Canada - Transplant pioneer tells grads of life of service

[Guest guest]

Transplant pioneer tells grads of

life of service

Thursday, October 18, 2007

A man whose pioneering work in organ transplantation and

donation told graduates of the joy of serving the “others” in the

world.

“The

more you give, the more you will receive,” Cal Stiller told University of Western Ontario graduates.

Stiller

spoke to graduates from the faculties of Graduate Studies, Education,

Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Don Faculty of Music and the

Ivey School of Business at the October 18 session of Western's Fall Convocation..

Western

conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree upon Stiller in recognition of his

accomplishments in the field of medicine.

Stiller,

an internationally renown physician and scientist, established the Multi-Organ

Transplant Service in London, serving as the unit’s chief from 1984-96. He is one of the world’s leading clinical

investigators in transplantation.

In his

citation, Western Provost & Vice President (Academic) Fred Longstaffe spoke of Stiller’s work in integrating

organ-donor cards on Ontario drivers’ license and his work for the province

of Ontario in new initiatives to fund university and institute-based

research.

“His

role in promoting research in this country’s universities has been

integral to the progress our scientists have made and the results they have

achieved over the last several decades”, said Longstaffe.

Stiller

spoke of the various kinds of “others” in the world that the students

should look to serve, noting one of the most important as “the I can’t stop knowing that my gift can save your

life kind of other.”

“The response is a noble one,” he said of organ donation. “Your children will be watching and the example you

set is important.”

Asking permission of Acting-Chancellor President Davenport, Stiller

finished his speech by engaging the graduates in spell-and-cheer of the word

‘other’.

“This

is what’s important in life,” he said. “Your

charitable work will lead to fulfillment.”

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