"I'm very honoured to receive this prestigious distinction."
Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Quebec researcher and scientist

MONTREAL, Dec. 28, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, announced that Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif has been named to the Order of Canada. Dr. Tardif, cardiologist, is the Director of the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) Research Centre and a Professor of Medicine at Université de Montréal. Dr. Tardif is the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Translational and Personalized Medicine and of the Research Chair in Atherosclerosis at Université de Montréal. He is also the Scientific Director of the Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Centre (MHICC), and the Chair of the steering committees of the Canadian Atherosclerosis Imaging Network (CAIN) and the Medical Imaging Trial Network of Canada (MITNEC).

An international expert in cardiovascular health, Dr. Tardif has published more than 800 articles and abstracts in prestigious scientific journals. His extensive body of scientific work and his unwavering dedication have earned him a well-deserved reputation as well as numerous important distinctions, including the Research Achievement Award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the Genesis Award of BIOQuébec, and the Armand-Frappier Award of the Government of Quebec. He was also named scientific personality of the year by La Presse newspaper. Thanks to his accomplishments, Dr. Tardif was named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

"What inspires me the most is being able to improve patients' health by making discoveries that will change—and even save—their lives and revolutionize treatments as we know them. Thanks to all the work and research that has been done, I believe that we have succeeded in lowering the mortality rate associated with cardiovascular diseases and their complications," stated Dr. Tardif, who will be presented with the insignia of the Order of Canada at a ceremony to take place at a later date. The Order of Canada, the cornerstone of the Canadian honours system, was created in 1967, Canada's centennial year, to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.

About the Montreal Heart Institute
Founded in 1954 by Dr. Paul David, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and basic research, ultra-specialized care, professional training, and prevention. It is part of the broad network of health excellence made up of Université de Montréal and its affiliated institutions.

About the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation
The mission of the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation is to raise and administer funds to support the Institute's priority and innovative projects, and to support it in its fight against cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Since its creation in 1977, the Foundation has granted close to $200 million to the Montreal Heart Institute.

SOURCE Fondation de l'Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal