The CHILD Cohort Study (CHILD) is delighted to announce that Dr. Meghan Azad, CHILD’s Deputy Director, has been named one of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40” for 2021.
Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40” is an annual recognition of the exceptional achievements of 40 outstanding Canadians under the age of 40. It is among the country’s most coveted awards for young leaders. To date, its organizers have recognized more than 840 honourees, who are selected based on five criteria: vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; community involvement and contribution; and strategy for growth.
“To receive this award is such an honour,” said Dr. Azad. “I’m really excited to connect with and learn from other members of the ‘Top 40 Under 40’ community.”
“It’s gratifying to see, through this celebration of the work I am doing with others, breastfeeding and human milk recognized as an important field. This work depends on the dedication and talents of many colleagues, trainees and research participants. I continue to be grateful to them all, and I’m excited about the new projects we are planning together!”
Dr. Azad is an associate professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine. She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease and leads the International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium – an international team of scientists studying global differences in breastmilk – funded by a $6.5 million investment from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
She also co-directs the Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC) at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) and co-leads the International Perinatal Outcomes in the Pandemic (iPOP) Study.
Within CHILD, Dr. Azad researches the early-life determinants of lifelong health with a focus on the impact of maternal nutrition and breastfeeding on child health and development. She is Deputy Director of the study; Chair of CHILD’s Knowledge Mobilization Stakeholder Advisory Committee; and leads CHILD’s COVID-19 add-on study, which is investigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian families.
“Meghan has quickly become a research powerhouse and this recognition is incredibly well deserved,” says CHILD Director Dr. Padmaja Subbarao. “Her drive, creativity and people-centred leadership epitomize what it means to be a successful young Canadian leader.”
The 2021 recipients will accept their awards at a virtual ceremony to be held in Toronto on November 18. They will also be profiled in a feature article in the spring edition of FP Magazine and featured on BNN Bloomberg.
The “Top 40 Under 40” awards program is managed by The Caldwell Partners International and is sponsored by Deloitte, National Bank Financial, The Globe and Mail and Air Canada.
Among many other honours, Dr. Azad was named one of “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100” by the Women’s Executive Network in 2020, and was an awardee in CBC Manitoba’s “Future 40” contest in 2016.
Read the “Top 40 Under 40” recipient list for 2021.
Read the coverage in The National Post and UM News.
