2015 INDUCTEE Bernard Langer, MD Health and Medical Education & Training, Leadership in Organizational Development, Patient Care

Bernard Langer inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Winnipeg, Manitoba

The University of Toronto established the Bernard and Ryna Langer Chair in General Surgery at the University of Toronto.

Other honours include the University of Toronto Department of Surgery Langer Surgeon Scientist Award, the Bernard Langer Annual Lecture in Health Sciences at the University of Toronto and the Langer Lecture of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons’ annual meeting.

Bernard Langer - Cancer care champion

Through his leadership role in Cancer Care Ontario as a member of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Surgical Oncology, the Cancer Quality Council of Ontario and the Cancer Surgery Quality Committee, Dr. Langer championed standards for cancer care, including the Ontario standards for HPB surgery. This approach has translated across specialties and has served as a model for other provinces.

Helped to create the Canadian Patient Safety Institute

Dr. Langer was elected President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for a 2-year term

Appointed as the First Vice-President of the American Surgical Association (ASA)

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) established the Clinician Investigator Program in all medical and surgical specialties, using Dr. Langer’s Surgeon Scientist Program at University of Toronto as a template

Appointed President of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT)

During his position as Departmental Chair, his own clinical interest in HPB and transplant surgery led to the development of a major post-training fellowship program in HPB and liver transplant surgery

This became an important postgraduate opportunity, and since its inception, has trained approximately 100 surgeons from Canada, the US and abroad, many of whom are leaders in their home countries. The advanced experiences were accredited by America’s Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Association and the Fellowship Council, and by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

Dr. Langer served as Interim Director of the UHN Multiorgan Transplant Program after its launch in 1989

Dr. Langer appointed President of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS)

As Department Chair at University of Toronto, he established education as one of the streams for academic promotion.

Today's department is heavily populated with surgeons who have formal training in medical education, and who are excellent teachers, also contributing through scholarship.

Dr. Langer and his team performed the first liver transplant in Toronto

Dr. Langer, along with important academic members of his department, created the "Surgeon Scientist Program"

Resident surgeons were trained in surgical investigation and laboratory practice in addition to their clinical experiences. Since its inception, the program has produced scores of graduates, the majority pursuing careers in academic practice.

The gradual adoption of divisional practice plans, which promoted income sharing amongst surgeons, improved collaboration in patient care

Initiated across all academic surgical divisions at the University of Toronto, the plans also enhanced funding for those interested in pursuing academic careers.

Dr. Langer was appointed the R.S. McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at University of Toronto, an academic position overseeing academic activities in 10 hospitals across the city

Dr. Langer was appointed Head of the division of general surgery at Toronto General Hospital

He served in that role for 17 years.

Dr. Langer was appointed as a consultant general surgeon at Toronto General Hospital after completing his postgraduate training