Juhn Atsushi Wada
Encyclopedia
Juhn Atsushi Wada, OC
(born 1924, Sapporo) is a Japanese Canadian
neurologist
known for research into epilepsy
, including his description of the Wada test
for cerebral hemispheric dominance of language function.
, qualifying in 1946 and becoming Doctor of Science
in 1951. He worked at the University of Minnesota
and the Montreal Neurological Institute
before settling at the University of British Columbia
in 1956, becoming professor of neurology. He was an associate of the Medical Research Council of Canada
from 1966 to 1994. He was the founding president of the Canadian League Against Epilepsy (CLAE) from 1977 to 1979, and president of the American Epilepsy Society in 1988. He was awarded the Wilder Penfield Gold Medal by the CLAE in 1988. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada
in 1992.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 1924, Sapporo) is a Japanese Canadian
Japanese Canadians
Japanese Canadians are Canadians of Japanese ancestry, and are mostly concentrated on the west coast, and central Canada, especially in and around Vancouver and Toronto. In 2006, there were 98,900 .- Generations :...
neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
known for research into epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
, including his description of the Wada test
Wada test
The Wada test, named after Canadian neurologist and epileptologist Juhn Atsushi Wada, also known as the "intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure" , is used to establish cerebral language and memory representation of each hemisphere.-Method:...
for cerebral hemispheric dominance of language function.
Biography
Juhn Wada studied medicine at Hokkaido UniversityHokkaido University
Hokkaido University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It can be seen in the several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:...
, qualifying in 1946 and becoming Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in 1951. He worked at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
and the Montreal Neurological Institute
Montreal Neurological Institute
The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital is an academic medical centre dedicated to neuroscience research, training and clinical care. The Institute is part of McGill University and the Hospital is one of the five teaching hospitals of the McGill University Health Centre, in Montreal,...
before settling at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1956, becoming professor of neurology. He was an associate of the Medical Research Council of Canada
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Canadian Institutes of Health Research is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. It is the successor to the Medical Research Council of Canada. It aims to create new health knowledge, and to translate that knowledge from the research setting into real world...
from 1966 to 1994. He was the founding president of the Canadian League Against Epilepsy (CLAE) from 1977 to 1979, and president of the American Epilepsy Society in 1988. He was awarded the Wilder Penfield Gold Medal by the CLAE in 1988. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1992.