Department of Medicine faculty named as fellows of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Two researchers from the Department of Medicine have been named fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) – one of the highest honours for the country’s health sciences community.

Drs. Richard Gilbert and Donald Redelmeier join eight other U of T researchers as fellows of the CAHS.

The academy brings together Canada’s leading health scientists and scholars to address critical health challenges facing Canadians. The fellows are recognized for their leadership, creativity and commitment to advancing academic health science and are drawn from a wide range of fields, from fundamental science to social science and population health.

“The University of Toronto is proud of these eight scholars, all of whom have achieved national and international peer recognition for their meaningful contributions to the health sciences," says Vivek Goel, vice-president of research and innovation.

“Their internationally recognized leadership and their election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences reflect the university's strength in these fields that helps place it as one of the top research universities in the world.”

Dr. Gilbert is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Diabetes Complications, Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and Head of the Division of Endocrinology at St. Michael's Hospital. His pioneering work in advancing our understanding of the way in which the long-term complications of diabetes develop has led not only to his international reputation as a renowned expert, but also to the development of new therapies with the potential to prevent, arrest and ultimately even reverse kidney disease and heart failure in diabetes.

Dr. Redelmeier is a Professor of Medicine and practicing physician whose advances in medical decision science have contributed new insights and applications for preventing life‐threatening traffic accidents. His research on cellphone use and traffic crashes has led to regulations in all Canadian provinces and territories. His studies have also focused on the care of patients with life‐threatening trauma, the assessment of individuals potentially unfit to drive, the physician’s role in counseling against drunk driving, and the risks of recreational marijuana for traffic safety. This body of work has improved traffic laws, and enhanced public education, medical care, and health policy.