Gordon Murray Lecturers

Gordon Murray was born in 1897, one of six children.  He was brought up in an interesting, healthful and stimulating environment in a rural setting near Stratford, Ontario.  His father was musical.  His mother was probably the profound influence in Gordon Murray’s life.  She must have been a remarkable woman, with unusual imagination and knowledge and a never-ceasing interest in nature.  She always had time to demonstrate its wonders first-hand to her children and ask them why, how and where, on subjects ranging from rocks, plants and animals to insects.

A healthy, active, athletic school life brought him to medical college in Toronto.  He interrupted his medical training to join the army in 1915 as an artillery man.  All four Murray brothers joined up – three were old enough for overseas duty, one was killed and Gordon, who experienced Ypres, Somme and Vimy Ridge, was blown up and buried with major wounds.  It is said that the site in which he was buried was taken by the Germans, then recaptured before he was disinterred and discovered to be alive.  He advanced from being the rider of the lead horse in a gun carriage to the rank of sergeant major.

Returning from war, he finished his medical training in 1921 and after a short time in practice, set off for England for postgraduate training in anatomy and surgery, ending up as Registrar at the London Hospital and acquiring his F.R.C.S. London.  On returning to Toronto in 1928, he was taken on by Professor C.L. Starr as resident in general surgery, eventually moving on to the staff at the General Hospital.  He became one of the most renowned surgeons in the history of the General Hospital.  He retired from the University staff in 1953 and from the hospital staff in 1967.

Dr. Murray’s contributions in medicine are well known.  His most notable work was with Heparin.  This had been purified by Dr. Charles and Dr. Scott under Professor Best in the Department of Physiology in Toronto.  Dr. Murray was one of the first in the world to demonstrate its use in patients in the prevention of thrombosis and embolism and its use in maintaining patency following arterial suture and vein grafts to arteries.  Anyone practicing in this era will recall the grave problem of morbidity from phlebitis and the constant risk to life that was present from pulmonary embolism. He studied this subject thoroughly and over a prolonged period of time.  He became the international authority on its use in surgery. 

Year

Award Winner

2024

2023

2022

2021

Dr. John G. Meara

Dr. Alan B. Lumsden

Dr. Peter Hutchinson

Dr. James Shapiro

2020

Dr. David A. Rogers

2019

Dr. Diane M. Simeone

2018

Dr. Susan Mackinnon

2017

Dr. Allan Kirk

2016

Dr. Mohit Bhandari

2015

Dr. Clifford Ko

2014

Dr. Geoffrey Gurtner

2013

Dr. John Niederhuber

2012

Dr. Philippe Menasche

2011

Dr. Inderbir Gill

2010

Dr. Joseph Vacanti

2009

Mr. Oscar Traynor

2008

Dr. Randy Rosier

2007

Dr. Timothy Buchman

2006

Dr. Michael Apuzzo

2005

Dr. David N. Herndon

2004

Dr. Shafique Pirani

2003

Dr. David L. Dunn

2002

Dr. Ara Darzi

2001

Dr. Timothy J. Eberlein

2000

Dr. E. Darracott Vaughan Jr.

1999

Dr. A.W. Clowes

1998

Dr. Alan Hudson

1997

Dr. Ronald Folse

1996

Dr. Douglas Wilmore

1995

Dr. Samuel A. Wells Jr.

1994

Col. Basil A. Pruitt Jr., M.D.

1993

Dr. Jonathan Meakins

1992

Dr. Bryce Weir

1991

Dr. Richard Simmons

1990

Dr. D. Eugene Strandness

1989

Dr. Michael R. Harrison

1988

Dr. Joel Cooper

1987

Dr. Martin Allgower

1986

Dr. Tom Starzl

1985

Dr. Judah Folkman

1984

Dr. Charles G. Drake

1983

Sir Roy Calne

1982

Dr. Stanley Crawford

1981

Dr. Raymond O. Heimbecker