Toronto, ON –The Canadian Lung Association congratulates Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, an innovator in thoracic surgery whose work has improved the lives of lung transplant patients in Canada and around the world, on being named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.
Dr. Keshavjee leads the Toronto Lung Transplant Program, which is the largest in Canada and the most esteemed program of its kind in the world. Lung transplantation is a life-saving procedure for many patients with advanced lung disease. The first successful lung transplant surgery was performed in 1983 at Toronto General Hospital. Dr. Keshavjee trained at Toronto General and is surgeon-in-chief of the University Health Network (UHN).
"Dr. Keshavjee's work in developing lung preservation solutions, extracorporeal lung support – the "lung in a box" – and treatment of early lung failure after transplantation, has been transformative,” said Dr. John Granton, Head of Respirology at UHN and chair of the Ontario Lung Association.
“His leadership of a strong group of individuals committed to advancing the care of the transplant patient has had international influence. By continuing to innovate and develop new strategies, they are setting the course for lung transplantation. The Order of Canada recognizes his enormous contribution in improving the lives of Canadians with advanced lung disease."
Dr. Keshavjee is also a senior scientist at UHN’s McEwan Centre for Regenerative Medicine and professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto.
He has previously been honoured with the Order of Ontario and two Queen’s Jubilee Medals.
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