Although I wish Sherif and his wife, Laurel, the very best in retirement it is with some sadness that I am sharing the news of Dr. El-Defrawy’s retirement from clinical practice in Nov. 2025. Sherif served as the Professor and a tremendous Chair of our Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto and the Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at the Kensington Eye Institute from 2012 to 2023. During that time he oversaw the expansion of the number and scope of cases being done at KEI. Prior to coming to Toronto, he held virtually every significant Ophthalmology leadership position in Canada. It started with his role as the Residency Program Director at the University of Ottawa from 1999 to 2004. Before moving to Toronto in 2012, Dr. El-Defrawy chaired the Department of Ophthalmology at Queen's University from 2004 to 2012.
In addition to university leadership, Dr. El-Defrawy has held various national leadership positions, including chairing the Council on CPD and then serving as President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Sherif was also President of the Association of Canadian University Professors of Ophthalmology. He has also been involved in and chaired many Ontario Expert Panels including the Ontario Vision Task Force.
Despite these many seminal roles in our profession and department, I know that he likely takes the greatest pride in his role as a teacher and mentor. Sherif has taught generations and hundreds of trainees and remains a role model to so many. Throughout his career, Dr. El-Defrawy has been recognized for his contributions to medical education and research. He has received many teaching awards, including the Professional Association of Interns and Residents of Ontario's Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award on two occasions. He has also been instrumental in global health initiatives, leading regular missions to the West Indies and Ghana to train local surgeons and participating in Orbis programs for two decades. His decision to withdraw from clinical practice at the top of his game ostensibly to make room and resources available for graduating residents and fellows, is a reflection of his commitment to trainees to find place for them to transition to practice. Dr. El-Defrawy has been a great leader, a great clinician, a great teacher, a great mentor and role model, and a great friend. We wish Sherif and Laurel the very best for retirement and hope that our paths still cross at regular intervals.
