Benjamin Schacter Memorial Lectures

In 1939, as a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry, Benjamin Schachter developed the first robust purification of the hormone estrogen and carried out the preclinical work that ultimately led to the development of Premarin, introduced clinically in Canada by Wyeth Ayerst (Pfizer) in 1941. Since then, Premarin has provided relief from symptoms associated with menopause for tens of millions of women. 

In 2005, the Schachter Family endowed an annual lecture in honour of their father Benjamin Schachter. Schachter lecturers are departmental alumni who have gone on to productive careers in different sectors including, public, private, and academic, and who have continued inside and outside of biomedical research. In addition to serving as a vital link to our graduates, this lectureship is now a critical component in the department’s innovative graduate professional development curriculum. The Lectures are coordinated by student committee with support of Dr. Nana Lee.

Some of our Recent Speakers

2024 

Natalie Bamford - PhD 2019 - Soft Skills Trainer for Life Scientists, EMBO Solutions GmbH
Nicholas Demers - PhD 2022 - Medical Science Liaison, AbbVie
David Gallo - PhD 2018 - Senior Scientist II, Repare Therapeutics
Vanessa Yoon Calvelo - PhD 2020 - Research Strategy Development Specialist, University Health Network
Michael Leach - PhD 2003 - Head of Biochemistry, Analytical Sciences, Sanofi Pasteur

2023 

Zayna Khayat - PhD Health Futurist Deloitte/Teledoc/Rotman School
Geoffrey Lundell - Smith - MSc Senior Medical Strategist, McCann Health Canada
Stephanie Tammam - PhD - Business Development and Alliance Manager, Hospital for Sick Children
Ingrid O'Dwyer - PhD - Project Manager, Sanofi

2022 

Amy Cui - PhD - Medical Advisor, Bausch Health
Christopher Ing - PhD - Cofounder and CSO, ProteinQure
David Tulumello - PhD - Deputy Director and New Materials Excellence Program Leader, Sanofi Pasteur
Guang Shi - PhD - Senior Scientist panCELLa

2019 Special Celebration -  Benjamin Schacter Alumni Symposium: Showcasing 80 years of Global Impact

Dr. Joel Klappenbach, Pfizer
Dr. Nataliya Melynk-Lamont, Pfizer
Dr. Reinhart Reithmeier, University of Toronto
Dr. Bruce Seet
Dr. Paul Yip
Ms. Monique Rehal
Dr. Alex Palazzo
Dr. Pamela Plant
Dr. Mark Surka
Dr. Alex Marsolais
Dr. Liliana Sampaleanu
Dr. Sian Patterson
Dr. Peng Leong
Dr. Natalie Goto, University of  Ottawa
Dr. Grace DeSantis, Illumina
Dr. Lindsey Marmont, Harvard University
Dr. Anthony Partridge
Dr. Jean-Philippe Julien
Dr. April Pawluk,
Dr. Elizabeth Gray
Dr. Nikko Torres
Dr. Kelsey Law
Mr. Mike Tsay
Dr. Alex Therien
Ms. Chloe Rapp
Dr. Steven Molinski
Dr. Piotr Sliz, Harvard University
Dr. Dan Fitzpatrick, Amgen
Dr. Tina Sing, University of California, Berkeley
Nick Demers
Andreea Gheorghita
Thamiya Vasanthakumar