Leading researcher and physician wins prestigious award for advancements in critical care.
On September 10, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) announced the list of Canadian researchers, scientists, and academics they are honouring with one of their prestigious RSC awards. Dr. Deborah Cook, a critical care physician and researcher at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, is the winner of the 2024 McLaughlin Medal, awarded for distinguished achievement in medical science research in Canada.
“On behalf of the team at St. Joe’s, I want to congratulate Dr. Cook for this outstanding accomplishment,” said Dr. Lehana Thabane, Vice President, Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. “This medal recognizes her dedication to transforming critical care and her enduring impact on patients, practice, and policy.”
Dr. Cook practices critical care medicine at St. Joe’s, where she also conducts research in this field. She is a Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, as well as the Academic Chair of Critical Care at McMaster University. Dr. Cook is also a co-founder of the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group (CCCTG) as well as the 3 Wishes Project, and a valuable mentor to dozens of researchers, clinicians, and students who have gone on to have remarkable careers of their own.
"This honour reflects the collective work of inter-professional ICU colleagues at St. Joe’s and elsewhere who have helped to advance our understanding of critical illness and improve outcomes," said Dr. Cook. "St. Joe’s has always been a hub for patient and family centered clinical research. It is a privilege to share the passion for practice and inquiry that is fostered here."
A Legacy of Critical Care Research
As one of the most influential researchers in the field of critical care worldwide, Dr. Cook is a well-deserving recipient of the prestigious McLaughlin Medal. Throughout her career, she has designed and conducted landmark studies to research the risk factors and complications of prophylaxis methods in critical care. One of these studies, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1998 was, at the time, the largest study ever undertaken in the field of critical care medicine.
Through her extensive research, Dr. Cook has discovered practices that are proven to reduce the risk of several complications for critically ill patients, resulting in better patient outcomes as well as reduced ICU costs. Her projects have received a total of over $125M in funding, and she has published more than 800 peer-reviewed articles over the course of her career. Her achievement in research has made her the most cited female healthcare researcher in the country for past two consecutive years, earning her the title of “Canada’s Top Female Scientist” by Research.com.
In 1989, Dr. Cook co-founded the CCCTG. It is currently the most well-established critical care research group worldwide, and includes approximately 400 researchers studying various topics related to critical care. Through this initiative, Dr. Cook has created a network of critical care researchers, and ensured that her impact on this field of medicine extends far beyond her own career.
Shaping End-of-Life Care
In 2013, Dr. Cook co-founded the 3 Wishes Project at St. Joe’s, which has since been adopted by numerous hospitals around the world. This program helps clinicians work with end-of-life patients and their families to help them achieve their final wishes and enhance their end-of-life care with little risk.
Hospitals that have implemented the 3 Wishes Project have consistently found that it is a valuable, transferable, affordable, and sustainable intervention for clinicians to provide high-quality care for their end-of-life patients. This project facilitates discussions that have been shown to foster human connections, honour the legacy of dying patients, and support family members through their grief. This innovative program highlights Dr. Cook’s compassion for patients and her humanistic understanding of palliative care.
There is no doubt that Dr. Cook is one of the leading healthcare researchers in the country. The McLaughlin Medal isn’t Dr. Cook’s first national distinction: she has also been appointed as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences as well as the RSC, and she became an Officer of the Order of Canada for her accomplishments in critical care. Dr. Cook’s achievements have also been recognized internationally, as she has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Critical Care Medicine. In 2022, she was awarded the Gairdner Wightman Award, one of the highest recognitions in Canada.
About the RSC McLaughlin Medal
In 1978, the R. Samuel McLaughlin Foundation partnered with RSC to establish the McLaughlin Medal. This medal recognizes sustained excellence in any branch of medical sciences in Canada. The medal is awarded each year if there is a suitable candidate.