Wilbert Keon
Encyclopedia
Wilbert Joseph Keon, OC (born May 17, 1935) is a heart surgeon, research
er and was a Canadian Senator
.
Born in Sheenboro, Quebec
, he received a Bachelor of Science
from St. Patrick's College, Carleton University
and a Doctor of Medicine
from the University of Ottawa
.
After a period of studying and teaching at Harvard University
in Boston, he returned to Ottawa in the early 1970s, Dr. Keon founded the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
at the Ottawa Civic Hospital
and acted as its CEO for more than thirty years until his retirement from that job in 2004. In 1986, he was the first Canadian to implant an artificial heart
into a human
as a bridge to transplant. He retired as a working doctor and resigned from the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons in June 2010.
In 1990 he was appointed to the Senate by Governor General
Ray Hnatyshyn
on the advice of Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney
, where he sat as a Conservative
. In 2010, Keon retired from the Senate upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
In 1960 he married Anne Jennings. They have three children: Claudia, Ryan Keon (who is running for the Liberal Party of Canada in the federal riding of Nepean-Carleton) and Neil.
In 1999, he was arrested by Ottawa Police and sent to "John School" following an encounter with an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute.
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
er and was a Canadian Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Born in Sheenboro, Quebec
Sheenboro, Quebec
Sheenboro is a village and municipality in the Outaouais region, part of the Pontiac Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. Its territory stretches along the north shore of the Ottawa River from Chichester to Rapides-des-Joachims....
, he received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from St. Patrick's College, Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
and a Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
.
After a period of studying and teaching at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Boston, he returned to Ottawa in the early 1970s, Dr. Keon founded the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is Canada’s largest and foremost cardiovascular health centre. It began as a department in The Ottawa Hospital, and since has evolved into Canada’s only complete cardiac centre, encompassing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, research, and...
at the Ottawa Civic Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital or L'Hôpital d'Ottawa is a major, non-profit, public, university teaching hospital in Ottawa made up of the former Grace Hospital, Riverside Hospital, Ottawa General Hospital and Ottawa Civic Hospital. It is a 1,195-bed academic health sciences centre...
and acted as its CEO for more than thirty years until his retirement from that job in 2004. In 1986, he was the first Canadian to implant an artificial heart
Artificial heart
An artificial heart is a mechanical device that replaces the heart. Artificial hearts are typically used in order to bridge the time to heart transplantation, or to permanently replace the heart in case transplantation is impossible...
into a human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
as a bridge to transplant. He retired as a working doctor and resigned from the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons in June 2010.
In 1990 he was appointed to the Senate by Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Ray Hnatyshyn
Ray Hnatyshyn
Ramon John Hnatyshyn , commonly known as Ray Hnatyshyn, was a Canadian politician and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 24th since Canadian Confederation....
on the advice of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
, where he sat as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. In 2010, Keon retired from the Senate upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.
In 1960 he married Anne Jennings. They have three children: Claudia, Ryan Keon (who is running for the Liberal Party of Canada in the federal riding of Nepean-Carleton) and Neil.
In 1999, he was arrested by Ottawa Police and sent to "John School" following an encounter with an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute.
Honours
- In 1984 he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe 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...
. - He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Malta by Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. - In 1994 he was awarded an honorary D.Sc. from Carleton University.
- In 2007, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of FameCanadian Medical Hall of FameThe Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a Canadian charitable organization, founded in 1994, that honours Canadians who have contributed to the understanding of disease and improving the health of people. It has a museum in London, Ontario, and has an annual induction ceremony.-2012:*Terry Fox*John...
.