Dr. Lisa A. Robinson

Dean of Medicine Vice-Provost Relations with Health Care Institutions Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Lisa A. Robinson began her service as Dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Temerty Medicine) and the Vice Provost, Relations with Health Care Institutions at the University of Toronto (U of T) on July 1, 2024.

She is a Professor in the departments of paediatrics, biochemistry, and the Institute of Medical Science at U of T. She is also a Staff Physician and former Head of the Division of Nephrology at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and a Senior Scientist in the Program in Cell Biology at the SickKids Research Institute. Her research integrates molecular biology, cell biology, advanced microscopic techniques, and biochemical approaches to advance the understanding and treatment of kidney disease. Dr. Robinson holds a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 1 in Vascular Inflammation and Kidney Injury.

After earning her M.D. at Temerty Medicine, Dr. Robinson completed training in paediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario in London, Ontario and paediatric nephrology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina where she was also an Assistant Professor. In addition to her focus on research and innovation, Dr. Robinson has a deep commitment to education and mentorship. She is the founder and former director of Kids Science, a SickKids Research Institute program that provides opportunities for middle- and high-school students to improve their understanding of science and technology, and to make positive educational and career choices. In 2014, she launched the Student Advancement Research (StAR) Program, a SickKids summer research program for high school students.

Dr. Robinson has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as Councillor of the Society for Pediatric Research, member of the Innovation and Discovery Task Force of the American Society of Nephrology, the President of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Nephrologists and President of the American Pediatric Society. Prior to her appointment as Dean, Dr. Robinson held the position of Vice Dean, Strategy and Operations at Temerty Medicine. She has also received numerous awards and honours, including being named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology.

As Dean, Dr. Robinson oversees Temerty Medicine, which is consistently recognized as one of the world’s top centres for clinical medical education and research. It is home to nearly 6,000 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners and more than 10,000 faculty and staff. As Vice-Provost Relations with Health Care Institutions, Dr. Robinson supports the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, composed of U of T’s fully affiliated and associate affiliated hospitals. U of T’s bonds extend to another 20 community-affiliated hospitals and healthcare sites in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.