Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Building our health organizations and systems The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

All of our Laureates are people who saw potential even where others did not; they are innovators willing to try new things. Some of these Laureates did so long ago, pushing boundaries despite great challenges to create landscapes for learning and improvement to health and health care in ways we take for granted today.

Textbook of medicine Doctor taking blood pressure

Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

  1. 1700

  2. 1738

    Following the death of her husband, d’Youville committed her life to service

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  3. 1747

    D’Youville was named temporary directress of Montreal’s General Hospital

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  4. 1800

  5. 1864

    Concerned with the social influences on health, Sir Tupper became a fierce advocate of free primary school education throughout Nova Scotia.

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  6. 1867

    Upon her return from the United States, Dr. Stowe opened her practice on Richmond Street in Toronto

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  7. 1876

    Dr. Stowe founded the Toronto Women’s Literary Club, later renamed the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association.

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  8. 1883

    Dr. Augusta Stowe-Gullen, the daughter of Dr. Stowe, became the first woman to receive a Canadian medical degree when she graduated from Women’s Medical College.

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  9. 1885

    Leonora King established the Government Hospital for Women and Children

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  10. 1896

    In 1896, Sir Charles Tupper was appointed Prime Minister of Canada and remains the only physician to have served in that role.

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  11. 1900

  12. 1901

    First presented the Canada Medical Act (“Roddick Bill”) before the House of Commons

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  13. 1910

  14. 1911

    Maud Menten graduated from the University of Toronto and was among one of Canada’s first women to earn a medical degree

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  15. Years Later

    To facilitate industrial development, Dr. Grenfell established numerous co-operative stores and created a commerce for local handicraft

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  16. 1920

  17. 1923

    Despite her groundbreaking work in the field, Dr. Menten could not attain a research professorship in Canada

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  18. 1930

  19. 1931

    Elizabeth Bagshaw became Director of the Planned Parenthood Society

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  20. 1935

    Dr. Bethune left for a medical conference in Russia where he learned more about socialized medical care

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  21. 1940

  22. 1945

    Dr. Burton was recruited to the University of Western Ontario

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  23. 1950

  24. 1960

  25. 1970

  26. 1975

    May Cohen led a federal government workshop on women’s health care, as part of the Canadian government’s response to International Women’s Year

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  27. 1976 - 1979

    Becomes first President of the Native Nurses' Association of Canada

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  28. 1978

    Dr. Grenfell’s fortitude, kindness and aptitudes made him a local hero

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  29. 1980

  30. 1990

  31. 1991

    May Cohen co-founded the Women's Health Office at McMaster University, the first of its kind in Canada

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  32. 1997

    Inaugural May Cohen Lecture in Women’s Health was delivered by the Hon. Monique Begin at McMaster University

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  33. 2000

  34. 2010

  35. 2020

  36. 2021

Sainte Marguerite d'Youville

Leadership in Organizational Development, Women in Medicine, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

As a young widow at the age of 26, Marguerite d’Youville became a “Mother of Universal Charity”, dedicating her life to…

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Ste. Marguerite d'Youville oil painting

Sainte Marguerite d'Youville

Leadership in Organizational Development, Women in Medicine, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

As a young widow at the age of 26, Marguerite d’Youville became a “Mother of Universal Charity”, dedicating her life to…

Read more about Sainte Marguerite d'Youville
Ste. Marguerite d'Youville oil painting

Sir Charles Tupper, MD

Patient Care, Leadership in Organizational Development, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health Policy

After 13 years as a practicing physician, Sir Charles Tupper turned his sights to political service and rose to become…

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Picture of Charles Tupper

Emily Stowe, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Emily Stowe ranks as a true pioneer. She was the first female public school principal in Ontario, the first female…

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Picture of Emily Stowe

Emily Stowe, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Emily Stowe ranks as a true pioneer. She was the first female public school principal in Ontario, the first female…

Read more about Emily Stowe, MD
Picture of Emily Stowe

Emily Stowe, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Dr. Emily Stowe ranks as a true pioneer. She was the first female public school principal in Ontario, the first female…

Read more about Emily Stowe, MD
Picture of Emily Stowe

Leonora King, MD

Patient Care, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Global Health, Women in Medicine

A native of Ontario, Dr. Leonora King was denied entry into medical school in Canada because of her sex. Undaunted, she…

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Picture of Leonora King

Sir Charles Tupper, MD

Patient Care, Leadership in Organizational Development, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Health Policy

After 13 years as a practicing physician, Sir Charles Tupper turned his sights to political service and rose to become…

Read more about Sir Charles Tupper, MD
Picture of Charles Tupper

Sir Thomas Roddick, MD

Building our health organizations and systems

Transformed Canadian medicine by standardizing education and care

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Roddick

Maud L. Menten, MD

Blood, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine

Dr. Maud L. Menten graduated medical school at a time when women were not legally considered persons in Canada. Despite…

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Sir Wilfred Grenfell, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Leadership in Organizational Development, Patient Care

Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell is a familiar name in Newfoundland and Labrador where, more than a century ago, this…

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Picture of Sir Wilfred Grenfell, MD

Maud L. Menten, MD

Blood, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Women in Medicine

Dr. Maud L. Menten graduated medical school at a time when women were not legally considered persons in Canada. Despite…

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Picture of Maud L. Menten, MD

Elizabeth Bagshaw, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Women in Medicine, Female Reproduction

Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw’s devotion to women’s health is a treasured part of our nation’s medical heritage. As one of the…

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Norman Bethune, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Service Abroad, Patient Care, Blood

A brilliant medical surgeon and a political activist, Dr. Bethune is remembered in Canada for his innovations in medicine…

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Alan C. Burton, PhD

Health and Medical Education & Training, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

Dr. Alan C. Burton creatively pioneered the intersection of physics and biology at a time when few imagined connecting…

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May Cohen, MD

Patient Care, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

May Cohen has championed the unique concerns of women in medicine and pioneered the inclusion of women’s health in…

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Photo of May Cohen MD

Thomas A. Dignan, MD

Patient Care, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training

Dr. Dignan is admired for his decades of devoted service to Indigenous Peoples in Canada. A Mohawk from Six Nations of…

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Thomas Dignan

Sir Wilfred Grenfell, MD

The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Leadership in Organizational Development, Patient Care

Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell is a familiar name in Newfoundland and Labrador where, more than a century ago, this…

Read more about Sir Wilfred Grenfell, MD
Picture of Sir Wilfred Grenfell, MD

May Cohen, MD

Patient Care, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

May Cohen has championed the unique concerns of women in medicine and pioneered the inclusion of women’s health in…

Read more about May Cohen, MD
Photo of May Cohen MD

May Cohen, MD

Patient Care, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

May Cohen has championed the unique concerns of women in medicine and pioneered the inclusion of women’s health in…

Read more about May Cohen, MD
Photo of May Cohen MD

About the CMHF

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) celebrates Canadian heroes whose work advances health in Canada and the world, fostering future generations of health professionals through the delivery of local and national youth education programs and awards.

This enduring tribute to our country’s rich medical history is showcased here and in our physical exhibit hall in London, ON.