Three ‘giants’ welcomed to Community of Distinction

Three visionary leaders considered ‘giants’ in their fields, whose research and contributions furthered the distinction and reputation of McMaster University and its Faculty of Health Sciences, were recognized with an induction to the Community of Distinction.

This year’s inductees included the late Maureen Andrew, a pioneer of life-saving research in pediatric thrombosis; Brian Haynes, a founder of evidence-based medicine and a world leader in health informatics, and Geoff Norman, a world-renowned expert and researcher on problem-based learning in medical education.

The inductees were celebrated at a special ceremony held November 3 in the Ewart Angus Centre of McMaster’s Health Sciences Centre.

2017 Community of Distinction inductees

Maureen Andrew, MD

Maureen Andrew was an internationally-renowned clinician scientist who pioneered foundational, life-saving research in the field of pediatric thrombosis and developmental hemostasis. As a professor of pediatrics who joined McMaster in 1981, she was also highly-regarded for her dedication in the treatment of pediatric patients with blood clotting disorders and she established a toll-free number so physicians around the world could consult at any time. Her passion for teaching proved a gift to those she mentored, and now many are leaders in the field. After her too-early death in 2001, awards in tribute were established by the Society for Pediatric Research and the Canadian Pediatric Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network.

R. Brian Haynes, MD, PhD

Brian Haynes is a founder of evidence-based medicine and a world leader in health informatics, whose invaluable contributions were characterized by his focus on small things making large differences. During his distinguished career at the Faculty beginning in 1977, he established the Health Information Research Unit in 1987; co-founded the Cochrane Collaboration in 1993; chaired the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics from 1998 to 2008, and served as a professor of medicine. He became a professor emeritus in 2016. Respected for his intelligence and generosity, contributions have improved clinical decision making and patient care worldwide. His many awards include Officer of the Order of Canada.

Geoff Norman, PhD

Geoff Norman is an internationally-renowned expert on problem-based learning in medical education. With a PhD in physics and subsequently a MA of Educational Psychology, his prodigious research output of more than 300 highly-cited papers broadened the understanding of the psychological basis of problem-based learning and the development of clinical reasoning. His enthusiastic mentorship fostered a generation of leading medical education researchers. He joined the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1970, led the Program for Educational Research and Development from 1999 to 2010, and was appointed professor emeritus of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics in 2015. His honours include the prestigious Karolinska Award for Research in Medical Education.

A video of the event can be found on the Faculty of Health Science’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MacHealthSci/.