2001 INDUCTEE Lucille Teasdale-Corti, MD Service Abroad, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine

Born:

January 30, 1929

(Montreal, Quebec)

Died:

August 1, 1996

Education:

MD, Université de Montréal (1955)

Awards & Honours:

2004: Gold Medal for Civil Merit, Italy

1999: Parc Lucille-Teasdale in Montreal is named in her honour

See All Awards

Awards & Honours:

2004: Gold Medal for Civil Merit, Italy

1999: Parc Lucille-Teasdale in Montreal is named in her honour

1997: Premio Moscati Caserta Italy

1996: Premio Speciale Cuore D’Oro by the Premio della Bontà Motta, Notte di Natale Milan

1996: Honorary Doctorate, Université de Montréal

1995: Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

1995: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Premio Professionalità by Rotary Club Milano

1995: Velan Award by Rotary Club Montreal

1995: Prix d’Excellence pour la Cause Africaine by CICA New York

1995: Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec

1995: Honorary Consultant for the Ministry of Health of Uganda by The Uganda Ministry of Health and the Makerere University Senate.

1993: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Cuore Amico Prize Italy

1991: Member of the Order of Canada

1990: International Medical Women Association Award Italy

1987: FNG Starr Award, Canadian Medical Association

1986: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Sasakawa Health Prize, World Health Organization

1986: Paul Harris Fellow Recognition by Rotary Club International Italy

1984: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Ambrogino d’Oro by the Municipality of Milan

1983: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded a Premio della Bontà Notte di Natale Angelo Motta

1982: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Officer)

1972: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded Missione del Medico

Established the Lacor Hospital and served Ugandans for 35 years

A Trailblazer for women in medicine and a devoted surgeon to the people of Uganda

After residency training at Ste-Justine Hospital in Montreal and l’Hôpital de la Conception of Marseille, Dr. Lucille Teasdale-Corti dedicated herself to a career in Uganda, together with her husband, Dr. Piero Corti. In addition to practising surgery at St-Mary’s Lacor Hospital, the couple established a school of nursing at the hospital, which went on to train hundreds of Ugandan health care professionals. In addition, Dr. Teasdale-Corti ran a program to train surgical residents at Makerere University in Kampala and also prepared Italian practitioners for service in Africa. During the period of the Ugandan civil war, she operated on wounded from both factions, often under difficult and dangerous conditions; in 1982, she contracted AIDS in the course of an operation.

Key Facts

Became one of Canada’s
first female surgeons

Grew Lacor Hospital
into a 500-bed institution

Performed 13,000 operations
at Lacor Hospital

Worked in dangerous conditions that included the threat of kidnapping

Continued to work six hours every day, even while suffering from AIDS

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada created an named award in her honour

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

Dr. Teasdale-Corti created a lasting legacy of compassion that continues long after her death. Today, Lacor Hospital continues to serve the people of Uganda. As of 2020, it employs 6000 Ugandans and treats over 250,000 patients. The hospital also plays an important role in the training of new doctors as well as offers crucial public health support during epidemics.

2013

2013
Lucille-Teasdale International School in Brossard, Quebec is renamed in her honour
2001
Lucille-Teasdale Secondary School in Blainville, Quebec is built and named in her honour
October 11, 2001
Lucille Teasdale-Corti posthumously inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Winnipeg, Manitoba
2000
Canada Post issues a 46 cent stamp in Lucille Teasdale’s honour
1995
The Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti Foundation was established
Service Abroad
The foundation was created to ensure the continued work of Lacor Hospital.
1995
Lacor Hospital is awarded the Premio Antonio Feltrinelli in recognition of their extraordinary moral and humanitarian merit, awarded by Accademia dei Lincei Rome.
1982
A partnership with Makerere University in Kampala was established
Health and Medical Education & Training
For ten years, Teasdale-Corti collaborated with the University to train surgical residents.
1980s
Lacor Hospital continued to expand with the opening of a second surgical wing
Leadership in Organizational Development, Patient Care
The hospital also held a library, pathology laboratory, archives and space of physiotherapy. By the 1990s, the hospital had 400 Ugandan employees and 450 beds.
1973
The School for Registered Nurses opened
Leadership in Organizational Development
Shortly after, three satellite heath centres were established.
1971
Lucille Teasdale-Corti became a war surgeon in Uganda
Women in Medicine, Patient Care
When civil war broke out in Uganda, Lacor hospital was often caught in the cross-fire of violence. Throughout the war, the hospital became an important centre for healing.
1965
Lacor Hospital's surgical ward was completed

Committed to providing the best care possible, Teasdale and Corti worked tirelessly to expand the services available at the hospital.
1959
Lacor Hospital was built by Comboni missionaries
Leadership in Organizational Development, Service Abroad
Teasdale-Corti and her husband arrived in Uganda in May of 1961 and took over management of the 40-bed hospital.
1955
After graduating medical school, Teasdale-Corti specialized in surgery and interned at Sainte-Justine Children’s Hospital in Montreal

While there, she met Piero Corti who would become her lifelong partner in medicine and life.