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You are invited to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health’s recognition ceremony to honour Black leaders in the field of public health. We would be delighted to have you join us as we celebrate outstanding individuals at the 2025 Black Leaders in Health Awards Ceremony. The evening will amplify and highlight phenomenal work while inspiring future Black leaders.

This special event will be held on Thursday, February 20, at 6:00 pm at The Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks St, Toronto. Refreshments will be served.

The evening will commence with captivating performances by spoken word artist and writer, Amoya Reé, and trumpeter and actor, Rudy Ray Kwaku. This year’s recipients have excelled in supporting the health of Ontarians from all communities. This celebration transcends a single month; it’s a lifelong commitment to honouring and uplifting these vital stories and achievements.

Schedule of Events

6:00 – 6:45 pm…. Appetizers and drinks served

6:45 – 8:30 pm….. Recognition ceremony

We will be honouring the following recipients for the 2025 Outstanding Black Leadership in Public Health and Health Systems award:

Tameika Shaw – Director of Population Health and Evaluation Davenport Perth Neighborhood and Community Health Centre

Tameika Shaw has a 16-year career within the not-for-profit sector. Initially starting as a volunteer and then a Registered Dietitian within the community health setting, she currently serves as the Director of Population Health and Evaluation at Davenport Perth Neighborhood and Community Health Centre and President of the Board of Directors, Primary Care Dietitians Association. Tameika is dedicated to advancing community and population wellness through innovative and collaborative health promotion and health equity initiatives. She capitalizes on the intricate interplay between clinical, social, and environmental factors and her program planning expertise to spearhead various community and population-based healthcare initiatives. These initiatives aim to improve access to health and social care through multi-pronged approaches including health education, clinical programs, community outreach, quality improvement and evaluation. Tameika is a firm believer in the power and autonomy of community and is committed to fostering community engagement, creating program opportunities, capacity building activities and strong stakeholder collaborations in the communities in which she lives and works.

Dr. Onye Nnorom – Black Health Faculty Lead, DFCM, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Onye Nnorom is a distinguished physician, advocate, public speaker and leader in the field of public health and equity. She is a family doctor and public health and preventive medicine specialist and the Black Health Faculty Lead in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Nnorom has dedicated her career to addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes for marginalized communities, with a particular focus on Black populations. Dr. Nnorom is the co-founder of the Black Health Education Collaborative, which was established to provide online educational resources on anti-Black racism and Black health for health professional students, clinicians and public health practitioners. Recently, she launched a social media outreach initiative called Healthcaring Differently to encourage diverse youth to explore careers in medicine. She interviews doctors and healthcare leaders across Canada on Instagram-Live, allowing students to ask questions in real time, and she provides resources to medical diversity pathway programs. Dr. Nnorom’s expertise lies at the intersection of anti-racism, community health and healthcare transformation.

Paul Bailey – Executive Director, Black Health Alliance

Paul Bailey is a strategist, urban planner, and Executive Director at the Black Health Alliance. He has spent the last decade designing interventions focused on improving outcomes for Black children, youth, and families in relation to health and well-being, community violence, mental health and addictions, and the social service sector. His work is currently focused on social planning, health equity, and addressing the causes of neighborhood distress and inequality. Through is work at the Black Health Alliance, Paul has supported the provincial expansion for AMANI Mental Health & Substance Use Services for Black Youth (formally known as SAPACCY), the development and implementation of the Black Health Plan for Ontario, and the development of the Black Health and Social Service Hub in Peel.

Sylvia Okonofua – Executive Director, Black Donors Save Lives

Sylvia Okonofua is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Donors Save Lives, a federal nonprofit organization committed to addressing racial disparities in blood, stem cell, organ, and tissue donations that impact African, Caribbean, and Black communities across Canada. For over seven years, she has worked to dismantle systemic barriers to donation, advocate for Black patients in need of lifesaving treatments, and promote equitable access to healthcare. Sylvia holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Black Health with a Collaborative Specialization in Global Health at the University of Toronto. Her commitment to health equity has earned her numerous accolades, including the Excellence in Healthcare Award at the Blackcellence Gala, recognition as a 2024 Novartis Scholar, and selection as an 1834 Global Fellow. Through Black Donors Save Lives, Sylvia educates healthcare professionals and organizations on the structural inequities faced by Black donors and provides actionable strategies to build a more inclusive healthcare system. Her visionary leadership continues to drive systemic change, empower communities, and inspire a new generation to confront health disparities with innovation, empathy, and determination.

Your support is essential in amplifying the vital contributions of Black leaders in health. We hope to see you there.