McMaster professor leaves his name at University

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Gent_announcement.jpg” caption=”Pictured from left, Michael Gent, Brian Haynes, chair of CE&B, Ken Norrie, provost and vice-president academic and John Kelton, dean and vice-president, Faculty of Health Sciences.”]During Michael Gent's career as a professor at McMaster for more than 30 years, there was a running joke that he would never leave the university. Now his name never will.

Today it was announced that the biostatistician would be honoured by the establishment of a $1.25-million professorship, the Michael Gent Professorship in Healthcare Research. It is intended that the holder of the endowed professorship will be the chair of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the funds used to support the salary of exceptional faculty members in the department.

Michael Gent joined the department in 1969, and it was the excitement and vision of the team creating the new medical school with radical ideas about both education and research that attracted him from England. He became one of the leading biostatisticians in the world, greatly contributing to McMaster's reputation as the home of randomized clinical trials in Canada and one of the preeminent sites of excellence in clinical trials internationally.

In particular, Gent was known for his vital input to clinician scientists in the design and execution of clinical trails, and his role as part of the team that created the University's number one position for studies of abnormal blood clots. He was a mentor to many faculty members who are now well-known medical researchers.

While with the department from 1969 to 2002, he took roles as the chair (1973-1979) and as associate dean of research for the Faculty of Health Sciences (1979-1984). He also spent a term as the vice-president of the Medical Research Council of Canada. He is now a professor emeritus and lives in Scotland.

“In truth, 33 years is not very long,” said Gent, 70, reflecting on his career at McMaster. “It was a tremendous opportunity to be involved in the development of a new school and new programs, a terrific opportunity to make a contribution.

“There are still many opportunities today. I'm honoured that the professorship will bear my name.”

John Kelton, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences and dean of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, praised Michael Gent's contributions to the development of McMaster's reputation for high quality research and his mentoring of young medical investigators.

“The quality of research results rests completely on the strength of the research methodology. As a founder of our medical school and our faculty of health sciences, Mike set a high standard and ensured we have a thoroughly strong foundation for important work.”