Sylvia Asa leads one of the largest pathology departments in North America as pathologist-in-chief and medical director of the Laboratory Medicine Program at the University Health Network in Toronto. She is also professor in the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology at the University of Toronto.
Ms. Asa is a pioneer in the field of pathology , the hub of patient care that maps the inner workings of disease and informs diagnostic methods and treatment procedures.
Her study of thyroid cancers, and findings that thyroid lesions and cancers were so often misinterpreted, has drastically altered diagnosis and patient management for thyroid cancer, one of the few cancers increasing in incidence worldwide.
Outside of the lab, Ms. Asa has published more than 300 scientific articles, written one book, co-edited four books and penned more than 50 book chapters. She has given more than 300 presentations, in Canada and abroad, and has made it her goal to connect directly with fellow researchers and patients, and to ensure a better public understanding of the role of pathology in medical care.
Dr. Asa acts as a consultant to several patient support groups, including the Pituitary Network Association and the Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group.
Nominator: Jagdish Butany, Toronto
Read a Q&A with Sylvia Asa.