UM Today | Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
March 7, 2025 —
When people hear the word “surgeon,” many still automatically picture a man, says Dr. Farhana Shariff, assistant professor of surgery in UM’s Max Rady College of Medicine.
And there are still biases – often unintentional and systemic, she says – that influence people’s perceptions of female surgeons.
Women face a double bind, Shariff says. “If you’re seen as too nice, you’re often assumed – because of unrecognized biases – not to be competent enough. If you exert authority, you may be seen as bossy and difficult.”
Shariff’s surgical specialty is complex abdominal and gastrointestinal tumours. Originally from Vancouver, she was educated at institutions including McGill University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto before joining UM in 2021.
She is the surgical skills program director for UM surgery residents and chair of the surgical standards committee at St. Boniface Hospital.
Shariff is one of 12 faculty members or students in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences who have received The Winnipeg Foundation Martha Donovan Women’s Leadership Development Awards in the most recent round of funding.
With International Women’s Day approaching on March 8 under the global theme “Accelerate Action,” the award recipients say the funding for leadership training is helping them to advance women’s equity in health care, health education and health research.
Shariff’s award is funding her to complete an online Women in Leadership certificate at Cornell University. One strength of the program, she says, is its emphasis on interpersonal communication.
“The operating room has some really unique communication and leadership challenges,” the surgeon says. “It’s a bit of a pressure cooker … with multiple leaders and the need to shift that leadership back and forth…. You really need to be able to adapt your own leadership style.”
The $250,000 Winnipeg Foundation Martha Donovan Fund has been supporting leadership training for Rady women since 2019. Shariff believes the support will have a lasting impact.
“The system is changing for the better. The more female leaders know about how to function and thrive, the more we can pass those tools down to the girls and women of the next generation, to equip and empower them.”
Mira Safa
Mira Safa, a PhD student in the College of Pharmacy, is also a Martha Donovan Award recipient. She will participate in the online Healthcare Leadership Program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Safa, an international student who was a pharmacist in Lebanon, says she hopes the training will expand her insight into the Canadian health-care system so she can make a greater contribution after completing her doctorate. She has a particular interest in underserved populations, including women.
“My thesis research focuses on individuals with multiple sclerosis and depression, both of which disproportionately affect women,” she says.
Safa, who is president of the Graduate Student Council at the College of Pharmacy, also hopes that developing as a leader will build her capacity to mentor others. “Leadership is not how well you’ve done on academics,” she says. “It’s how you help others and how you advance the community around you.”
Here are the other recipients of 2024 Martha Donovan Awards for leadership training:
Atukorallaya
Dr. Devi Atukorallaya, associate professor of oral biology in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, will attend the Women in Higher Education Leadership program at Harvard University.
“I hope to focus on strategies for effective leadership in teaching dental undergraduate students, as well as in research and administration. This training will help me to prioritize equity, build collaborative relationships and improve negotiation skills.”
Jones
Dr. Meaghan Jones, assistant professor of biochemistry and medical genetics, will attend the Centre for Faculty Development’s New and Evolving Academic Leaders (NEAL) program.
“I was recently granted tenure, and part of my post-tenure plan is to start taking on leadership roles where I can make an impact. The NEAL program is focused on empowering new leaders to be change-makers in academic health sciences.”
Kaur
Dr. Jatinder Kaur, assistant professor of radiology and pharmacology/therapeutics and interim director of the Winnipeg Cyclotron Facility at Health Sciences Centre, will attend the Leadership Strategies for Evolving Health Care Executives program at Harvard University.
“As a woman in radiopharmaceutical sciences, a field where female leadership remains rare, I see this program as an opportunity to strengthen my leadership capabilities and inspire the next generation of women in science.”
Kowalec
Dr. Kaarina Kowalec, assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, will attend the Women in Higher Education Leadership program at Harvard University.
“This training will help me to create inclusive, supportive environments for faculty by enhancing my expertise in building collaborative frameworks, refining negotiation skills and fostering inclusive leadership practices.”
Miller
Dr. Lisa Miller, assistant professor of internal medicine, kidney specialist and medical director of a dialysis unit at Health Sciences Centre, will attend the Safety, Quality, Informatics and Leadership program at Harvard University.
“This program will advance my skills in developing and implementing safety and quality programs in health care. I look forward to integrating the principles of the Learning Health System Framework into all aspects of my work.”
Rose-Lovett
Barbara Rose-Lovett, instructor II and director, skills and simulation centres in the College of Nursing, will attend the Women in Higher Education Leadership program at Harvard University.
“I see this as an opportunity to build my leadership skills within a forum focused on empowering women to develop strategies for leading through change and adversity. This program also encourages women leaders to explore their strengths.”
Aboulatta
Laila Aboulatta, a PhD candidate in pharmacy whose research interests include the safety of medication use, will attend the Effective Leadership program at McGill University’s Executive Institute.
“I aim to develop the skills to lead with empathy, resilience and effective communication. This training will help me to mentor students and women in pharmacoepidemiology, contributing to improvements in health-care settings and prescribing practices.”
Asemi Rad
Azam Asemi Rad, a PhD student in human anatomy and cell science whose research focuses on the role of the cerebellum in motor impairment, will attend the Coaching Skills for Effective Leadership program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“I’m passionate about advancing neuroscience while mentoring future scientists. This training will refine my leadership skills, enabling me to foster collaboration, support student development and contribute to a strong research community.”
Durksen
Dr. Anita Durksen, a postdoctoral researcher at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy who works with the SPECTRUM (Social Policy Evaluation Collaborative Team Research at Universities in Manitoba) program, will attend the Effective Leadership program at McGill University’s Executive Institute.
“I work in a research program that emphasizes collaboration. I plan to use my leadership skills to promote equity by creating space for other ways of knowing, to listen to each story with respect, and to prioritize diversity and inclusion over efficiency.”
Wilcox
Ariel Wilcox, a master’s student in the College of Nursing with a focus on rural nursing leadership, will attend the LEADS Leadership Foundations program for health-care professionals through the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
“I have a strong interest in the impact of rural nurse leaders on staff recruitment and retention. This program will help me further develop the leadership capacity to create environments for belonging and achieve organizational goals.”
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