2025 Award Recipients

For over three decades now, Dr. Harvey Lui has been a transformative force in Canadian and international dermatology.

In 2006, Dr. Lui established the first and only academic department of dermatology in Canada at the University of British Columbia. As founding Department Head, he established UBC as a beacon for dermatologic education and research. Dr. Lui also started a one-of-a-kind fellowship program that has gone on to produce leaders in the field of photodermatology and lasers.

Dr. Lui has held executive or board roles with the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance, Canadian Dermatology Foundation, Canadian Professors of Dermatology, and served as the President of the Canadian Dermatology Association in 2005.

In research, Dr. Lui has been a true pioneer with over 225 publications, 6,900 citations, six patents and $14.2 million in funding. His development of the VASI scoring system has been adopted in the first worldwide FDA-recognized clinical trials for new oral immunomodulators. And his co-invention of the Verisante Aura device has the potential to reduce unnecessary biopsies significantly, demonstrating his commitment to translating research into impactful practical clinical innovations.

As a board member, and eventual president of the International League of Dermatological Societies, Dr. Lui was responsible for Canada winning the bid to host the World Congress of Dermatology in 2015 – the event brought over 11,000 attendees to Vancouver from around the world. As president of ILDS, Dr. Lui championed our specialty on the world stage, representing over 200,000 dermatologists from 156 countries. Part of his work included a collaboration with the World Health Organization to develop an open access resource for dermatologic teaching and reference images.

Dr. Lui has forever changed how Canadian dermatology is taught, practiced, and perceived globally. Through groundbreaking research, educational excellence, and visionary leadership, he has created a legacy benefiting our specialty for generations.

Dr. Kerri Purdy became involved with the CDA for the first time in 2008, when she volunteered to serve as the resident representative from Dalhousie. She would go on to become the youngest president in CDA history and one of our most dedicated volunteers.

As CDA President from 2019 to 2020, Dr. Purdy faced the unprecedented challenge of steering our association through the beginning of a global pandemic. With characteristic grace and determination, she pivoted the organization to virtual platforms and maintained our sense of community through regular webinars. Her cheerful and authentic online presence during those uncertain times became a beacon of stability for the membership.

Dr. Purdy’s service to the association reads like a masterclass in organizational engagement: Vice President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, and a member on virtually every committee we have – from Membership and Awards to Education, Governance, and the COVID-19 Task Force. As Chair of the Education Committee, she spearheaded initiatives including the creation of the ‘Dermalogues’ podcast and the development of our six-part accredited skin diversity learning series.

Dr. Purdy’s superpower is her infectious enthusiasm for our association and her genuine care for people. She has elevated the CDA for its members and stakeholders, always working to advance Canadian dermatology while promoting our association’s initiatives to colleagues and the wider dermatology community.

Dr. Lynne Robertson’s clinical practice in Alberta includes all facets of medical dermatology, from skin cancer surveillance to nails and hair. She established a high-risk pigmented lesion clinic, creating a multidisciplinary referral center for some of the most complex dermatology patients in the Calgary region. Her Fotofinder clinics for melanoma screening have become essential in early detection, and her expertise in dermoscopy is known to be second to none.

Perhaps what makes Dr. Robertson most remarkable is her ability to connect with patients from all walks of life on a deeply human level. She has worked tirelessly to provide services to marginalized and rural populations, ensuring that those who need expert care the most are never overlooked. And when asked about her special skill during the CDA’s 99 Days of Kudos campaign last year, she simply said it was “making her patients laugh.” This captures the essence of who she is – a dermatologist who doesn’t just treat conditions, but who cares for people, fostering meaningful relationships and getting to know her patients’ context beyond their medical diagnoses.

Dr. Robertson’s impact extends well beyond her clinical practice. For eight years, she served as the Program Director for the University of Calgary, and under her leadership, the program became one of Canada’s most sought-after. She developed an innovative dermoscopy curriculum, created hundreds of lectures, and designed countless practice examinations – all while maintaining her demanding clinical practice.

Since completing her residency in 2019, Dr. Ashley Sutherland has already established herself as what her nominator calls “a rock star” in Canadian dermatology. She has been an impactful force within the CDA. As Chair of the Education Committee for two years and a member for three, she spearheaded the innovative “Power Half Hour” webinar series, bringing subspecialty expertise directly to our members. She co-chaired the Women in Dermatology Leadership Conference in both 2022 and 2024.

Dr. Sutherland has also taken on volunteer roles with the CDA Board of Directors representing Atlantic Canada, and both the Annual Conference and Membership Committees, including taking on the demanding role of city co-chair for the recent 100th CDA Annual Conference in Halifax in June 2025.

Dr. Sutherland serves as the Program Director at Dalhousie University, where she has seamlessly integrated the Royal College’s Competency by Design into the traditional dermatology program. Beyond her formal responsibilities, she has also dedicated countless hours to mentoring residents on their scholarly projects, acting as a pre-clerkship elective supervisor, and creating robust educational experiences to prepare the next generation of dermatologists.

Through her volunteer work, Dr. Sutherland has created lasting educational programs, mentored countless students and residents, and strengthened our association through thoughtful leadership.

For the past twenty years, Dr. Raed Alhusayen has been a force in the realm of equity, diversity and inclusion in dermatology.

During his time at the University of Toronto, he has actively worked to increase representation in dermatology through involvement in programs like the Diversity Mentorship Program and the SPARK program for Black and Indigenous medical students. And informally within his department, his inclusive approach has created what one former fellow described as “a nurtured working culture where we became aware of the richness in our differences and appreciated each other.”

Through his volunteer work with the Board of Directors, as co-chair of 2022 Annual Conference, and in countless other roles, Dr. Alhusayen has consistently ensured that EDI principles are woven into the fabric of the CDA. His effect on the association’s commitment to representation could not have been more apparent than with the creation of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee in 2022. As the inaugural chair, he requested that EDI representatives be included on all association committees, and spearheaded the development of a national survey to ensure members had a voice in setting the association’s EDI priorities.

Dr. Alhusayen’s leadership in EDI has created ripple effects that will benefit dermatologists and their patients for years to come. He has shown our dermatology community that true inclusive leadership requires both vision and action, both advocacy and implementation.

Dr. Richie Jeremian is a first-year Dermatology Resident at McGill University, where he also completed his medical studies. Prior to medical school, he completed his graduate and postdoctoral training at the University of Toronto, with a focus on understanding how genomic and epigenomic factors impact complex human diseases.

As a medical trainee, Dr. Jeremian translated his passion for basic science to the field of dermatology and published 10+ translational papers on topics including skin cancers and inflammatory skin diseases. He has also disseminated the impact of his work through several talks at national and international meetings and remains dedicated to advancing foundational skin research in Canada.

Hosted by the Eczema Society of Canada in October 2024, this week-long free event was aimed at reaching not only individuals with eczema and their caregivers, but also the general public, health care providers and health care sponsors. The eight-part series explored a comprehensive range of topics related to living with eczema and atopic dermatitis, and brought together experts from several specialties including dermatology.

The series attracted over 2,000 registrants, reached more than 50,000 Eczema Society subscribers and followers, and garnered more than 260,000 social media impressions by its completion. But beyond the numbers, the series created a safe space for attendees, with evidence-based information and practical tools meant to empower the entire Canadian eczema community.