News

Dr. William Clark, a nephrologist who researched the long-term health consequences of Canada’s worst-ever E. coli contamination in Walkerton in 2000, is among those named to the Order of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon.

The Order of Canada was created in 1967, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to honour people whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities.

Dr. Clark was a professor of medicine at the University of Western Ontario, scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute, active consultant in nephrology.  Dr. Clark is a past President of The Kidney Foundation’s Southwestern Ontario Chapter (now the London & District Chapter) and today continues to provide leadership by helping The Foundation build the capacity to best serve the needs of kidney patients in our community, across Ontario and beyond.  

Dr. Clark has been a great supporter and contributor to The Kidney Foundation’s National Research Program. He served as the Scientific Co-chair of the Research Council of The Foundation’s Research Program and was a member of the Research Review Committees for many years.

Dr. Clark has impacted the lives of kidney patients through decades of dedication through research and fund development. While wearing his “fundraising hat” Dr. Clark helped to raise over $1 million dollars over the past 40 years. He has taken the lead on many successful fundraising events, the results of which have impacted kidney patients across Canada through funding research and vital patient programs. He truly is a “game changer”.

His work improved the lives of Canadians living with kidney disease and will continue to do so for years to come, leaving a legacy that is unprecedented.  Congratulations Dr. Clark on this tremendous honour.

Notably, two other Canadian transplant leaders also joined the Order of Canada. Dr. Gary Levy was recognized for his leadership and pioneering innovations as the former medical director of the Multi-Organ Transplant Program at Toronto General Hospital and Dr. David Rush from Winnipeg, Manitoba for being one of Canada’s leading kidney transplant clinician-scientists.