Clinical epidemiologist and pioneer of evidence-based medicine
As the founder of Canada’s first department of clinical epidemiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 1967, Dr. Sackett made significant contributions to how we measure the presence of diseases in populations, and in particular, how we assess the effectiveness of various forms of treatment. By employing precise models and innovative approaches, Dr. Sackett emphasized the importance of clinical trials and other forms of objective evidence in evaluating what the various possible forms of treatment accomplish, and how they can be made more effective for the patient’s benefit.