Dr. Mladen Vranic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2008
Brilliance and tenacity earn five individuals induction into the medical hall of fame
London
ON – The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the 2009
Inductees. These individuals will join the ranks of the 71 laureates
who have gone before them in bringing distinction to Canada through
their outstanding contributions to medical science and the improved
health and well-being of people everywhere. The five inductees are:
Dr. Sylvia O. Fedoruk, O.C. (Born May 5, 1927)
A
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, medical biophysicist, chancellor,
professor, researcher, inventor and accomplished curler, Dr. Sylvia
Fedoruk has led a full life. The only woman conducting medicalphysics
research in Canada sixty years ago, Dr. Fedoruk was one of four
inventors of the “Cobalt Bomb”, the world's first radiation machine
using high intensity radioactive cobalt for the treatment of cancer in
humans. Already a veteran of inductions, having been inducted into the
Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1986, it is Dr. Fedoruk’s plethora of
‘firsts’ as a woman that are most inspiring to us all.
Dr. Tak Wah Mak, O.C. (Born October 4, 1945)
Some
describe him as Canada’s top scientist of the day. At minimum, Dr. Tak
Mak is a world-renowned, award-winning scientist and major figure in
molecular and cellular biology. In 1984, Dr. Tak Mak solved, through
beautiful molecular approaches, one of the toughest problems in
immunology – the structure of the T cell receptor for antigens. He has
since blazed a remarkable trail of discoveries and is currently
Director of The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at
Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.
Dr. Ronald Melzack, O.C. (Born July 19, 1929)
For
all of us who have suffered pain, Dr. Melzack knows how we feel –
literally. For almost a half a century, Dr. Melzack has dedicated
himself to the understanding of pain. In 1965, he developed a new
theory of pain that led to an explosion in pain research. A decade
later he developed the McGill Pain Questionnaire now used in pain
clinics around the world. Dr. Melzack was the driving force and
co-founder of the first pain clinics in Canada at McGill’s Royal
Victoria (1972) and Montreal General (1974) hospitals. It is his
empathy for those suffering from chronic pain however that is perhaps
his greatest gift of all.
Dr. Charles H. Tator, C.M. (Born August 24, 1936)
One
woman calls him “her saviour”. Thousands more are grateful for his
dedication, compassion and skill as one of Canada’s leading surgical
scientists. Dr. Charles Tator has had a resounding impact on spinal
cord injury research, clinical treatment and prevention, and founded
Thinkfirst Canada, a national brain and spinal cord injury foundation.
As chair of the division of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto,
he developed a program that has gained national prominence. Come April,
Dr. Tator will be a two-time Hall of Famer having been inducted into
the Terry Fox Hall of Fame in 2003 for his outstanding contributions in
the field of spinal cord injury prevention.
Dr. Mladen Vranic (Born April 3, 1930)
In
a world where diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions, Dr. Vranic is
colossal. Among a vast collection of awards, including several from the
Canadian and American diabetes associations, Dr. Vranic has an honorary
degree from the Karolinska Institute Medical Faculty in Stockholm.
Recognized as a global leader in diabetes research, Dr. Vranic’s
journey of scientific achievement began with an invitation he received
in 1963 while studying in Croatia, his country of origin. Dr. Charles
H. Best, the co-investigator of insulin, was inviting him to come to
the University of Toronto to be his post-doctoral fellow. This sojourn,
and Dr. Vranic’s ongoing devotion to training and mentoring future
scientists, will be forever etched in the memory of Canadians.
“I
am deeply grateful to have my name alongside my teacher Dr. Donald Hebb
who was inducted in 2003,“ says incoming laureate Dr. Ronald Melzack
and professor emeritus in the department of psychology at McGill
University. “I sincerely hope that I too will serve as an inspiration
for students everywhere through this prestigious and unexpected honour.
Thank you to The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for making this happen,
and particularly in my hometown of Montreal!”
The 2009 Inductees were selected by an independent committee of prominent leaders from Canada’s medical community.
“The
selection of this year’s candidates was both a demanding and gratifying
experience for all members of the selection committee!" said Dr. Alain
Beaudet, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and
chair of the Selection Committee. “Indeed, the Canadian scene abounds
with outstanding scientists, care providers and visionary builders of
medicine, all of whom deserve our recognition and appreciation. This
year’s inductees exude excellence, not only in their achievements, but
also as exceptional human beings."
Over 500 of Canada’s leading citizens will come together to
celebrate the formal induction of the incoming laureates on April 29,
2009 in Montreal, Quebec.
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is
the only national organization dedicated to recognizing Canada’s
medical heroes. Through an exhibit hall in London, Ontario and a
national education program, thousands of Canadians gain a greater
appreciation of our country’s contribution to global health care, and
more young people are inspired to pursue careers in medicine and the
health sciences.
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Biographies of the current 71 laureates are available at www.cdnmedhall.org
For additional information please contact:
Janet Tufts Executive Director
519-488-2003 jtufts@cdnmedhall.org
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