Canadian doctors have gained national and international fame for medical discoveries, innovations in techniques and treatment, the establishment of specialized medical institutes and as political activists for changes in health care. Famous Canadian Physicians presents a brief history of Canadian medicine and features biographical essays, digitized images, textual documents and audio-visual material about seven of Canada's medical pioneers. It draws upon the published and archival fonds of Library and Archives Canada and other sources to illustrate the accomplishments of these famous doctors.

Learn about the obstacles faced by medical pioneers such as Dr. Emily Stowe, the first Canadian woman to practise medicine and a lifelong champion for women's rights. Read about one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the twentieth century -- the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting. See a first edition of Sir William Osler's famous medical text which revolutionized the training of doctors and turned him into the most famous physician in the English-speaking world. Discover the innovative surgical technique for the treatment of epilepsy developed by Dr. Wilder Penfield, founder of the world-famous Montreal Neurological Institute. Hear Dr. Gustave Gingras talk about his lifelong devotion to rehabilitation medicine and his experiences as an international expert on the treatment of patients with physical disabilities. Determine why Dr. Norman Bethune, a gifted surgeon, inventor and political activist, is hailed as a national hero in the People's Republic of China. Read about the triumphs and tragedy of Dr. Lucille Teasdale-Corti who devoted 35 years of her life in northern Uganda to building a modern, well-equipped hospital which trains medical staff and serves as a research centre in this troubled African region.