Seven McMaster professors are joining the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) as fellows. 

Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community. CAHS fellows are chosen by their peers for their demonstrated commitment to their field throughout their careers and lives. 

Andy Knights, McMaster’s vice-president, research (acting), says the fellows’ impactful contributions to health research and innovation have helped position McMaster as a global leader in the field. 

“Across the disciplines, McMaster researchers are working to tackle some of our most pressing health challenges – assessing and advancing new technologies, policies and resources to ensure Canadians can access the care they need to lead happy, healthy lives,” he says.   

“I congratulate McMaster’s new CAHS fellows for this achievement and thank them for their continued commitment to building a healthier future for Canadians.” 

Learn more about McMaster’s newest CAHS fellows below. 

Ronald Barr

Faculty of Health Sciences

Ronald Barr is a professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics and an international leader in child and adolescent health research. For over fifty years, Barr has advanced research on nutrition in childhood cancer. His pioneering work has helped improve treatment outcomes for patients in low- and middle-income countries. Barr received the O. Harold Warwick Prize for Cancer Control Research in 2009 and became a member of the Order of Canada in 2020.   

Michel Grignon

Faculty of Social Sciences

Michel Grignon is a professor in the Department of Economics. Grignon’s research aims to assess and improve Canada’s healthcare system for the country’s aging population, many of whom increasingly rely on public health services. Grignon also serves as a public commentator on issues of aging and health equity and is helping Canadian policymakers improve how they serve our aging population. 

Martin Kolb

Faculty of Health Sciences 

Martin Kolb is a professor in the Department of Medicine. Kolb treats patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) in his specialty clinic and practices General Respirology at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. A leader in the field of ILD research in Canada, Kolb’s research focuses on mechanisms of lung injury, repair and fibrosis, particularly in IPF. He conducts pre-clinical studies of disease mechanisms and studies the efficacy of novel drug treatments. 

Margo Mountjoy

Faculty of Health Sciences 

Margo Mountjoy is a clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Assistant Dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Waterloo Regional Campus. Mountjoy’s research in sports medicine focuses on improving the health, safety and well-being of athletes at all levels. Mountjoy has acted as the national team physician for Synchro Canada for 20 years as well as for Athletics Canada, National Triathlon and Wrestling Canada team training centres. 

Heather Sheardown

Faculty of Engineering 

Heather Sheardown is a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. She holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Ophthalmic Biomaterials and Drug Delivery. Sheardown is the Chief Scientific Officer of 20/20 OptimEyes Technologies, a McMaster-based spin-out that is developing improved treatments for patients suffering from vision loss and other ocular conditions, based on a micelle nanoparticles technology developed in her lab.  

Allison Williams

Faculty of Science 

Allison Williams is a professor in the Department of Earth, Environment & Society. A social and health geographer, Williams’ research focuses on improving workplace practices to support employees with older adult care responsibilities. Williams has received various awards for her work, having had three 5-year Research Chairs funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She currently leads a Partnership Grant made up of more than 50 collaborators which mobilizes carer-friendly workplaces.  

Gerry Wright

Faculty of Health Sciences 

Gerry Wright is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and holds a Canada Research Chair in Antibiotic Biochemistry. Wright’s research on antibiotics has shaped the direction of thought and activity in the field and is helping to save lives from the public health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance. Wright has published more than 300 research manuscripts and book chapters and has trained over 95 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and dozens of undergraduates.