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October 2012 Honorary Degree Recipient

Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)

Dr. Robert Roberts once said: 鈥淚 love being a cardiologist and a scientist 鈥� the two go together because I have spent most of my life being a discoverer.鈥�

He has indeed been a discoverer through his great contributions to clinical cardiology and his outstanding leadership in molecular cardiology and cardiovascular genetics. We are proud that Dr. Roberts is a 1965 鲍鱼tv Medical School graduate and we are delighted to welcome him home today.听

Highlights from Dr. Roberts鈥� illustrious career include his roles in developing a test to diagnose heart attacks, establishing the field of molecular cardiology and identifying genes that contribute to heart disease. All of this has made him an international leader in cardiology.

So where did it all begin? Dr. Roberts was born and raised in the rural community of Grole, Newfoundland. As he explained in a media interview:

鈥淢y father owned some boats, a small farm and had people that fished for him. He was a tremendous role model for hard work and never wanted to depend on anyone else, while my mother, a teacher, stressed the importance of getting educated.鈥�

Dr. Roberts took his parents鈥� example to heart as he charted an impressive educational and professional path, which took him from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Ontario to California, Missouri and Texas.

From 1974-1982 he served as director of the cardiac care unit at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Subsequently, for more than 20 years, he was chief of cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine and The Methodist Hospital in Houston. During that same period he was director of the Myocardial Infarction Diagnostic Laboratory in Houston.听 听

In 2004, Dr. Roberts became president, CEO and chief scientific officer of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, described as 鈥淐anada鈥檚 largest and foremost cardiovascular health centre dedicated to understanding, treating and preventing heart disease.鈥�

Dr. Roberts also directs the institute鈥檚 John & Jennifer Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre. A description of the centre notes that it 鈥渋dentified the strongest genetic risk factor for coronary artery disease and heart attack found to date.鈥�

The centre has attracted significant research funding. Dr. Roberts has served as principal investigator in endeavours that have received more than $12 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

In their letter supporting Dr. Roberts鈥� nomination for an honorary degree, 鲍鱼tv鈥檚 Dr. Susan Howlett and Dr. Kenneth Rockwood wrote:

鈥淯nder his dedicated mentorship, the 鈥極ttawa Heart鈥� has become a leading international centre for the treatment of heart disease and the investigation of what gives rise to the number one killer of Canadians. It is especially in relation to the understanding of genetic influences on heart disease that Dr. Roberts continues in his groundbreaking work.鈥�

Dr. Roberts, who is also a professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa and an adjunct professor at Baylor College of Medicine, has shared his research and understanding in a number of ways. His list of publications numbers more than 850 and he is a highly cited researcher. He has lectured extensively throughout North America and internationally, including in China, Japan, Sweden and Indonesia.听 听

And somehow he has also made time to give back to his profession through his service on numerous organizational, research and editorial boards such as the Ontario Genomics Institute, the International Society for Cardiovascular Translational Research, and the journal, Current Opinion in Cardiology.

Dr. Roberts is a fellow of many organizations including the European Society of Cardiology, the International Society for Heart Research 鈥� of which he was a founding member 鈥� and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is a Master of the American College of Cardiology.

Honours Dr. Roberts has received include the American Heart Association鈥檚 Award of Meritorious Achievement, the International Academy of Cardiology鈥檚 Albrecht Fleckenstein Memorial Award, the American College of Cardiology鈥檚 Distinguished Scientist Award and the Royal Society of Canada鈥檚 McLaughlin Medal. He was also recognized by Memorial University 鈥� where he earned his undergraduate degree 鈥� with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today we add our appreciation. Dr. Roberts is a true discoverer who has transformed our understanding of cardiology, saving countless lives.

I ask you, Mr. Chancellor, in the name of the Senate, to bestow upon Dr. Robert Roberts the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

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