Thoracic Surgeon/Clinical Instructor, William Osler Medical Center/TMU
Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science (BSc), 2003

Dr. Kavanagh is a thoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist practicing in the Greater Toronto Area. She is deeply committed to mentoring learners both inside and outside the operating room, with a focus on making the “hidden curriculum” of medicine more visible and accessible. As an undergraduate course facilitator, she works with students to explore how systemic bias shapes how we see one another — and the patients and communities we serve.

She has contributed to curriculum development for York’s upcoming School of Medicine, helping to ensure the next generation of physicians is equipped with tools for self-care, reflective practice, and advocacy for diverse patient populations.

Beyond her clinical and academic work, Dr. Kavanagh supports women at risk as a member of the Board of Directors for the Sudbury Women’s Centre, an organization with deep personal meaning in her own journey. Through this work, and through her broader leadership and regulatory roles, she is committed to advancing systems that create space for voices that have not always felt they belonged at the table.

York was foundational to both my life and career. I arrived as a young student leaving a small town and a difficult personal history, and it was there that I truly began to build my own path forward. York gave me a deep sense of purpose and intellectual curiosity, and it’s where I met friends who, more than 25 years later, remain family. That early experience of growth, community, and discovery continues to shape how I practice medicine, mentor others, and approach leadership today.