Anne Agur

Anne Maria Reet Agur (née Vilde; November 10, 1953 – January 26, 2026) was a Canadian clinical anatomist who taught for many years in the Department of Anatomy within the Department of Surgery, at the University of Toronto. She was a full professor and received numerous awards for her teaching, research, and mentoring. She was a recipient of the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award from the American Association for Anatomy, which is the highest educational award for human anatomy education in the anatomical sciences. As of February 2026, her 157 publications have received 4,122 citations and contribute to an h-index score of 33.

Early life and education Anne Agur was born in Toronto, Canada on November 10, 1953.

Research and career Agur taught clinical anatomy, histology, neuroanatomy, and embryology at the University of Toronto for more than four decades. Hyoid bones of a male Homo sapiens (A) and Pan troglodytes (B), illustrating the absence of the prominent bulla in the human specimen that is characteristic of the chimpanzee hyoid. Her primary research area was clinical application of normal and pathological structure and function of the musculoskeletal system. She also contributed to research applying advanced imaging and biomechanical modeling to the Neanderthal hyoid bone.

Her primary faculty appointments at the University of Toronto were in the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, Division of Biomedical Communications, and The Wilson Centre.

She served as the president of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists from 2011-2013.

Agur retired on June 30, 2025 and was conferred as Professor Emerita.

She was a member of the Estonian women's student corporation Filiae Patriae.

Awards and honours Throughout her career, Agur received numerous awards recognizing her impact on anatomy education, clinical scholarship, and mentorship.

In 2014, she earned the Excellence in Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Award for sustained excellence in integrating research into undergraduate teaching within basic science departments in a faculty of medicine. That year, she also received the Longstanding Academic Contribution and Collaboration from an External Partner Award from the Division of Physiatry at the University of Toronto, honoring her ongoing scholarly and collaborative contributions.

Her commitment to professional education was further acknowledged in 2016 with a Teaching Excellence Award from the Canadian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The award, presented on behalf of residents in a national review course, recognized her outstanding teaching. In the same period, she and the anatomy laboratory team she directed were recognized with a Department of Physical Therapy Team Recognition Award for their contribution to physical therapy education.

Agur's international reputation was reflected in her election as an Honorary Member of the Argentine Association of Clinical Anatomy in 2015. That same year, she received the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award, the association's highest honor for excellence in human anatomy education.

Legacy Agur mentored generations of students and educators, Her published books include: