Network celebrates induction of Dr. Nadine Caron into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

A long-time Terry Fox supporter and prominent surgeon, leader and advocate for Indigenous health and research, Dr. Nadine Caron has been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. The honour recognizes her trailblazing work as a surgeon, scholar and advocate for health equity.

A member of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Dr. Caron broke new ground as the first Indigenous woman to become a general surgeon in Canada. She has since become a leading voice in advancing Indigenous health, integrating community values into genomic research, and working to ensure that Indigenous peoples are not only participants in research but also leaders shaping its direction.

As co-chair of the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network’s Canadian Spectrum Working Group and a lead investigator of the Northern Biobank Initiative, Dr. Caron is helping to close the equity gap in cancer research, bringing precision oncology to more Canadians with cancer. This landmark initiative—supported in part by the Network—prioritizes Indigenous-led governance of genomic data and aims to ensure that precision medicine reflects the cultural values, needs and rights of Indigenous communities.

Dr. Caron is also an avid Terry Foxer and a member of the Terry Fox Foundation’s Board of Directors.

“We celebrate Dr. Caron’s well-deserved induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame,” says Dr. Jim Woodgett, president and scientific director of the Terry Fox Research Institute. “Dr. Caron is a true pioneer in surgical oncology who has worked tirelessly towards recognition and inclusion of Indigenous peoples in both care and research. She always leads by example and is tireless in pursuing her vision for a fairer and better world for all patients with cancer.”

“It's energizing to witness Dr. Caron's passion for her research and gratifying to see her honoured by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame,” says Dr. Marco Marra, Terry Fox Leader in Cancer Genome Science. “Nadine's many impactful contributions extend across fields, from surgical care to precision genomic medicine, and the insights and perspectives she brings to the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network are unique and powerful. I'm proud to work with her.”