Announcement: Dean Boon moving to new role at U of T

It is with mixed emotions that we share the news that alumna, Dean Heather Boon [BScPhm(1991) and PhD (1996)] will be stepping down from her role as Dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy effective June 30, 2018 to take on the new role of Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life at the University of Toronto.

Although we will miss her positive and steadfast leadership at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, we congratulate her on this new chapter in her career and are happy that she will remain within the U of T community.  

We would also like to thank Dean Boon for the tremendous work she has done at the Faculty.

Dr. Boon has been a Faculty member since 2001. Her research focuses on the safety and efficacy of natural health products, and related regulatory and policy issues. Her research has been supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the SickKids Foundation, and the National Centres of Excellence program, among others. Professor Boon has published more than 160 peer-reviewed articles, as well as numerous book chapters, policy reports, and textbooks. Throughout her career, Professor Boon has held key administrative roles at U of T and in a variety of national and international associations.

In 2013, she became Interim Dean, ultimately becoming Dean in 2014.

As the Dean, Professor Boon has transformed the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, operationalizing the new Pharm.D program, reviewing and restructuring the Faculty’s relationships with clinical preceptors and adjunct instructors, leading and implementing a new administrative structure, and developing and adopting our new academic plan, “2021 Forward Together.”

Professor Boon has also implemented new activities and programs at the Faculty of Pharmacy to support teaching innovation, and has engaged faculty members in a more consultative and collaborative culture. She has undertaken leadership at the University level as well, currently serving as Chair of the Council of Health Sciences.

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler has appointed a committee to advise on the appointment of a new Dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. In the coming months, we will keep you posted on the search for the new Dean.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at alumni.pharmacy@utoronto.ca and/or 416-946-5554.