Doctors Manitoba Awards are the highest honour given to physicians in the province.
Doctors Manitoba celebrated excellence in health care at a gala on May 1 and all seven award winners are members of the Max Rady College of Medicine community.
Six of the seven Doctors Manitoba Award recipients are UM alumni and five earned their medical degrees at UM. Six winners hold positions with the Max Rady College of Medicine and one with the College of Community and Global Health.
“Congratulations to the 2026 Doctors Manitoba Award recipients,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine and the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
“The fact that the winners all have close ties with the UM medical college exemplifies our goal of training exceptional physicians who go on to make a positive impact as health-care leaders. I’m proud of this group of physicians who are making a difference in the lives of Manitobans.”
The winners are nominated by their physician peers and selected after an evaluation by an awards committee. The gala to celebrate the award recipients took place at the RBC Convention Centre.
“Our 2026 Doctors Manitoba Award recipients reflect a wide range of specialties and career stages, and they share a defining commitment to advancing medical care for Manitobans,” said Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba.
“They are role models who elevate their colleagues and learners by their examples. We are proud to celebrate their contributions to the medical community, and the tremendous impact they have on patient care in Manitoba.”
Dr. Devon Evans, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, and section head of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS) at the Max Rady College of Medicine, is a national leader in endometriosis, pelvic pain and MIGS. Evans, who completed his residency at UM in 2019, founded Manitoba’s Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Clinic and MIGS fellowship program. Known for his exceptional skill, mentorship, humility and patient advocacy, Evans is transforming care across the province.
Cliff Yaffe [MD/76], associate professor of surgery and a faculty advisor at the Max Rady College of Medicine, is a distinguished surgical educator whose four decades of mentorship have supported hundreds of residents and thousands of medical students. Yaffe was associate dean of postgraduate medical education at the UM medical college from 2011 to 2022. He played a pivotal role in expanding the family medicine and psychiatry residency programs and establishing several subspecialty programs.
Holly Hamilton [B.Sc./00, MD/06], practice ready assessment director with the International Medical Graduate Program at the Max Rady College of Medicine, is a rural family physician and humanitarian whose longtime service to Aspen Winds/Vents de Tremble reflects profound compassion and community commitment. Through clinical expertise and hands on support, she enriches the lives of adults with disabilities while championing rural medicine and medical education across Manitoba.
Tegan Turner [B.Kin./19, MD/23, B.Sc. (Med.)/23], emergency medicine resident at the Max Rady College of Medicine, known for clinical excellence under pressure, strong communication skills and compassionate care. She mentors medical students with enthusiasm and brings a unique interest in motorsports medicine, inspired by Formula 1 racing, which will help strengthen emergency care in Manitoba.
Mandy Buss [B.Sc./03, MD/09], assistant professor and Indigenous health lead in the department of family medicine at the Max Rady College of Medicine, is a national leader in Indigenous health and medical education. Through curriculum reform, advocacy and mentorship, she has advanced culturally safe care and strengthened pathways for Indigenous learners. She continues to drive meaningful system change across Manitoba and Canada.
Dr. Natalie Casaclang [MPH/21], assistant professor in the College of Community and Global Health, is a public health specialist who has played a lead role in launching Manitoba’s major immunization initiative to protect more newborns against respiratory syncytial virus. As a family physician, she focuses on supporting parent-infant dyads with breastfeeding difficulties.
Shayne Taback [MD/89, B.Sc. (Med.)/89], associate professor of pediatrics and child health, is the visionary founding director of Manitoba’s Clinician Investigator Program. The program has trained 39 clinician scientists to date and set a national standard for excellence. He is a dedicated mentor and certified executive coach. His work has strengthened research capacity across Manitoba and Canada and shaped the next generation of medical innovators.
By Rady Communications Staff
With files from Doctors Manitoba
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