Awards and Scholarships

The Community Health Advocate Entrance Award was established by the South Asian Community Health Task Force (SACHTF), a grassroots, non-profit organization that originated in November 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By creating this award, the SACHTF seeks to recognize a first-year student entering the TMU MD Program who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting health literacy and advocating for marginalized communities. This entrance award will provide financial support for aspiring physicians who reflect the diversity of the Peel Region and demonstrate the drive to positively impact the community’s health. Applicants must exhibit high academic standing, demonstrate financial need, and self-identify as a member of a historically disadvantaged group (as recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code).

The Rimple Thakkar Award for Holistic Health Excellence was created by the family of Satish Thakkar, and named in honour of his late wife. The award will provide financial support for TMU School of Medicine students with a demonstrated interest and/or background in yoga and holistic health. Satish Thakkar, President of the Excelsior Financial Group, is a Canadian entrepreneur, community leader and a passionate philanthropist. Led by the guiding principles of social inclusiveness, entrepreneurship, and economic prosperity for all, the Thakkar family believes that Canada is an economic and sociocultural powerhouse because of its vast and varied diversity. Satish has been a pioneer in popularizing Yoga, Ayurveda and mindful living in Canada, and has organised many public programs in the Greater Toronto Area to promote the practice of Yoga and the Ayurvedic way of life.

Created in 2022, the Staffieri Family Scholarships in Medicine were the very first awards specifically for TMU School of Medicine students, created by then-Chair of the TMU Board of Governors, Anthony Staffieri and family. The Staffieri Family Scholarship in Medicine is a renewable entrance award for TMU School of Medicine students who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to primary health care, and who self-identify as belonging to a historically disadvantaged group (as recognized by the Ontario Human Rights Code). The Staffieri Family Scholarship in Medicine was created as part of a $1 million gift to TMU that also included scholarships for students in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. The selection of the two scholarship areas recognized that improving access to medical and legal education are key priorities of the university.

The Sothiluchume TMU School of Medicine Entrance Scholarship was established by Dr. Nirojini Sivachandran to honor her late mother, Sothiluchume (Sothi) Sivachandran. Growing up in Sri Lanka through civil unrest, Dr. Sivachandran witnessed  the sheer strength of her mother as she raised her and her two brothers and kept their family safe. Dr. Sivachandran takes pride in her mother’s roots and in knowing she was raised by such a strong, caring and loving woman who instilled in her a zest for life. This award is created to support a passionate and motivated woman of South Asian heritage in the pursuit of medicine. While demonstrating financial need, this individual will also have excelled in their academics and revealed a strong commitment to the community.

The Chanchlani Family Award is an endowed award providing support for students at the TMU School of Medicine who demonstrate financial need. The Chanchlani family have a distinguished track record of philanthropic activities and engagement. The Chanchlani Research Centre at McMaster University, for instance, explores environmental and genetic causes of cardiovascular diseases widely prevalent within South Asians and those of South Asian origin in Canada. This award  was created by Dr. Jaya Chanchlani, founder and director of the Chanchlani Foundation. The award provides one TMU medical student each year with $5,000. As an endowment, the Chanchlani Family Award will continue to support TMU School of Medicine students in perpetuity.

The Friends of Gujarat Award was created by Friends of Gujarat Canada in 2024 to provide support to students at the TMU School of Medicine who self-identify as South Asian and demonstrate financial need. With two annual awards of $5,000 each, the Friends of Gujarat Canada look to strengthen health care within and for the South Asian community. The Friends of Gujarat Award is recognized as part of the President's Awards to Champion Excellence (PACE), a priority program of awards launched by TMU President, Mohamed Lachemi. PACE awards such as the Friends of Gujarat Award are specifically created to increase access to quality postsecondary education for under-represented and equity-deserving students.