Doctors Manitoba Unveils 2025 Award Winners
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The 2025 Doctors Manitoba Award winners announced today are a group of nine physicians who are determined, compassionate and committed to making a difference for their patients and the province.
“We’re celebrating the remarkable talent and skills of nine excellent physicians this year, recognizing their shared commitment to inspiring the next generation of doctors and to community service,” said Dr. Randy Guzman, President of Doctors Manitoba. “These award winning physicians are improving patient care, with the tenacity to make things happen where they work and beyond.”
This year’s award winners include physicians from family medicine, medical and surgical specialties working as clinicians, educators, and groundbreaking researchers. The Doctors Manitoba awards are the highest honour bestowed upon physicians in the province. Award recipients are nominated by their peers and selected after a thorough evaluation by the Awards Committee.
This year’s honorees include:
Dr. Jill Keddy-Grant
Distinguished Service
Dr. Jill Keddy-Grant has been a force in pediatric dermatology for more than 35 years. Following her training in dermatology, she recognized an unmet need and focused her practice on pediatrics. She has been Manitoba’s sole specialist in this area for many years. Her dedication has been instrumental in advancing patient care, leading therapeutic research, and establishing herself as the go-to authority in the field.
Dr. Michel Bruneau and Dr. Selena Papetti
Physicians of the Year
Dr. Michel Bruneau and Dr. Selena Papetti not only share a clinic in Lac du Bonnet, they share a commitment to rural medicine and a vision for its future. Together, they are inspiring the next generation of family physicians and sparking an interest in rural health care among medical learners.
Dr. Leif Sigurdson
Dr. Jack Armstrong Humanitarian Award
Dr. Leif Sigurdson is a dedicated plastic surgeon whose humanitarian work spans decades and continents. Since 1996, he has participated in over 30 volunteer surgical missions abroad with various medical charities, including most recently with Team Broken Earth to Guyana and Guatemala.
Dr. Alexander Sharp
Resident of the Year
Dr. Alexander Sharp is a fourth-year subspecialty resident in General Internal Medicine. He’s recognized for his clinical ability, patient advocacy, and innovative research contributions. His dedication to addressing barriers faced by individuals with addictions and complex social challenges is reflected in both his medical practice and scholarly work.
Dr. Tamara Buchel
Medal of Excellence
Dr. Tamara Buchel is an outstanding family physician and medical educator. She has led the expansion of post graduate training at UManitoba through unprecedented growth, expanding training sites to rural and underserved communities. She was also instrumental in introducing physician-led team-based care options in Manitoba for family physician practices.
Dr. Versha Banerji and Dr. Shantanu Banerji
Medal of Excellence
Dr. Versha Banerji and Dr. Shantanu Banerji have demonstrated what it means to be stronger together, balancing their demanding work as clinician-scientists with their commitment to each other, their family, and their philanthropic work.
Dr. Wendy Smith
Medal of Excellence
Dr. Wendy Smith has dedicated her entire medical career to providing compassionate, comprehensive care to remote and northern communities in Manitoba and Nunavut. Through her work at Ongomiizwin Health Services and in her advocacy for patients, she models clinical excellence, cultural safety, and community connection.
Doctors Manitoba will hold an Awards Gala on May 10, 2025 to celebrate the winners. The Gala will also support the cause of Humanitarian Award winner, Dr. Leif Sigurdson, Team Broken Earth, a charity joining together specialized healthcare professionals from around the world for week-long voluntary medical missions offering critical health services to the people who need them the most.