Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

2017 INDUCTEE Michel G. Bergeron, MD Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity, Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity, Leadership in Organizational Development

Born:

November 25, 1943

(Québec City, Québec )

Education:

MD, Université Laval (1968)

Awards & Honours:

2013: Frost & Sullivan North American Entrepreneur Company of the Year Award for GenePOC

2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

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Picture of Michel Bergeron

Visionary of diagnostic testing

Sketch Portrait Michel Bergeron

A clinician-scientist whose practical acumen has created life-enhancing and life-saving advances in health

In 1985, Michel Bergeron began his search for rapid molecular (DNA-based) methods to accelerate diagnosis of infectious diseases, which has reduced the time of diagnosis from more than 48 hours to 1 hour. Building on this breakthrough, and working with a transdisciplinary team, Dr. Bergeron has developed technologies for detecting and identifying dangerous bacteria in health facilities, helping to contain or prevent dissemination and antibiotic resistance, a priority of the United Nations (2016). Presently, he and his team are developing portable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices that can be used to bring easy-to-use health monitoring to men and women worldwide.

Key Facts

Invented a protective vaginal gel, “the Invisible Condom®,” to protect against the AIDS virus and other STIs

Was a pioneer in the establishment of Infectious Diseases as a specialty of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons

Cofounded the Canadian Infectious Disease Society and served as its first secretary and later its president

Authored hundreds of articles and hold 30 issued patents

Discoveries include preventing neonatal meningitis, controlling the dissemination of C. difficile and MRSA infections in hospitals, development of unique safe water molecular analytical technologies

One of Dr. Bergeron’s devices for molecular analysis may be carried by astronauts on their Mars mission of 2032

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

Dr. Bergeron has devoted his career to identifying patient bedside problems, finding the solutions, and developing the products to meet those needs. His tremendous advances in rapid diagnosis has saved thousands of lives and promoted the effective and sustainable use of antibiotics.

Picture of Michel Bergeron

2023

  • A bacterium named in his honour

    The bacterium was named Criibacterium bergeronii at the suggestion of Maurice Boissinot and Rabeea F. Omar, two researchers at the Infectious Disease Research Centre who had Professor Bergeron as their mentor and who were involved in the discovery of the bacterium. The researchers found that it was not only a new species, but that its singularities justified the creation of a new bacterial genus of which it became the first member.

  • Michel Bergeron inducted into Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    Michel Bergeron inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    Québec City, Québec

  • Dr. Bergeron established GenePOC

    Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

    Dr. Bergeron established a second company to perform molecular tests, not in a clinical lab but, at the patient’s bedside.

  • Dr. Bergeron was published in the New England Journal of Medicine

    Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

    He and his team successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using rapid DNA-based techniques to identify a microbe in less than one hour.

  • Dr. Bergeron facilitated the production of diagnostic inventions when he created Infectio Diagnostics Inc.

    Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

  • Dr. Bergeron presided over the 19th International Congress of Chemotherapy

    Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

    The event was held in Montreal and brought 8000 people together from over 97 countries.

  • Dr. Michel Bergeron founded the Centre de recherché en infectiologie (CRI) de Université Laval

    Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

    Today, the centre works with over 250 researches in over 23 countries.

  • Dr. Bergeron became the Director of the Clinical Research Unit for the treatment of AIDS in Quebec city and the eastern part of the province

    Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

    The centre employed a model of care where psychologists, social workers, pharmacists, nurses and MDs interacted daily.

  • Dr. Bergeron served as the Director of the Infectious Diseases Service and Research Laboratory at Université Laval

    Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

  • Medical Service

    With an early desire to help others, Dr. Bergeron served as a Captain in the Canadian Army in the Medical Corp (Reserve).

1968

You are not there just to treat their body, you’re there to help their soul and to listen.

Additional Resources:

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