Born:

October 16, 1927

(Toronto, Ontario)

Died:

November 16, 2011

Education:

MD, University of Toronto (1954)

PhD, Cambridge University (1956)

Awards & Honours:

2005: Lifetime Achievement Award, Lawson Foundation

2001: FNG Starr Medal, Canadian Medical Association

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Fraser Mustard

Implemented innovative approaches to medical education and interdisciplinary research

J. Fraser Mustard

A World Class Researcher and Educational Visionary

Dr. Fraser Mustard’s contribution to Canadian medical research began early in his career. As a research fellow at the University of Toronto, he became an expert in platelet physiology and its relationship to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. The pinnacle of his research career came in 1966. Dr. Mustard became a founding member of the McMaster University Faculty of Medicine. The revolutionary educational philosophy of the new school coincided with Dr. Mustard’s own learning philosophy about the importance of learning how to problem-solve throughout life. This commitment to education continued for the rest of Dr. Mustard’s career in his roles at the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research and as an advocate for early childhood development.

Key Facts

Demonstrated the link between acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) and the prevention of heart attacks and stroke

Co-Authored “The Early Years Report for Ontario,” which helped to shape current approaches to early childhood education

Worked with organizations and governments around the world, including Aga Khan University and the government of Australia

Served as Chair for the first board of directors of Work and Health

Awarded 23 honorary degrees

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

Dr. Mustard’s commitment to the multiple aspect of human well-being will continue to impact the lives of future generations. Today, CIFAR continues to bring together the world’s best researchers to address new areas of inquiry beyond the boundaries of traditional frameworks. With over 1,000 researchers, CIFAR holds bright promise that our society can address the complex problems of the world. In addition, Dr. Mustard’s leadership in early childhood development led to policies that continue to inform educational practice and improve the well-being of children. For instance, full-day kindergarten has been demonstrated to improve educational achievement, health outcomes, and parent’s ability to remain in the workforce.

Fraser Mustard photo

2012

  • The Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development is established

    The FMI was the first institute of kind in Canada.

  • Mustard became chair of the Council for Early Childhood Education

    As a result of his 1999 report The Early Years, the Council for Early Childhood education was created. Mustard served as the chair from 2004-2010.

  • J. Fraser Mustard, 2003 Induction

    Fraser Mustard inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    London, Ontario

  • Fraser Mustard devoted his time and energy to early childhood development

    Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy

    He became a tireless advocate for early childhood education as well as a champion for the social determinants of health. In particular, Mustard advanced the implementation of full-day, play-based kindergarten.

  • Dr. Mustard founded the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

    Leadership in Organizational Development

    Serving as the first president, Mustard pushed against the barriers of institutions and disciplines to form an independent multidisciplinary hub of research. He remained president for the next 14 years.

  • Fraser Mustard became a founding member of the McMaster University’s Faculty of Medicine

    Health and Medical Education & Training

    The faculty was an innovator in medical education. Rather than lectures and exams, the school focused on small-group problem-based learning. While at McMaster, Mustard became the first Chair of the Department of Pathology and later served as Dean of Medicine and Vice-President (Health Sciences).

  • Upon returning to Canada from graduate studies, Fraser Mustard became a research fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto

    Blood

    Mustard and his team carried out ground-breaking research on the role of platelets in the coagulation of blood, and the means by which this process could be controlled.

  • Following graduation from medical school, Mustard pursued further research training.

    He completed his PhD in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge.

1954

He didn’t accept barriers to knowledge.