I am writing to share with our community the sad news that Professor Anne Agur (MSc, PhD), a long-standing and much revered teacher and researcher in the University of Toronto Division of Anatomy, died last Monday morning.
Professor Agur completed her MSc and PhD degrees in Anatomy at the University of Toronto. She was subsequently recruited as a faculty member with a primary appointment in the Division of Anatomy. She subsequently garnered cross appointments and affiliations with multiple other departments and institutes, including the School of Graduate Studies at U of T, the Institute of Medical Science, the Wilson Centre, the Rehabilitation Sciences sector at Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and the Division of Biomedical Communications - Institute of Communications and Culture at the University of Toronto at Mississauga. Professor Agur retired on June 30, 2025, at which time Professor Emerita status was conferred upon her.
Over the many years since her initial faculty appointment, Professor Agur taught clinical anatomy, histology, neuroanatomy and embryology to generations of MD program, OT and PT students, with consistently high praise for the way she engaged learners, and created a safe and fun learning environment. She was appreciated as a dedicated and effective mentor to graduate students and young faculty colleagues.
Professor Agur was also a highly prolific scholar, with a primary research interest in clinically applied normal versus pathological structure and function of the musculoskeletal system including joints, musculotendinous architecture, innervation patterns and pain-generating mechanisms, as well as anatomy education. She was co-editor of "Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy" and co-author of "Essential Clinical Anatomy" and “Clinically Oriented Anatomy”.
Over the course of her career, Professor Agur was honoured with several awards, including the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award and the Honored Member Award, both from the American Association of Anatomists (AAA). In addition, she received a Teaching Excellence Award from the Canadian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and an Excellence in Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Award from Temerty Faculty of Medicine. She was also the recipient of the Longstanding Academic Contribution and Collaboration from an External Partner Award by the U of T Division of Physiatry, in recognition of her continued scholarly and collaborative academic contributions.
On a personal level, Anne was a warm, empathetic and incredibly supportive colleague and friend who loved nothing better than a lively conversation. Cindi Morshead, U of T Division of Anatomy Co-Chair has shared that “Professor Agur was a remarkable person, mentor, colleague, and friend. She will be missed.”
Professor Agur is survived by her husband Enno and her children Erik, Amy, and Kristina. We express our deep sympathy at this difficult time.
