Dr. Deborah O'Connor Receives Canada Research Chair

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry announced on November 16, $139 million to support 176 new or renewed Canada Research Chairs across Canada, including 34 researchers at the University of Toronto.

Among the new Canada Research Chairs, is Professor Deborah O'Connor, Chair and Earle W. McHenry Professor of the Department of the Nutritional Sciences and Acting Director of the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition. She was named Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Human Milk and Infant Nutrition.

About Dr. Deborah O'Connor

Dr. Deborah (Debbie) O’Connor is the Earle W. McHenry Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. She also holds scientific appointments in the Translational Medicine Program at the Hospital for Sick Children and the Department of Pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital. At SickKids, she served as Director of Clinical Dietetics and Breastfeeding Support from 2000 to 2012 and then as Associate Chief of Academic and Professional Practice until 2013. She currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank located at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Dr. O’Connor has served on national and international committees and working groups, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada Nutrition Practice Guidelines, US-Canada Governments Joint Dietary Reference Intake Working Group on Chronic Disease Endpoints, US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Exploration of New Evidence for Nutrition During Pregnancy and Lactation, and the World Health Organization on technical aspects of human milk banking and use of powdered formulas.

Please join the Department of Nutritional Sciences in congratulating Professor O'Connor.

A complete list of new and renewed chairs at the University of Toronto can be found here.