U of T Professor Alex Mihailidis appointed Knight of the Ordre des Palmes académiques

Professor Alex Mihailidis has been named a Knight (Chevalier) of the Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French Republic, recognizing his distinguished contributions to education, science, and international academic collaboration.

The Ordre des Palmes académiques is one of the oldest civil honours bestowed by the French government, originally established by Napoleon in 1808 to recognize eminent members of the University of Paris. Reformed into its current structure in 1955, the order now honours individuals worldwide for their service to the advancement of education and scholarship. With this award, Professor Mihailidis joins a global community of more than 4,500 Knights.

Professor Mihailidis is the Associate Vice-President for International Partnerships at the University of Toronto and the Scientific Director of AGE-WELL, Canada’s technology and aging network. He holds academic appointments in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME), with a cross-appointment in the Department of Computer Science.

For more than 24 years, Mihailidis has led interdisciplinary research at the intersection of aging, artificial intelligence, and assistive technology. His work focuses on developing smart systems to support older adults, including tools for dementia care, fall detection, and independent living. He has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications and helped build strategic research partnerships between academia and industry. Notably, AGE-WELL has partnered with IKEA and the University of Toronto to launch an Innovation Studio dedicated to aging-in-place technologies.

In addition to his research, Mihailidis is active in professional and policy circles. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), where he also served as President. In 2022, the United Nations recognized him among the Healthy Ageing 50, a group of global leaders working to improve the lives of seniors.

“Alex’s work exemplifies the impact biomedical engineering can have on society,” said Professor Milos Popovic, Director of BME. “This recognition from the French government is well-deserved, and we are proud to see his global leadership acknowledged at the highest levels.”