Three prominent ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵians appointed to the Order of Quebec
Principal Munroe-Blum; distinguished neuropsychologist and surgeon among new inductees
Three leading members of the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ community have been appointed to the National Order of Quebec, the highest distinction awarded by the Government of Quebec. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Heather Munroe-Blum will be named Officer of the Order at the ceremony to be held at Quebec’s National Assembly building on June 17. New inductees also include pioneering neuropsychologist Dr. Brenda Milner as Grand Officer and Dr. Mostafa M. Elhilali, chair of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at the ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ University Health Centre, as Officer.
"The University is extremely proud of the recognition accorded
Prof. Heather Munroe-Blum with this significant honour," said
Robert Rabinovitch, chairman of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ's Board of Governors. "As
the dynamic leader of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ University, a major Quebec institution
and one of the leading universities in the world, as well as
through her leadership of the Conférence des recteurs et des
principaux des universités du Québec (CRÉPUQ), Heather has brought
incredible energy and clear-eyed vision to demanding tasks and
challenging situations. Her determination to make ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ a vital
and integrated part of the Quebec academic landscape is evident and
her commitment to enhancing the strength and contributions of the
Quebec university system as well as ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ's place in Quebec is
unquestionable. On behalf of the University's Board of Governors, I
offer her our sincere congratulations for this well-deserved
honour."
Prof. Munroe-Blum, Principal of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ since 2003, has devoted her
career to the advancement of higher education, science and
innovation in Canada and around the world. Internationally
recognized in the fields of epidemiology and public policy, Prof.
Munroe-Blum has taught at York University, McMaster University and
the University of Toronto, where she also served as a Governor,
Dean of Social Work and Vice-President, Research and International
Relations. She regularly advises governments and organizations on
the role of universities, science, technology and innovation in
advancing the economic and social well-being and the international
competitiveness of societies. While President of CRÉPUQ, she
currently also serves on the Board of the Association of
Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Executive Committee of the
Association of American Colleges and Universities, and Canada’s
Science, Technology and Innovation Council.
"While I am, of course, deeply honoured by this recognition from
my fellow Quebecers," Prof. Heather Munroe-Blum said, "I am
absolutely delighted to see the important recognition conferred on
Professors Brenda Milner and Mostafa Elhilali. These exceptional
individuals have made enormous contributions to medical science in
the fields of neurology and surgery, respectively, and brought much
honour to ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.
"We are very proud to join the accomplished and eminent group of
Quebecers from all fields and from all parts of Quebec who are
recognized by this Order and we appreciate very much the
significance of this distinction which reflects important
accomplishments that have contributed to advancing Quebec’s place
in the world. I would like to publicly offer my sincerest
congratulations to Brenda and Mostafa for their outstanding
dedication to their fields and the many contributions they have
made to improving the human condition."
A professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute and in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Dr. Brenda Milner has had an extraordinary influence on the shape of neuroscience. The origins of modern cognitive neuroscience of memory can be traced directly to her rigorous and imaginative studies. Dr. Milner's research focuses on cognitive function in the frontal and temporal lobes of humans. She has received numerous accolades throughout her almost six-decade long career. Dr. Milner is a prestigious foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences (USA). She was elected to the Academy in 1976 and was also elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2005. She has been awarded honorary degrees from an astounding 19 different universities, here and abroad. She is the recipient of numerous academic awards including the Gairdner International Award in 2005 and the Prix Wilder-Penfield (Prix du Québec) in 1993. Dr. Milner is a fellow of the Royal Society of London and the Royal Society of Canada and was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2004.
A renowned urologist, Dr. Mostafa M. Elhilali is an active member of many national and international societies including the Canadian Urological Association (CUA), American Urological Association, the European Urological Association, and the Société Internationale d’Urologie, of which he is President. He has held several prestigious positions such as President of the Canadian Urological Association and President of the Northeastern section of the American Urological Association (AUA). He has also been the recipient of numerous awards, most recently, the life achievement award of the CUA, the Jean Charbonneau life achievement award of the Quebec Urological Association, the AUA Distinguished Contribution Award, and the Kidney Foundation of Canada Founder’s Award. In April 2009, he received the American Urological Association (AUA) Lifetime Achievement Award.
The National Order of Quebec is the most prestigious distinction awarded by the Quebec government. This honour recognizes the contribution of individuals who have had an exceptional influence on Quebec or who have helped Quebec extend its influence in one of its sectors of activity. Nominations are submitted to the Council of the National Order of Quebec, a committee of nine people from different regions of Quebec, already admitted to the Order and elected by all members of the Order. The Cabinet makes the nominations official by Order-in-Council.