Improving health and patient outcomes Patient Care

Health care is the maintenance or improvement of health through the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease suffered by people of any age. In the past, health care systems tended to focus on the provider, but in recent decades the approach to all management of the person is termed “patient-centered care”, in which the individual, rather than the provider, is the focus whatever the health care setting.

Doctor and patient Nurse with Patient
  1. 1879

    Leonora King began attending to Lady Li Hung Chang, wife of the Viceroy

  2. 1900

  3. 1900

    The Grenfell Mission started humbly on the deck of a docked missionary hospital ship, where Wilfred Grenfell offered medical treatments, as well as friendship and spiritual guidance

  4. 1908

    With the financial support of Lady Li, Leonora King established a medical school for women

  5. 1910

  6. 1920

  7. 1930

  8. 1936

    The first edition of the Dr. Meakin’s renowned textbook, The Practice of Medicine, was published

  9. 1940

  10. 1950

  11. 1960

  12. 1967

    Dr. Breault successfully patented the “Palm N’ Turn” container

  13. 1970

  14. 1980

  15. 1980's

    Along with his colleagues, Dr. Ian McWhinney began exploring the impact of patient-centred care

  16. 1984

    Dr. Calvin Stiller established and led the Multi-Organ Transplant Service at University Hospital

  17. 1986

    Dr. Goldboom served as the chair of the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination

  18. 1989

    May Cohen developed the "Gender as a Determinant of Health" presentation, which became an annual event

  19. 1990

  20. Early 1990's

    Dr. Jean Gray began working with the Canadian Pharmacists Association to develop a comprehensive handbook for primary care practitioners designed to support therapeutic decision-making

  21. 1992

    Published by Churchill-Livingstone, Dr. Goldbloom’s second book, Pediatric Clinical Skills, was met with extreme popularity by medical undergraduates and postgraduates. The book is now in its 4th…

  22. 1995

    Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov’s article on desire for death in the terminally ill was published

  23. 2000

  24. 2000

    Demonstrating her leadership on an international scale, Dr. O’Connor co-led the Oxford Forum on Shared Decision Making

  25. 2001

    May Cohen authored “The Training Manual For Gender Mainstreaming in Health” for the Medical Women’s International Association

  26. 2001

    Under the direction of Dr. Berger, the DFCM at St. Michael’s hospital established Canada’s first academic infirmary for people suffering homelessness

  27. 2001

    Dr. Chochinov co-founded the Canadian Virtual Hospice (CVH) and served as its chair for the next 16 years

  28. 2003

    Bernard Langer - Cancer care champion

  29. 2006

    In a landmark Lancet paper, Dr. Montaner postulated that wide availability of antiretroviral therapy immediately following HIV diagnosis would stop HIV/AIDS related morbidity and mortality and, at…

  30. 2010

  31. 2011

    Harvey Max Chochinov published, Dignity Therapy: Final Words for Final Days with Oxford University Press

  32. 2015

    In July of 2015, the Federal Government appointed Harvey Max Chochinov to chair the External Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada

  33. 2020

About the CMHF

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) celebrates Canadian heroes whose work advances health in Canada and the world, fostering future generations of health professionals through the delivery of local and national youth education programs and awards.

This enduring tribute to our country’s rich medical history is showcased here and in our physical exhibit hall in London, ON.