Irene Cybulsky
Irene Cybulsky is a Canadian lawyer and former cardiac surgeon. She was the first woman in Canada to be appointed head of a cardiac surgery division. After being dismissed from this position, she "represent[ed] herself in a human rights tribunal case against her former hospital", which was ultimately successful. Education Cybulsky grew up in Toronto and was a member of the first co-education class at the University of Toronto Schools. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Toronto. After a one-year surgical internship, Cybulsky applied for a residency position, which she did not receive, potentially due to her gender. She completed a master's degree in research science before being accepted to a general surgery and later a two-year cardiovascular and thoracic surgery residency at McMaster University. Career By 1995 Cybulsky was employed at Hamilton General Hospital, starting as a clinical assistant and later becoming the director of the cardiac surgery residency program. She faced significant gender-based discrimination from male colleagues at the hospital. When she developed a deep vein thrombosis during a pregnancy in 1998, the administration initially refused to allow her to take sick leave but instead suggested she start maternity leave early. According to