdoctoral or clinical fellow working in an area of research that aligns with the current Research Strategic Plan. 

• Rohit Sharma, PhD, Incoming Postdoctoral Fellow

  Supervisor: Benjamin Rotstein, PhD

  Project title: Discovery of novel small molecules as matrix metalloproteinase-13 radioligands for PET imaging in atherosclerosis

DIVISION OF CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS 

These Fellowships provide stipends for up to two years to postdoctoral or clinical fellows conducting research in the Division of Cardiology.

Drs. Hyman & Sylvia (van Straten) Kaufman and Dr. Kwan-Leung Chan Fellowship in Cardiac Imaging

• Tan Suwatanaviroj, MD, Fellow in Cardiac Imaging                                                          

  Supervisor: Benjamin Chow, MD

  Project title: A strategy for selecting investigations that are most effective for coronary artery disease (ASSIST ME CAD)

Ernest and Margaret Ford Fellowship

• Daniel Ramirez, MD, Fellow in Cardiac Electrophysiology                                                         

  Supervisor: David Birnie, MD

  Project title: Left atrial function and fibrosis after successful catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a pilot study 

Whit and Heather Tucker Fellowship

• Gauri Akolkar, Postdoctoral Fellow

  Supervisor: Peter Liu, MD

  Project title: Understanding the basis of exosome mediated cardiac communication: One signal for all or a personalized message

LAWRENCE SOLOWAY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP IN CARDIAC SURGERY

The Lawrence Soloway Fellowship provides stipend for up to two years to a postdoctoral or clinical fellow conducting research in the Division of Cardiac Surgery.

• Veronika Sedlakova, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

  Supervisors: Emilio Alarcon, PhD & Erik Suuronen, PhD

JAN & IAN CRAIG RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP IN PREVENTION & REHABILITATION

The Jan and Ian Craig Fellowship provides stipend for up to two years to a postdoctoral or clinical fellow conducting research in the Division of Prevention and Rehabilitation. This year, the Fellowship is being shared by two recipients.

• Tasuku Terada, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

  Supervisor: Jennifer Reed, PhD

• Karen Bouchard, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

  Supervisor: Heather Tulloch, PhD

UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA CARDIAC ENDOWMENT FUND AT THE HEART INSTITUTE

These awards provide stipends for a two-year term to postdoctoral fellow(s) and/or graduate student(s) based at the Heart Institute and registered with the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine.

• AnneClaire Duchez, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

  Supervisor: Katey Rayner, PhD

  Project title: Study of pro-resolving mediator in the protection of atherosclerosis via modulation of the necroptotic pathway

• Riyoun Kim, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow

  Supervisor: Han Kim, PhD

  Project title: Metabolic regulation of heart failure and cardiac cachexia