2016 INDUCTEE Gordon Guyatt, MD Evidence-based Medicine & Clinical Trials, Patient Care

Born:

November 11, 1953

(Hamilton, Ontario )

Education:

MD, McMaster University (1977)

Awards & Honours:

2024: Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research

2022: Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research

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Advanced the methodologies of Evidence-Based Medicine

A champion of improved diagnosis and treatment using the best research evidence at point of care

One of the great innovations in general medical practice over the last several decades has been the wide acceptance and application of methodologies collectively known as Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). At McMaster University, Dr. Gordon Guyatt was one of its earliest and most effective champions. Concerned with the intersection between the individual clinician and the expanding universe of medical knowledge, EBM has sought to integrate the complex structures of medical science and technology with the acquired experience of practicing clinicians to best serve the needs, desires and values of patients.

Key Facts

Coined the term “Evidence-Based Medicine”

Played a key role in the development of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, now adopted by more than 90 organizations worldwide

He is one of Canada’s most cited researchers with over 1,200 publications. According to the Web of Science he as been cited over 100,000 times, according to Google Scholar over 340, 000 times.

He is considered a world authority in the fields of health-related quality of life research, study design, systematic reviews, and guideline development

Played a leading role in the development of a number of highly successful disease-specific health related quality of life instruments

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

Dr. Guyatt’s achievements have helped ensure that advancements in medical science will continue to support and improve quality of life for patients throughout Canada and the world

2024

2016
Gordon Guyatt inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
2008
The British Medical Journal chose Evidence-Based Medicine as one of the top 15 innovations in healthcare since the journal’s inception in 1840.
2005
Dr. Guyatt and his team published ground-breaking work on the consequences of stopping randomized controlled trials early for presumed clinical benefit
Evidence-based Medicine & Clinical Trials
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the article led to rethinking the strategy for stopping clinical trials early.
2001
Along with Dr. Rennie Drummond, Dr. Guyatt edited the Users’ Guides to the Medical Literature: A Manual for Evidence Based Clinical Practice
Evidence-based Medicine & Clinical Trials
1995
Beginning in 1995, Dr. Guyatt led a McMaster based workshop on “How to Teach Evidence Based Clinical Practice”
Evidence-based Medicine & Clinical Trials, Leadership in Organizational Development
The worship has trained over 1000 leading educators from around the world.
1991
Dr. Gordon Guyatt was the single author of an article that was the first to use and describe the term of EBM in medical literature
Evidence-based Medicine & Clinical Trials
Dr. Guyatt later spearheaded the formation of the Evidence Based Medicine Working Group, which went on to publish over 30 articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
1990
Creating a Concept
Leadership in Organizational Development
For a period of seven years, Dr. Guyatt served as Director of the Internal Medicine Residence Program where he led the initial development of the concept of EMB.
1983
Dr. Guyatt joined McMaster’s Faculty of Medicine.