April Boyd

April Boyd, MD, PhD, FRCSC, is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. As a vascular surgeon and research scientist at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, she serves as research director and has been affiliated with the university since 2006, becoming the first woman president of the Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery.

Her educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Science, Queen’s University (1986)
• Master of Science, University of Toronto (1989)
• Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toronto (1995)
• Medical Doctorate, University of Toronto (1999)
• Fellow (General Surgery), Royal College of Physicians of Canada (2004)
• Fellow (Vascular Surgery), Royal College of Physicians of Canada (2006)

Dr. Boyd's research is centered on vascular pathobiology with critical focus on abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture prediction and atherosclerotic plaque instability. She pioneers integration of computational fluid dynamics with human tissue analysis to model blood flow mechanics in vascular diseases, specifically investigating how hemodynamic forces interact with tissue biology to trigger aneurysm expansion and carotid plaque rupture. Her engineering-driven approach targets predictive biomarkers for high-risk vascular events.

Her notable scientific awards include:

• Teacher Recognition and Manitoba Medical Students’ Association (MMSA) Award (Mentorship - Attending) (2022)
• Linton Professor of Surgery, New England Vascular Surgery Society (2021)
• Women’s Leadership Award, Society for Vascular Surgery (2017)
• Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Award, Journal of Vascular (2016)
• Gore Research Award (2010, 2014, 2015)

Dr. Boyd actively mentors surgical trainees as research director at Health Sciences Centre, currently accepting Master's and PhD students through the University of Manitoba. She leads collaborative projects with the Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery Research Group and has secured sustained funding including multiple Gore Research Awards. Her leadership extends to national surgical education through the New England Vascular Surgery Society.

She maintains active research affiliations with the Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery Research Group, driving translational projects that bridge clinical vascular surgery practice with biomechanical engineering principles at the Health Sciences Centre.