By studying hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Steven Narod, MD has improved outcomes for countless patients. In 1991, Dr. Narod was the first to establish a genetic link between these two pervasive cancers. He was also a member of the research teams that discovered the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which revolutionized the early detection and treatment of cancers related to these mutations. Under his direction, Women’s College Hospital in Toronto has become Canada’s top centre for studying inherited cancer. In 2017, Dr.
Renowned for her pioneering research on intensive care unit (ICU) practices, Deborah J. Cook, MD has transformed research methods and outcomes for critically ill patients. Her work in evidence-based medicine has shaped protocols for sepsis management, fluid resuscitation, and preventing complications of critical illness, saving countless lives in ICUs worldwide. Dr. Cook’s pivotal randomized trials have influenced both practice and policy, with vast benefits for patients and their families.
Each year, more than 300 million patients receive mechanical ventilation in hospital settings worldwide. Arthur Slutsky, MD, has advanced the standard of care for these patients. His novel research has transformed the treatment of respiratory failure, including for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), who have a mortality rate of up to 45%. Dr.
Nadine R. Caron, MD, is an internationally recognized health leader who has broken many barriers. A member of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Dr. Caron was the first female First Nations student to graduate from the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Medicine and the first female Indigenous general surgeon in Canada. As a surgical oncologist working in Northern British Columbia, Dr. Caron has led ground-breaking projects focused on cancer, personalized medicine, and health care services in rural and remote settings.
A dedicated advocate for global health and health equity
A trailblazer in paediatric infectious disease and pain mitigation
A visionary in establishing national standards in medicine
A guiding force in Canadian and international public health and infectious disease
Jean-Lucien Rouleau has been recognized worldwide for his transformative contributions to cardiology, including translational scientific work in ventricular function, post-infarction ventricular remodelling, and neurohormonal activation. His leadership in clinical research culminated in the development of the life-saving medication sacubitril/valsartan, now routinely used to treat patients with chronic heart failure. As Director of the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, Dr.
Provision of equitable and effective publicly-funded health care is a pressing challenge of our time. Carol Herbert, MD was a pioneer in addressing social determinants of health by developing services for victims of sexual assault, both adults and children, and delivering community-based health care. Vancouver’s Sexual Assault Service, in continuous operation since 1981, was the first dedicated service of its kind in Canada.