Dionne Aleman Obituary: Professor At University Of Toronto Passes Away
Dionne Aleman Obituary: Esteemed University of Toronto Professor and Research Leader Passes Away
TORONTO, ON – October 2025:
The University of Toronto community is mourning the loss of Dr. Dionne Aleman, a highly respected professor, researcher, and leader whose work left a profound mark on the fields of operations research and healthcare systems engineering.
Dr. Aleman served as the Associate Dean of Cross-Disciplinary Programs in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto. She was also a Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, where she inspired generations of students, researchers, and professionals.
In addition to her faculty role, Dr. Aleman held appointments at the UofT Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, the UofT Institute for Pandemics, and the UHN Techna Institute. She also served as co-Director of the International Centre for Translational Digital Health, where her work bridged the gap between engineering innovation and medical impact.
Academic Excellence and Research Contributions
Dr. Aleman earned her PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida in 2007, following her MSc (2006) and BSc (2003) from the same institution. Her academic journey reflected a lifelong dedication to the application of analytical and mathematical modeling to real-world challenges.
Her research focused on applying operations research to healthcare systems to improve care quality, timeliness, and efficiency. She used optimization, simulation, machine learning, and graph theory to design radiation therapy treatment plans, model and mitigate the spread of pandemic diseases, improve surgical scheduling, and optimize organ transplant matching.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Aleman secured competitive grants from NSERC, CIHR, CFI, ORF, and NSF. She served as a two-term President of the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS) and held leadership roles within INFORMS and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), where she was the Canada Regional VP.
Her editorial contributions included service for Royal Society Open Science, OMEGA, IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, and the Wiley Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science.
A Legacy of Leadership and Inspiration
Dr. Aleman will be remembered not only for her scholarly excellence but also for her mentorship, vision, and compassion. She was a passionate advocate for cross-disciplinary research, women in STEM, and the use of data-driven methods to save lives and improve public health outcomes.
Her colleagues, students, and collaborators around the world continue to honor her legacy by advancing the work she so passionately championed. The University of Toronto has expressed its deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing her.
Dr. Dionne Aleman’s passing marks a tremendous loss to academia and the global healthcare research community, but her influence will continue to shape innovation for years to come.
