In 2011 Dr. Michael Yamashita was awarded the Dr. Paul Cartier Cardiac Surgery Resident Award at the annual Canadian Cardiovascular Congress (CCC). This award was created in honour of Dr. Paul Cartier, and is sponsored by the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons (CSCS). It is presented annually to a Cardiac Surgery Resident who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of cardiac surgery through basic science or clinical research and who has demonstrated promise for a distinguished academic career in cardiac surgery.