Dr. Darcy Fehlings, senior clinician scientist and developmental paediatrician at Holland Bloorview and professor in the department of paediatrics at the University of Toronto, has been elected a 2026 Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS).

The Fellowship is considered one of the highest honours for members of Canada’s health sciences community. The Academy announced its 2026 Fellows on Aug. 25, 2026.

Fehlings is among 59 health leaders elected to the Academy this year. Fellows are nominated and elected by their peers in recognition of distinguished achievements and sustained contributions to advancing knowledge, improving health and shaping healthier societies.

“I am deeply honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences,” says Fehlings. “Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside incredible researchers, clinicians, trainees, children, youth and families. This recognition reflects the power of those partnerships and our shared commitment to advancing research and care that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with cerebral palsy and their families.”

Fehlings has dedicated her career to advancing research and care for children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP) and childhood disabilities. She leads the CP Discovery Lab at BRI, where her research focuses on developing and evaluating neurorehabilitation treatments for children and youth with CP. Her work spans early detection and intervention, dystonia and pain management, genetics and rehabilitation interventions, with a focus on better understanding differences among children and identifying approaches that can improve their individual health and well-being.

As scientific lead for the Ontario Brain Institute’ Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network (CP-NET), Fehlings leads a large translational neuroscience network focused on people with CP. By bringing together research in genomics, neuroscience and clinical care, her work is helping build a deeper understanding of CP and move research discoveries toward more personalized approaches to intervention and care.

This work also contributes to Holland Bloorview’s broader commitment to precision health and BRI’s efforts to advance its potential in childhood disability and developmental differences. Precision health is embedded in Holland Bloorview’s 2023-2030 strategic plan and is one of BRI’s four strategic priorities, with a shared focus on better understanding individual differences and translating research into more personalized approaches to care.

“Darcy’s election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences is a tremendous and well-deserved recognition of the impact she has made throughout her career,” says Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, vice president of research and director of BRI.

“Her work exemplifies where we want to go next - moving beyond diagnosis alone to better understand each child and translating those insights into interventions and care that reflect their individual needs. It also demonstrates the value of bringing research and care closer together as we continue our journey toward becoming a learning health system. We are incredibly proud to see her leadership and contributions recognized with one of Canada’s highest honours in health sciences. Congratulations, Darcy!”

Fehlings has held several leadership roles throughout her career. She served as the inaugural head of the University of Toronto’s division of developmental paediatrics from 2006 to 2022 and as president of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) in 2015. She also led the development of AACPDM care pathways and clinical practice guidelines and is the inaugural holder of the Bloorview Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Developmental Paediatrics.

Her election to CAHS follows international recognition for her contributions to the field. In 2024, Fehlings received AACPDM’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to advancing the health and well-being of people with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities.

CAHS brings together leaders from across Canada’s health sciences community to recognize excellence in health sciences and help address complex health challenges. Fellows contribute their expertise to the Academy’s work, including efforts to inform public policy and advance health and health systems across Canada.

As a newly elected Fellow, Fehlings will join this national community of health leaders and have opportunities to contribute her expertise to the Academy’s work. She will also be formally inducted into CAHS at an upcoming induction ceremony.

Read the press release: CAHS 2026 announcement

By Priyanka Shah