Toronto-based Dr. Dhun Noria – healthcare trailblazer and Chief of Laboratory Medicine at Scarborough Health Network (SHN) – was recently honoured with the prestigious Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Award – Medal, for her formative and ground-breaking contributions to the Shared Hospital Lab (SHL).

This distinguished award was presented to her by Han Dong Member of Parliament, Don Valley North. She was presented with the Official Platinum Jubilee Pin issued by Heritage Canada and the special commemorative medal as a token of appreciation. Dr. Dhun Noria has made significant contributions through volunteerism, public service, local advocacy and leadership which has left a long-term positive impact.

Founded in 1996, Shared Hospital Lab is a partnership between SHN, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Michael Garron and North York General Hospital to provide high-quality microbiology lab services. Dr. Noria’s critical role in establishing SHL and ongoing contribution to the organization’s success was celebrated at Sunnybrook’s Bayview Campus as a group of her family, close peers and esteem colleagues joined in for the event.

At the dedication ceremony, a plaque was unveiled in the gardens, The Dr. Dhun Noria SHL Staff Wellness Courtyard. The plaque reads, “Named in recognition of Dr. Noria, MD, FRCPC, O. Ont., a previous Chair of the Board of SHL, her personal story of inspiration and her commitment to patient care and the Ontario health system is unsurpassed. She envisioned, championed, and was the driving force behind the creation of SHL.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Noria said, “Shared Hospital Lab has been an important part of my professional life for 26 years… I am truly proud and honoured to work with our forward-thinking team. These people are not just frontline workers, to me they are warriors and they are soldiers in this epic Covid-19 battle.” Shared Lab presented Dr. Noria with a special commemorative portrait, which will be hung in the Board Room, “in recognition of the tremendous contributions Dr. Noria has brought to healthcare across the province.”

Dr. Noria has built a career on an unwavering commitment to excellence in health care, and her work has had a significant impact on Ontario’s health care system. She was a founding board member of Birchmount Hospital, and member of the core planning team that brought together Birchmount and General in 1999. Appointed by Premier and Lt. Governor in Council as Chair of Metro Toronto District Health Council with a mandate to Restructure 44 Hospitals in Metro Toronto, she was also a founding member of the Shared Hospital Laboratory.

Her enthusiasm has been recognized nationally and internationally. She has earned many awards for her commitment to the health care field in Canada, including Order of Ontario Award – the province’s highest honour; Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal; Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Medal; a star in the Scarborough Walk of Fame; Presidential Medal from the Ontario Medical Association; and Professional and Business Woman of the Year through the Canada-India Business Council.​​​​​​​

Through her over three decades of support, Dr. Noria and her husband Farokh Noria have donated over $1 million cumulatively to SHN Foundation.