2022 INDUCTEE David J.A. Jenkins, MD DPhil DSc Diabetes, Digestion, Health and Medical Education & Training, Heart & Vessels

David Jenkins inducted in the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Ottawa, Ontario

David Jenkins publishes “Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, and Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality” in the New England Journal of Medicine

Of particular importance globally because previous large studies focused on high income Western countries with little information from non-Western countries with low or middle incomes, the study fills a significant gap and confirms that consumption of high amounts of poor-quality carbohydrates is an issue worldwide.

Receives the Health Research Foundation Medal of Honour for contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the health Science and/or the improvement of the therapeutics health care

Since 1945, the Medal of Honour has recognized remarkable individuals whose research or contributions to public policies in Canada have achieved international recognition.

Awarded the Rundle-Lister Lectureship in Transformative Nutritional Medical Education based on outstanding contributions to the field of therapeutic nutrition research and translation of this work to clinical practice

Co-chairs International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to summarizing and disseminating the science around dietary carbohydrate and health

Its 27 members include academic scientists and representatives from not-for-profit organizations, spanning 14 countries in Oceania, Asia, Europe and North America

David Jenkins develops the Portfolio Diet, a therapeutic vegan diet emphasizing a portfolio of foods associated with the lowering of cholesterol

This diet, including viscous fiber, soy protein, plant sterols, and nuts, is low in saturated fat and high in fibre. Researchers have found it has a comparable blood cholesterol effect to statin treatment.

David Jenkins is appointed the Canada Research Chair in Metabolism and Nutrition at the University of Toronto

The Canada Research Chairs Program is central to a national strategy aimed at making Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development. It invests approximately $311 million per year to attract and retain a diverse group of world-class researchers, to reinforce academic research and training excellence in Canadian postsecondary institutions.

International Editor of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition

David Jenkins and colleagues introduce concept of glycemic index (GI)

With the goal of improving diets for people with diabetes, the "Glycemic index of foods: a physiological basis for carbohydrate exchange" ranks the impact of a variety of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. This ranking system lays the groundwork for the research of many other scientists around the globe.