Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

2016 INDUCTEE David Naylor, MD DPhil Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health Policy

Born:

October 26, 1954

(Woodstock, Ontario)

Education:

MD, University of Toronto (1978);

DPhil, Hertford College, Oxford (1983)

Awards & Honours:

2011: Honorary LLD, Western University

2010: Honorary DSc, University of Manitoba

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picture of David Naylor

Promoted medical research in Canada and improved its institutional deliveries

David Naylor

An influential advocate of medical research and excellence in health service provision in Canada

Accomplished physician-scientist C. David Naylor, past dean of medicine and president emeritus at the University of Toronto, is broadly recognized for his visionary and far-reaching contributions to health research, education, administration, and policy. Dr. Naylor has worked tirelessly to improve the scope, funding, and organization of health research in Canada.  He has worked as an indispensable mediator between the imperatives of government and the mission of medical care founded in robust research.

Key Facts

Authored or co-authored more than 300 scholarly publications spanning multiple medical fields

Under his leadership ICES was the initial institute in Canada to evaluate administrative data to measure quality of care

Co-authored the influential report of the Global Commission on Educating Health Professions for the 21st Century

Served as Senior Advisor to the Health Services Restructuring Commission in Ontario

Appointed by the Canadian government to serve as chair of the National Advisory Panel on Health Care Innovation

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

Dr. Naylor’s diverse contributions have enhanced and strengthened national and international health care.  His work has addressed challenges facing broad-based health delivery in a global context and has materially advanced the cause of medical science in service to Canadians and the world community.

Picture of David Naylor

2023

  • David Naylor Induction

    David Naylor inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    Hamilton, Ontario

  • Appointed by federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose, Dr. Naylor began serving as chair of the Advisory Panel on Health Care Innovation

  • Leadership at the University of Toronto

    Dr. Naylor’s leadership in health policy and innovation continued to gain notice and respect. In April of 2005, he was appointed President of the University of Toronto.

  • Creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada

    Leadership in Organizational Development, Health Policy, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy

    Shortly after the start of the SARS epidemic in Canada, Dr. Naylor was appointed chair of the National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health. This committee was the catalyst for the creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

  • When the Canadian Institutes of Health Research was formed in 2000, they chose health policy leader Dr. David Naylor as their inaugural governor

    Leadership in Organizational Development, Health Policy, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy

  • Leadership at the University of Toronto

    Dr. Naylor was appointed Dean of Medicine.

  • Dr. Naylor was named the inaugural chief executive of the renowned Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES)

    Leadership in Organizational Development, Health Policy, Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy

    As a result of his leadership over the next 7 years, ICES became the driving force in supporting and expanding the use of evidence-based medicine throughout Canada.

  • Historical Context

    Dr. Naylor’s prominence in health policy leadership includes his use of historical context. In 1986, he published Private Practice, Public Payment: Canadian Medicine and the Politics of Health Insurance, 1911-1966.

1986

He's relentless in his belief that we can do better

Additional Resources:

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