Vladimir Hachinski named among newest fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Congratulations to Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Vladimir Hachinski, one of six new Fellows from Western University elected to the prestigious Royal Society of Canada this week. The newly elected Fellows were chosen by their peers in recognition of outstanding scholarly, scientific and artistic achievement. Election to the academies of the Royal Society of Canada is the highest honour a scholar can achieve in the Arts, Humanities and Sciences.

Hachinski co-founded the first successful stroke unit, discovered the brain region involved in sudden death following stroke, and helped expound the stroke-Alzheimer disease connection. The concepts brain attack, multi-infarct dementia, leukoaraiosis, vascular cognitive impairment and the ischemic score are his own. He has been Editor of STROKE, President of the World Federation of Neurology and created the World Brain Alliance, World Stroke Day and the World Stroke Agenda.

The Royal Society elected 90 new fellows in total, with six from Western University including Frank Davey, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Julia Emberley, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Gail M. Atkinson, Faculty of Science, Wayne Hocking, Faculty of Science, and Melville Brockett Fenton, Faculty of Science.

“Western is extremely proud to have six researchers recognized by the Royal Society in one year. Each of them has the university’s sincere congratulations on this monumental achievement,” said Western’s President and Vice-Chancellor Amit Chakma. “These researchers epitomize Western’s commitment to take a leading position nationally and internationally through world-class research and scholarship.”

Fellows of the Royal Society, the most eminent scientists, engineers and technologists from the UK and Commonwealth, are elected for life through a peer review process on the basis of excellence in science. Founded in 1660, there are approximately 1,450 Fellows and Foreign Members, including more than 80 Nobel Laureates.

The fundamental purpose of the Royal Society is to recognize, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. The Society has played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant, and life-changing discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society scientists continue to make outstanding contributions to science in many research areas.
This year's new Fellows will be inducted to the academies of the RSC during an Induction and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, November 22, 2014 in Quebec City.