When Dr. Selamenesh Tsige Legas arrived at Holland Bloorview in 2021 to begin her fellowship in developmental pediatrics, she was unsure how to approach her research project. But her mentor, Dr. Darcy Fehlings, offered clarity and calm.

“What really amazed me was the way Dr. Fehlings described research in a simple manner,” said Dr. Tsige Legas. “She made me confident to express my ideas.”

With the mentorship and support of Dr. Fehlings, Dr. Tsige Legas graduated in 2024 and became the first Ethiopian developmental pediatrician. While completing her fellowship, she led a transformative scholarly initiative along with Dr. Fehlings training pediatricians and pediatric residents at a major tertiary hospital in Ethiopia. This pioneering scholarly project laid the foundation for earlier detection and intervention for young children with cerebral palsy.

“Her mentorship was holistic,” said Dr. Tsige Legas, who is now a developmental pediatrician at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences, and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Western University. “She saw me not just as a trainee, but as a whole person. She nurtured my growth, empowered my voice and helped me transform a national challenge into a global opportunity.”

Dr. Fehlings has mentored countless students, residents and fellows like Dr. Tsige Legas over her career, many of whom have become leaders in pediatric care and research. Her influence has helped shape the future of childhood disability care, especially for children with cerebral palsy, both in Canada and internationally.

Pictured above: Dr. Darcy Fehlings stands under the Jason Smith Research Tower with her CP Discovery Lab team.

Honoured for a legacy of mentorship

In recognition of her extraordinary mentorship, the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine has awarded Dr. Fehlings its prestigious Mentorship Award, to be presented to her later this month at an award ceremony.

Dr. Anne Kawamura, a former fellow and now Head of the Academic Division of Developmental Pediatrics, said, “Dr. Fehlings encouraged me to find my own passion for making a difference in the lives of children with disabilities and their families. It is said that the best mentors help you find your voice. Nothing could be truer of Darcy.”

Dr. Fehlings began her career as a pediatric fellow and became Holland Bloorview’s first developmental pediatrician 1989. She is also a senior clinician scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute. She was instrumental in elevating the academic profile of the Division of Developmental Pediatrics program, which she led for 15+ years – now one of the largest training programs for developmental pediatrics in Canada. 

Since 2010, the number of peer-reviewed publications on childhood-onset disabilities authored by division members – either as lead or senior authors – has quadrupled, thanks to Dr. Fehlings’ leadership as a senior clinician scientist and her collaboration with the Bloorview Research Institute and Holland Bloorview. She mentored faculty through academic promotions and encouraged further training and education, significantly advancing the division’s research and academic excellence.

“Dr. Fehlings has supported a growing community of developmental pediatricians and cerebral palsy researchers that will continue to make important contributions to the field for years to come,” said Dr. Golda Milo-Manson, vice president of medicine and academic affairs. “Her passion for children and youth with cerebral palsy is evident in her clinical work, teaching and research.”

Today, Dr. Fehlings continues to build capacity and champion collaboration across teams. Her legacy is one of compassion, innovation, and a deep commitment to enabling more meaningful futures for children and youth with disabilities and developmental differences.

“I’ve received so much meaningful mentorship,” she said. “It has shown me the importance of giving back, building capacity and working as a team—especially in developmental pediatrics, where having different perspectives from team members can lead to developing tailored interventions that are unique to the clients we serve and their families.”