2025 Exceptional Achievement and Recognition Awards
Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi - Research
Dr. Gabriela Ghisi is an Affiliate Scientist at the KITE Research Institute, UHN and Assistant Professor (status only) at the PT Department at UofT. Her research centers on patient education in chronic disease management and global access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR), especially for minority groups. She has supported the development and implementation of an evidence-based patient education curriculum in collaboration with CR programs in 13 countries and has led its evaluation. She has published over 170 papers, authored clinical practice guidelines, and developed 12 cardiac rehabilitation-related scales that are used for both clinical and research purposes. Her global recognition in CR research is underscored by her ranking as one of the top three researchers globally in CR (SciVal/Scopus). Dr Ghisi is also chair of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR).
Melanie MacKinnon - Education
Melanie MacKinnon is a practicing physiotherapist, multi-disciplinary clinic owner and Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, acting as co-lead for Unit 10, the Advanced Musculoskeletal Unit. She leads sessions in Unit 11 on transition to practice topics such as new grad mindset, aligning your values with your work, employment classification, and contracts. She is also the lead of the Founders Selective, which focuses on leadership and entrepreneurship.
Melanie has a passion for teaching and is deeply invested in teaching and mentoring. In addition to her University of Toronto appointment, she also teaches and mentors within both the Orthopedic Divisions’ Advanced Integrated Manual and Manipulative Physical Therapy (AIM) program and Western University’s post-graduate Advanced Health Care Practice Graduate Program (AHCP) within the CMP Field. Melanie was recognized for her contributions to mentorship in 2025 by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association Orthopedic Division, receiving the Lynn Chapman Clinical Mentorship Award.
Melanie is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Professional Education Research at the University of Toronto with an interest in how to create assessments that bridge the technical with social and humanistic elements of practice, to help prepare health professionals for the realities of clinical practice.