UBC clinical assistant professor Dr. Kevin Afra has been awarded the 2025 Sherrold Haddad Excellence in Medicine Award from Surrey Hospitals Foundation, an honour celebrating UBC clinical faculty whose dedication and innovative research are transforming patient care at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) and across the Fraser region.
Dr. Afra serves as executive medical director of antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention & control at Fraser Health, an infectious diseases consultant across Fraser Health hospitals, and is a clinical assistant professor at the UBC Faculty of Medicine conducting research on infectious diseases.
“My research has grown organically from the challenges I see every day as an infectious diseases physician,” said Dr. Afra. “Across Fraser Health, I’ve learned where major gaps in evidence-based practice remain—and these gaps prevent us from consistently delivering the very best care to our patients.”
His leadership and research place him among Canada’s most impactful emerging voices in infectious diseases. He co-chairs the Provincial Antimicrobial Clinical Expert (PACE) group, aligning antimicrobial stewardship across all B.C. health authorities, and contributes to national prescribing guidelines through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and AMMI Canada.
Advancing infectious diseases research & clinical trials in the Fraser
One of Dr. Afra’s most significant achievements is establishing a robust, high-performing clinical trials program at Surrey Memorial Hospital, positioning the site as one of the leading recruiters in international randomized controlled trials studying antibiotic-resistant and hospital-acquired infections.
“Bloodstream infections are among the most serious conditions patients face in hospital,” said Dr. Afra. “They prolong hospital stays, increase stress for families, and disproportionately affect seniors and vulnerable individuals. We urgently need better evidence to guide how we treat them.”
Under his leadership, clinical researchers at the Surrey Memorial Hospital campus are contributing substantially to major clinical studies.
“I’ve been fortunate to help build a strong clinical trials program at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Our patients have been incredibly receptive to participating, and with the support of exceptional colleagues, we’ve become one of the top sites in international studies.”
This award supports research that grows directly out of the realities we see at the bedside. The findings from this work will have a meaningful impact on the care we provide our patients.
Dr. Kevin Afra
These research efforts are generating practice-changing evidence in managing bloodstream infections — a major cause of illness and death in hospitalized patients. His work directly benefits seniors, vulnerable patients and those with complex infections, helping shape safer, more effective care for families across the region.
“In just two years, our team has implemented three major randomized controlled trials at SMH. These studies are answering questions of immediate clinical importance and generating evidence that can change practice around the world.”
A passion for research, education and capacity building
In addition to leading-edge research, Dr. Afra invests deeply in shaping the next generation of clinicians and clinician-scientists. He leads UBC’s Sepsis Week for second-year medical students and trains medical students, residents and fellows completing infectious diseases and stewardship rotations across Fraser Health.
“Dr. Afra is an extraordinary example of how UBC clinical faculty in the Fraser are advancing innovative research that delivers tangible benefits for patients and communities,” said Dr. Wyeth Wasserman, vice dean, research, UBC Faculty of Medicine. “His commitment to expanding clinical trials capacity and to training the next generation is creating the conditions for innovative care and research to flourish across the Fraser region — making him truly deserving of this award.”
Dr. Afra completed medical school and internal medicine training at the University of Calgary, an infectious diseases subspecialty at UBC, and holds a Master of Health Administration from UBC.
Improving care for seniors with delirium
The Sherrold Haddad Excellence in Medicine Award will support UBC’s and Surrey Memorial Hospital’s contribution to the A-DONUT Trial (NCT06004739) — a pan-Canadian randomized controlled study investigating whether older adults with delirium and bacteriuria should receive antibiotics when they have no urinary symptoms.
This is a critical question in hospital medicine. Delirium affects up to half of hospitalized seniors, yet treatment varies widely. Overuse of antibiotics in this population can lead to harmful side effects, infection, delayed identification of the cause of delirium and rising antimicrobial resistance
The A-DONUT Trial will generate urgently needed evidence to guide clinicians in hospitals, long-term care, and community settings.
“This award supports research that grows directly out of the realities we see at the bedside. The findings from this work will have a meaningful impact on the care we provide our patients,” said Dr. Afra.
Accelerating research in the Fraser
The Sherrold Haddad Excellence in Medicine Award honours the legacy of Sherrold Haddad, a titan of Surrey’s business community, beloved philanthropist and former Chair of Surrey Hospitals Foundation.
Known for his charisma and generosity, Sherrold was one of Surrey’s most iconic figures — not only for his success in the automotive industry (including famously flying the giant Expo 86 flag above his Guildford dealership), but also for his remarkable commitment to the community.
The award offers funding to support research in one of the identified priority areas for a UBC clinical faculty member who performs clinical duties at Surrey Memorial Hospital, Czorny Alzheimer Centre, or Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre.
“Sherrold Haddad was a remarkable and inspirational leader… generous to a fault,” said Harp Dhillon, past chair of Surrey Hospitals Foundation. “We are grateful to the Haddad family for their ongoing support and generous gift that makes this award possible.”
While Board Chair, Sherrold helped raise over $10 million for the Children’s Health Centre and played a crucial role in expanding Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department. His legacy of compassion, leadership, and community service lives on through this award.
A version of this story was originally published on the Surrey Hospitals Foundation website.