Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

2012 INDUCTEE John Dirks, MD Global Health, Leadership in Organizational Development, Genitourinary Tract

Born:

August 20, 1933

(Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Education:

MD, University of Manitoba (1957)

Awards & Honours:

2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

2012: Honorary DSc, University of Toronto

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Picture of John Dirks

Established the Canada Gairdner Awards as one of the top three most prestigious prizes in the world for medical research

Portrait of Dr. John Dirks

An exemplary builder in health research and innovation and committed global health advocate

As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Dirks has made major contributions in renal physiology and served in leadership positions in medical faculties across Canada. He has also nurtured his interest in international health at the Aga Khan University in Pakistan. But the transformation of the Gairdner Foundation and its international awards program stands as Dr. Dirks’ most enduring work. The Gairdner Awards (recently renamed the Canada Gairdner Awards) acknowledge the best and most important research accomplishments in biomedical science. With imagination and persistence, Dr. Dirks brought radical changes to the organization that raised the international profile of the awards and ensured the continued significant impact of the award for years to come.

Key Facts

Published 155 peer-reviewed papers

Travelled the world to ensure widespread dissemination of new knowledge in nephrology

Established the National Gairdner Scientific Program in which Gairdner laureates visit universities to connect with students and the wider community

Created the first International Prize in Global Health

The Canada Gairdner Award is a consistent predictor of the Nobel Prize, with 95 awardees having gone on to win a Nobel Prize to date

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

In a career now spanning five decades, Dr. Dirks has made huge impacts in every field he has touched, from scientific and academic achievements in nephrology to the promotion and advancement of excellence in medical research. His research in nephrology has added significant knowledge to the field and his leadership in faculties of medicine has strengthened the modern academic health centre mandate across the country. Moreover, with creativity and imagination, Dr. Dirks brought substantive changes to the Gairdner Foundation without sacrificing its distinct Canadian style. As a result, there remains a renewed awareness of Canada’s contribution to medical and clinical research around the world.

Picture of John Dirks

2023

  • John Dirks inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    Toronto, Ontario

  • To honour the significant contributions of Dr. Dirks, the International Society of Nephrology established the John Dirks Fellowship and John Dirks Colloquium and Symposium

  • Dr. John Dirks was chosen as the founding Chair of the International Society of Nephrology Commission for Global Advancement of Nephrology (COMGAN)

    Global Health

    At COMGAN, he pioneered educational programs to improve the health of people all over the globe.

  • His vision extended beyond Canada’s borders in 1994 when he was made Dean-Rector of Aga Khan University in Pakistan

  • Dr. Dirks heads the Gairdner Foundation

    Leadership in Organizational Development

    After almost a decade on the Medical Advisory Board of the Gairdner Foundation, Dr. Dirks became President. Over his tenure, he transformed the award into one of the most sought-after prizes in medical research.

  • His capacity to build up research strength in medical schools was noticed by faculties of medicine across Canada

    In 1976, he became Chair of Medicine at University of British Columbia and, in 1987, the Dean of Medicine at the University of Toronto. While in Toronto, Dr. Dirks created one of the largest health medical biotechnology clusters in North America.

  • After three successful years at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Dirks moved to McGill University’s Royal Victoria Hospital as head of the Division of Nephrology

    Genitourinary Tract

    The Division quickly became a leading centre in kidney disease research.

1960

He made his name as a well-known contributor to new knowledge.

Additional Resources:

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