[1] Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, Hawker attended Havergal College, an independent day and boarding school for girls.
[3] Upon completing her residency and fellowship, Hawker joined U of T's Faculty of Medicine in 1993 as a clinician-scientist at Women's College Hospital (WCH).
[7] As a result of her research and academic accomplishments, Hawker was the recipient of the Robert Hyland Award for Excellence in Mentorship and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.
[8] Following these awards, Hawker was appointed chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto for a five-year term starting in July 2014.
[9] While serving in this role, she was elected as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences for her work on improving access to care and outcomes for people with osteoarthritis.