News

Cancer Confidential by Charles Hayter

Warmest congratulations to our own Charles Hayter whose new book Cancer Confidential: Backstage Dramas in the Radiation Clinic is just out from University of Toronto Press. Cancer Confidential is a vivid, moving, and beautifully-written memoir that sheds light on the mysterious and often maligned specialty of radiation oncology. Weaving together the stories of his patients, colleagues, and his own father, Hayter deals with some of the most painful experiences in life with great courage, compassion, insight, and honesty.

Order your copy here today or through your favorite bookseller.

“All the [medical] world’s a stage! In elegant prose, with Felliniesque flights into whimsical metaphor, physician-historian-playwright Charles Hayter describes his encounters with cancer, as a doctor and as a son, and how the experience changed him as a person. Sensitive to the arrogance and obfuscation of his clinical colleagues, he advocates for the underappreciated power of radiation therapy in cancer care and for truth in all relationships.”

Jacalyn M. Duffin, Professor Emerita and Hannah Chair of the History of Medicine, Queen’s University
Insulin 100 News

Heritage Toronto Award Nomination for The Discovery of Insulin: Special Centenary Edition

The Special Centenary Edition of Michael Bliss’s The Discovery of Insulin has been nominated for a Heritage Toronto Award in the Book category. This edition features a new preface by the late Michael Bliss and a new foreword by Alison Li.

The Heritage Toronto Awards is the city’s premiere heritage event which showcases achievements in the heritage sector. Winners will be announced live at the Heritage Toronto Awards, which will be held on Monday, October 17, 2022 at the Carlu (444 Yonge Street). 

Insulin 100 News

“Insulin: the discovery that transformed diabetic care” on BBC World Service

Charles Herbert Best, Canadian physiologist who assisted Frederick Banting to isolate Insulin, in his laboratory. Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images

Alison Li joins Victor Joergens and Kersten Hall in a panel discussion hosted by Bridget Kendall of the BBC World Service – The Forum. They discuss the twists and turns in the story of the discovery and development of insulin.

Broadcasts May 26 at 5:06 and 19:06 local time and May 29 9:06 local time or visit The Forum to listen.

Free podcast/download through iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-forum/id284278990?mt=2%29

Past events

Banting, Bliss, and Beyond – Symposium

The Lab (1925) by Frederick Banting image courtesy of Heffel Fine Art Auction House
Video recordings of all the talks can be found on our YouTube Channel

The Toronto Medical Historical Club (TMHC) marked the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin with a historical symposium, Banting, Bliss, and Beyond: Insulin 100, A Century of Science and Care, on May 3, 2022 followed by a half-day historical workshop on J.J.R. Macleod on May 4, 2022.

Symposium Programme | Macleod workshop | Participants

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Insulin 100 News

The Artist Behind Insulin

Christopher Rutty appears in episode 3 of University of Toronto Old School Stories which looks at the artistic side of Frederick Banting. Also interviewed in this video are Bob Banting, Banting family historian and host of The Life and Times of Sir Frederick Banting podcast, and Barbara Fischer, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Art Museum at the University of Toronto.

Insulin 100 News

Rethinking the “discovery” of insulin

JJR Macleod, Charles Best, Frederick Banting, JB Collip [UT Insulin]

Alison Li has two new articles offering perspectives on the discovery of insulin during this year’s centenary celebrations.

“Rethinking the ‘discovery’ of insulin” appeared in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, 25 October 2021

“Insulin’s centenary: complexity and collaboration” appeared in The Lancet, 13 November 2021, as part of an issue on the challenging theme: “100 years of insulin: technical success but access failure.”

Insulin 100 News

Banting Podcast for World Diabetes Day

In this special World Diabetes Day episode, created in partnership with Defining Moments Canada, Jim and Bob Banting host multiple guests to discuss the heritage and legacy of insulin after 100 years. Featured are medical historians Dr. Alison Li and Dr. Christopher Rutty, Grant Maltman, the curator of the Banting House National Historic Site, as well as Defining Moments Canada Director Jennifer Terry.

We have dedicated this episode to the memory of historian Michael Bliss whose scholarship and insights have helped to reshape our understanding of the discovery of insulin.

Please visit the Defining Moments Canada website to listen to this podcast.

Insulin 100 News

Belleville Honours J.B. Collip

Mayor Mitch Panciuk, Richard Hughes, and Ian Sullivan unveil monument in honour of J.B. Collip (Photo: Quinte News)

Club members Alison Li and Christopher Rutty served as keynote speakers at the day-long celebrations marking the unveiling of a new monument in honour of Dr. James Bertram Collip in his hometown of Belleville, Ontario. Collip played a pivotal role in the discovery of insulin in 1921-22, along with co-discoverers Frederick Banting, Charles Best, and J.J.R. Macleod.

Dignitaries including Mayor Mitch Panciuk and other city, provincial, and federal officials, along with descendants of Collip who journeyed from San Antonio, Texas. The “Dr James Bertram Collip Memorial Committee” Rowland Tipper, Richard Hughes, and Ian Sullivan are to be congratulated for their efforts in bringing this effort to fruition.

About our members

Aubie Angel – Research Canada, Leadership in Advocacy Award

Aubie Angel - 2021 Research in Canada, Leadership in Advocacy Award [Image: Research Canada]

Warmest congratulations to our member Dr. Aubie Angel on the award of the 2021 Research Canada, Leadership in Advocacy Award! The award recognizes outstanding champions of health research and health innovation. Dr. Angel, C.M., MD, MSc, FRCPC, FCAHS, is the founding and current President of Friends of CIHR (FCIHR), Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba and Senior Fellow at Massey College of the University of Toronto.

“Dr. Angel has made singular and exceptional contributions to Canada as a leading advocate for health research through novel initiatives that have engaged leaders, researchers and trainees.”
– Ms. Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President and CEO of Research Canada.

For further information, please visit the Research Canada website.

News

Clinical Medicine: the Youngest Science

Friends of the CIHR presents a video series in the history of medicine in Canada featuring video clips from the Friesen Lectures and other sources.

This is the first of a four part series featuring excerpts from Dr. David Naylor’s lecture “Emergence of Health Research as a Data Science” from the 2018 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research. Dr. Naylor is Professor of Medicine and President Emeritus of the University of Toronto, as well as past Dean of Medicine at the University of Toronto.