Edward A. Sellers
Encyclopedia
Edward Alexander Sellers (b. Canada - d. 28 August
1985, Medonte Township, Ontario) was the founding director of The Banting and Best Diabetes Centre
. He was a naval
war veteran
and a prominent doctor
in the fields of Pharmacology
and Physiology
, Military
Research and Medical Research.
at the University of Manitoba
. At the onset of World War II
, in 1939, he was called to active duty
as a Surgeon
Lieutenant
. He served with the Royal
Canadian Navy (RCN) on the Armed Merchant Cruiser, HMCS Prince Robert and the Frigate
HMCS Swansea during the war. He was aboard HMCS Prince Robert during the capture of the German
ship Weser outside Manzanilla harbor, Mexico
. Over the course of the war, he would be promoted to the rank of Surgeon Commander
.
After service at sea, he joined the RCN Medical Research Division under Dr. Charles H. Best, at the Banting
Institute in Toronto
. Best was one of the co-discoverers of insulin
. At the end of the war he was appointed as a research associate at Banting. He obtained a doctorate
with Dr. Best as his supervisor in 1947. After the war, his medical career would take him away from the navy where he performed research for the Department of Defence in the field of survival under adverse conditions.
As his career developed, he held various appointments within the University of Toronto
departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, and within Banting. He became Professor
in Physiology at the University of Toronto in 1950. During a leave of absence
from the University, he became Chief Superintendent at the Defence Research Medical laboratories 1955-1958. From 1958-1966 he was Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, and from 1965-1968 he was Associate Dean
of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine. He was the first Chairman of Innis College
Council from 1965–1967, and he served on the Governing Council of the University of Toronto
from 1972-1974. Sellers earned himself an international research reputation mainly through his work on cold adaptation, non-shivering thermogenesis and thyroid
function.
In 1978 he became the founding director of the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre. The Centre is an extra-departmental unit of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and was named in honor of Banting and Best. Dr. Edward A. Sellers was a personal friend of Best.
August
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first...
1985, Medonte Township, Ontario) was the founding director of The Banting and Best Diabetes Centre
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research is the preeminent Canadian biomedical research institute located on the campus of University of Toronto. The department is named after Drs. Frederick Banting and Charles Best, who discovered insulin and subsequently won a Nobel Prize in medicine....
. He was a naval
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
war veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
and a prominent doctor
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in the fields of Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
and Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
, Military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
Research and Medical Research.
Biography
He was valedictorianValedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. At the onset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1939, he was called to active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
as a Surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He served with the Royal
Canadian Navy (RCN) on the Armed Merchant Cruiser, HMCS Prince Robert and the Frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMCS Swansea during the war. He was aboard HMCS Prince Robert during the capture of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ship Weser outside Manzanilla harbor, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Over the course of the war, he would be promoted to the rank of Surgeon Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
.
After service at sea, he joined the RCN Medical Research Division under Dr. Charles H. Best, at the Banting
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research is the preeminent Canadian biomedical research institute located on the campus of University of Toronto. The department is named after Drs. Frederick Banting and Charles Best, who discovered insulin and subsequently won a Nobel Prize in medicine....
Institute in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Best was one of the co-discoverers of insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
. At the end of the war he was appointed as a research associate at Banting. He obtained a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
with Dr. Best as his supervisor in 1947. After the war, his medical career would take him away from the navy where he performed research for the Department of Defence in the field of survival under adverse conditions.
As his career developed, he held various appointments within the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, and within Banting. He became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in Physiology at the University of Toronto in 1950. During a leave of absence
Leave of absence
Leave of absence is a term used to describe a period of time that one is to be away from his/her primary job, while maintaining the status of employee...
from the University, he became Chief Superintendent at the Defence Research Medical laboratories 1955-1958. From 1958-1966 he was Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, and from 1965-1968 he was Associate Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine. He was the first Chairman of Innis College
Innis College
Innis College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Toronto. It is one of the University of Toronto's smallest colleges in terms of size and the second smallest college in terms of population with approximately 1870 registered students...
Council from 1965–1967, and he served on the Governing Council of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 1972-1974. Sellers earned himself an international research reputation mainly through his work on cold adaptation, non-shivering thermogenesis and thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
function.
In 1978 he became the founding director of the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre. The Centre is an extra-departmental unit of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and was named in honor of Banting and Best. Dr. Edward A. Sellers was a personal friend of Best.