Page 5 - Lakehead University - 50th Convocation 2014

Honorary

DEGREES

The University confers “honorary” degrees which symbolize the highest honour that can be conferred on an individual
by the University. An honorary degree may be awarded in recognition of scholarly or creative achievements or distinguished

public service to the country or region. They are awarded to individuals who have been designated by the University’s Senate,
its senior academic governing body, as deserving special honour.

At Convocation, the degree is awarded honoris causa, or “for the sake of honour.” A hood is also given to the recipient and it

may be worn to any academic affair. Recipients of these degrees become honorary alumni of the University and they may afix,
after their names, the abbreviation of the degree.

This year, Lakehead University is proud to honour the following exceptional individuals:

DR. ARNOLD ABERMAN

Doctor of Science

Dr. Arnie Aberman shaped the course of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and has had a
national and international impact on the ield of medical education.

Born in Montreal, Arnie received his medical degree from McGill University in 1967. He completed
residencies in internal medicine in Canada followed by further training in pulmonary diseases and
critical care medicine in New York and California.

Dr. Max Harry (Hal) Weil, who was a founder of critical care medicine and a University of Southern
California Distinguished Professor of Medicine, recalled Arnie as “perhaps the most outstanding young
FRIDAY, MAY 30TH, 2014
doctor I’ve ever had the privilege to train.” Arnie quickly fulilled his early promise. His achievements
2pm Ceremony
include playing a major role in establishing critical care medicine as an independent discipline in Canada
and restructuring The Toronto Hospital’s Department of Medicine. He joined the University of Toronto’s
Department of Medicine in 1973 and became director of the Mount Sinai Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

Then, in 1977 at the young age of 33, Arnie was chosen as Mount Sinai’s physician-in-chief.

From 1989 to 1992, he was physician-in-chief of The Toronto Hospital as well as the University of
Toronto’s chairman of medicine and Sir John and Lady Eaton Professor of Medicine. He served as dean

of medicine from 1992 to 1999.

In 2002, Arnie was appointed consulting dean of the ledging Northern Ontario School of Medicine, the
country’s irst new medical school in more than 30 years.

Arnie directed his boundless energy and agile mind to drafting NOSM’s business and implementation
plan and envisioning NOSM’s unique governance model. It is the only Canadian school of medicine to
serve two universities – Lakehead University and Laurentian University.

Arnie is also a proliic researcher and writer with over 60 publications investigating the management of
shock and other problems facing critically ill patients. A popular medical lecturer, he’s been a visiting
professor at many medical schools and held leadership positions in numerous academic organizations

and hospitals.

In 2011, Dr. Arnie Aberman was named a Member of the Order of Canada and in 2013 he received an
Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Laurentian University.

CONVOCATION 2014

Lakehead University