Six outstanding health leaders were inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame last week, at a ceremony held in association with McMaster University’s Faculty of Health Sciences at Liuna Station.
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame laureates are Canadian citizens whose outstanding leadership and contributions to medicine and the health sciences have led to extraordinary improvements in human health. Laureates are pioneers in their field and role models who inspire the next generation of health professionals.
“The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is a momentous annual occasion to celebrate excellence in Canadian medicine and health science. This year’s ceremony was especially meaningful for McMaster, both as host partner and as the proud home of one of this year’s esteemed inductees, Dr. Deborah Cook,” says Paul O’Byrne, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster.
Cook, a professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster, was announced last October as a 2025 inductee. Her research has made high-impact, practice-changing scientific contributions that have improved the care of critically ill patients worldwide.
“Being recognized by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is deeply humbling. This honour reflects the collective efforts of so many: patients who have taught us, colleagues who have inspired me, and trainees who carry the torch forward. The ceremony was a moving celebration of our shared commitment to advancing compassionate, evidence-based care. I’m grateful to be part of a community that continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in critical care,” says Cook, a Distinguished University Professor at McMaster and a three-term Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation in Critical Care.
The 2025 laureates are:
Nadine R. Caron, OBC MD MPH FRCSC MCM | An innovative leader in Indigenous health and surgical practice
Northern Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Prince George Regional Hospital
Deborah Cook, OC MD FRCPC FRSC | A pioneering researcher in critical care medicine
Department of Medicine and Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University
Geoffrey T. Fong, OC PhD FRSC FCAHS | A world-leading public health researcher
Department of Psychology and School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, and Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
Steven Narod, MD FRCPC FRSC | A brilliant investigator in cancer genetics
Women’s College Hospital and Women’s College Research Institute
Arthur S. Slutsky, CM MD FRSC FCAHS | A changemaker in critical care and respiratory medicine
Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Keenan Research Centre, Unity Health, Division of Respirology, St. Michael’s Hospital
The Late Jennie Trout, MD | A revolutionary advocate for women in medicine
The evening was a celebration of individual achievement and also of the collaborative spirit that advances innovation in health care. As host partner, McMaster was proud to help honour the legacy and leadership of those shaping the future of medicine in Canada and beyond.