Dr. Tom Marrie, former dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. Photo credit: Richard Siemens
Story update
Tom Marrie was inducted to the Order of Canada on the morning of Nov. 18, 2015. He was one of 45 Canadians honoured for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. Read more about the ceremony on CBC News.
Original text published Feb. 3, 2015
Tom Marrie, former dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, secured one of the country's highest honours with his induction into the Order of Canada. He was inducted in December 2014 as a member, a designation that celebrates contributions to a special field of activity at a local or regional level.
Marrie served as dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry from 2004-2009 and was initially recruited to the University of Alberta in 1999 as chair of the Department of Medicine. Under his leadership, the faculty saw the construction of the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation and the Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research. His contributions to the faculty are perpetuated through the Thomas J. Marrie Mentorship Award and the Tom Marrie Excellence in Leadership Student Award. In November 2014, he was warmly welcomed back to Edmonton to receive the Bulyea Cup from the UAlberta School of Dentistry.
"Tom is an outstanding contributor to the FoMD and the global academic community," says Richard Fedorak, interim dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, "but he may be best remembered on our campus for his kindness and joy of teaching and passion for research. His gentlemanly approach and professionalism serves as an ongoing example of leadership."
Currently the dean of his alma mater, the Dalhousie medical school, Marrie was surprised when heard of his induction and says that "it was very unexpected." But looking at his contributions to medicine in Canada, it's clear to see why he was selected. Since the 1970s, his research has contributed to improved health outcomes through decision-making processes that examine whether a patient should be treated at home or in hospital, what antibiotics should be provided and when the patient should be discharged from the hospital.
"[Having protocols to treat people] results in more people being treated at home, surviving pneumonia and shorter lengths of time in the hospital," he says.
Though he's working out of Nova Scotia, Marrie has two research projects underway in Alberta, which he hopes can lead to a vaccine for pneumonia.
"We're looking at the effectiveness of a vaccine," he says. "We wanted to see what effect the vaccine had on children and follow this over time."