Newsroom

Canadian stroke expert named Officer of Order of Canada


February 20, 2007

Dr. Antoine Hakim, CEO and Scientific Director of the Canadian Stroke Network, was today named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his significant contribution to the field of stroke.

Dr. Hakim is professor and chair of neurology at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine, director of neuroscience research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, a neurologist at The Ottawa Hospital and scientific director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Centre for Stroke Recovery.

“Many desire better stroke care in Canada. Few have accomplished more in service to this cause than Tony Hakim,” says Dr. Kevin Willis, acting Executive Director of the Canadian Stroke Network.

Dr. Hakim has distinguished himself through his leadership of the Canadian Stroke Network, and his efforts to promote an integrated approach to stroke prevention, care and recovery through the Canadian Stroke Strategy. The CSN unites university- and hospital-based researchers across Canada, while the CSS is an initiative developed in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Dr. Hakim is the recipient of many national awards and honours. He was recently awarded the Willis Award, the American Stroke Association’s highest honour. Dr. Hakim delivered a call-to-action to several thousand of the world’s top stroke researchers in San Francisco on Feb. 7, urging them to close the gap between research knowledge and patient care. “We need to keep our emphasis on individual research excellence but temper it with a social mission to improve stroke prevention, care and rehabilitation,” he said.

As a researcher, Dr. Hakim has performed extensive work on cerebral vulnerability in stroke and studied conditions and factors that promote neuroprotection against ischemic damage. He has investigated post-stroke plasticity and methods to enhance it – work that has implications for understanding of recovery and therapy after stroke.

The Order of Canada was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement and service in various fields of human endeavour. It is our country's highest honour for lifetime achievement.

About the Canadian Stroke Network (www.canadianstrokenetwork.ca)
The Canadian Stroke Network includes more than 100 of Canada’s leading scientists and clinicians from 24 universities who work collaboratively on various aspects of stroke. The Network, which is headquartered at the University of Ottawa, also includes partners from industry, the non-profit sector, provincial and federal governments. The Canadian Stroke Network, one of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence, is committed to reducing the physical, social and economic impact of stroke on the lives of individual Canadians and on society as a whole.

Contact:
Cathy Campbell
Canadian Stroke Network
613-562-5696
cathy@canadianstrokenetwork.ca