Dr. Henry Friesen speaks at a UM gala in 2018.
Dr. Henry Friesen’s visionary career celebrated at medical college
Friends and colleagues of Dr. Henry Friesen, a UM medical alum who became a towering figure in Canadian health research, honoured his memory at the Max Rady College of Medicine on June 3.
Friesen, who was born in Morden, Man., passed away on April 30 at the age of 90. His many distinguished titles included laureate of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and companion of the Order of Canada.
He was remembered as a brilliant research endocrinologist and a unifying leader whose vision led to the founding 25 years ago of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the federal funding agency for health and medical research.
The memorial event was organized by Friends of CIHR, an organization that supports the goals and values of the CIHR and promotes health research.
The Friends organization awards the annual Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research, which was established in recognition of Friesen’s “distinguished leadership, vision and innovative contributions to health research and health policy,” said Dr. Peter Lewis, interim president of Friends of CIHR.
Dr. Henry Friesen
Several speakers paid tribute to Friesen’s pride in Manitoba and in UM, where he headed the physiology department for most of the 1970s and ’80s before moving to Ottawa to lead the Medical Research Council of Canada.
He later returned to Manitoba and continued to serve the research community as distinguished professor emeritus at UM.
“Throughout his career, he demonstrated that Manitoba’s research scientists can stand with the best in the world,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine and the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Friesen set a standard of excellence at UM and elevated its reputation, said Dr. Brian Postl, dean emeritus of medicine and health sciences.
“He validated this university in many ways because he was so prominent on the national stage, and so remarkably well respected.”
Dr. Ian Dixon, current head of the department of physiology and pathophysiology, recalled Friesen’s encouragement of him as a scientist. “He always challenged me by saying, ‘This is good, but I’m sure you can do better.’”
Friesen earned his medical degree at UM in 1958, then trained as an endocrinologist (a specialist in hormone-related disorders) in Boston. He conducted groundbreaking research at McGill University from 1965 to 1973.
Speaker Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, former dean of medicine and dentistry at the University of Alberta, emphasized that as a clinician-scientist, Friesen based his lab studies on his patients’ unmet needs.
Friesen’s most acclaimed scientific achievement was his discovery of the hormone prolactin in humans. This 1970 breakthrough led to a successful drug treatment for women’s infertility.
His innovative work also contributed to growth hormone replacement therapy for children.
Though he had a gentle and humble manner, Friesen was a master at forming relationships with influential people and gaining their support for his ideas, speakers said.
“He had an aura of dignity that commanded respect,” recalled Dr. Aubie Angel, UM professor emeritus of internal medicine and founding president of Friends of CIHR.
In the 1990s, Friesen became determined to transform the Medical Research Council into the CIHR, a funding agency composed of 13 institutes to support not only biomedical inquiry, but all aspects of health research. He faced resistance from many scientists across Canada, but he was undaunted.
“He was calm, he was fair, he was always positive,” recalled Dr. Grant Pierce, distinguished professor emeritus of physiology and pathophysiology. “He taught me so much about how to handle difficult situations.”
Friesen lobbied for research facilities to be located in Winnipeg, said Pierce, noting that he was instrumental in the establishment of the Albrechtsen Research Centre at St. Boniface Hospital.
Dr. Arnold Naimark, dean emeritus of medicine and president emeritus of UM, was a friend and collaborator of Friesen’s for 70 years. “Henry used his standing in Ottawa to champion important Manitoba initiatives, including the National Microbiology Laboratory,” Naimark said.
Another of Friesen’s projects was the creation of Genome Canada, the federal government’s lead corporation supporting genomics research, of which he was the founding chair.
In 2008, Friesen played a key role in convincing the federal government to grant a $20-million endowment to the Gairdner Foundation, which gives internationally prestigious awards recognizing biomedical and health researchers.
The scientist’s son, clinical pharmacist Dr. Mark Friesen, expressed the family’s gratitude for the tributes. He read excerpts from several emails he received at the end of his father’s life.
Allan Rock, who was the federal health minister when the CIHR was created in 2000, wrote to Mark:
“Your father remains one of my heroes – a person of genuine humility, great integrity and enormous talent who devoted his life to the service of others. His fresh and innovative ideas literally changed our country for the better.”