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Two Ottawa medical visionaries to be inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
OTTAWA, September 24, 2013 — The University of Ottawa and its affiliates, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, are proud to announce that two remarkable medical visionaries and University of Ottawa professors will be inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for 2014, Drs. Adolfo de Bold and Ronald Worton.
An innately curious scientist, Dr. Adolfo de Bold is the father of the field of cardiovascular endocrinology. Best known for his transformative discovery of the cardiac hormone atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in 1981, he demonstrated that the heart is not only a pump but an endocrine organ. His landmark finding is one of the most important cardiovascular discoveries of the past 50 years. De Bold’s exceptional scientific contributions revolutionized the understanding of heart physiology and function, resulting in improved therapies and diagnostic tools for a number of heart conditions. De Bold moved to Ottawa in 1986, where he later served as vice-president research of the Ottawa Hospital and as the inaugural director of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, one of the premier cardiovascular research institutes in the world.
A well respected national and international leader, Dr. Ronald Worton was the first CEO and scientific director of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), which grew during his tenure to become one of Canada’s premier health research institutes. OHRI is the research arm of the Ottawa Hospital and an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa, with more than 1,700 scientists, clinical investigators, trainees and staff, and total revenue of more than $100 million. A trailblazer in disease gene discovery, Dr. Worton, along with his team, discovered the causal gene for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. This seminal breakthrough in medical genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto resulted in greater understanding of the disease and revolutionized diagnosis and patient care.
The 2014 Induction Ceremony, presented by BMO Harris Private Banking, will be held in Kingston, Ontario on April 24, 2014. Five hundred academic, health care and business leaders from across Canada will gather for this evening of celebration, which will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
For more information on the 2014 inductees, visit the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame website.
About the University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa, one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities, is working to improve the health of all Canadians through research. We are committed to excellence and encourage an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge creation, which attracts the best academic talent from across Canada and around the world.
INFORMATION:
Kina Leclair
Media Relations Officer
University of Ottawa
Office: 613-562-5800 (2529)
Cell: 613-762-2908
kleclair@uOttawa.ca
