Cardiovascular surgeon at University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre recognized for global contributions to medicine
UHN Foundation is proud to announce that Dr. Tirone David, an internationally acclaimed cardiovascular surgeon at UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, has been announced among the first round of Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees for 2025 in the Science, Technology and Innovation category. Recognized as a trailblazer in his field, Dr. David has redefined cardiovascular surgery having developed 15 groundbreaking procedures that went on to be implemented globally.
“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to support Dr. David’s big, bold ideas that ultimately revolutionized cardiovascular surgery,” said Julie Quenneville, CEO of UHN Foundation. “His groundbreaking innovations have not only rewritten the medical books but have also had a profound impact on patient care around the world. This incredible achievement underscores the vital role philanthropy plays in retaining top talent and driving life-changing advancements in health care.”
Dr. David’s legacy is unparalleled, and his decorated career is a testament to his dedication to improving outcomes for patients everywhere. His innovations have not only saved countless lives, but have set new standards for excellence in cardiovascular care. Some of Dr. David’s incredible contributions to cardiac surgery include:
- Developed 15 life-saving surgical procedures to treat heart disease
- More than 15,000 open heart surgeries completed with almost 100% success rate
- Over 450 scientific papers published
“This is an incredible honor, and I am humbled to be recognized in this way,” said Dr. David. “None of these achievements would have been possible without the exceptional team I have had the privilege of working with throughout my career. I am also profoundly grateful to the donors whose generosity has fuelled my work and enabled the contributions I’ve made to cardiovascular care. I share this recognition with all of you—my colleagues, supporters, and the community that has inspired and sustained me every step of the way.”
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About UHN Foundation
Part of University Health Network (UHN), UHN Foundation raises funds for Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehab and The Michener Institute of Education. No one ever changed the world on their own: donor support is critical to upholding the excellence in patient care that UHN is known for, and changing the status quo of health care – helping recruit and train the brightest medical minds from around the world, complete critical capital projects, develop new treatments for disease, and advance bold medical research. UHNfoundation.ca
About the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, established through the generous support of The Peter and Melanie Munk Charitable Foundation, is the premier cardiac centre in Canada, with more than 163,000 patient visits annually. Patients receive innovative and compassionate care from a multidisciplinary team treating some of the most complex cases of heart and vascular disease. The Centre’s clinical and research expertise has improved the lives of patients around the world, while also training more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada. DoWhateverItTakes.ca
About Canada’s Walk of Fame
Canada’s Walk of Fame is an award-winning national not-for-profit charitable organization that inspires Canadians by proudly shining a light on the journeys of Canada’s most extraordinary achievers. Canada’s Walk of Fame recognizes the significant impact of Canadian accomplishments and provides the foremost national platform to celebrate achievement in the fields of Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Athletics, Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy, Humanitarianism, and Science, Technology & Innovation. Current honours and programs include the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour, the RBC Emerging Musician Program, NBCUniversal and Seeing Red Media Future Storytellers program, the Community Hero and National Hero Programs, the Hometown Stars initiative, including charitable donations to our Inductees’ causes, and the nationally televised broadcast designated by the CRTC as a program of national interest. Canada’s Walk of Fame has over 230 inductions to date, with stars having a permanent place of tribute on the streets of Toronto’s Entertainment District. For a complete list of Inductees and Honourees along with more information on Canada’s Walk of Fame, visit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com
Canada’s Walk of Fame was established in 1998 by founders Bill Ballard, Dusty Cohl and Peter Soumalias, with Dianne Schwalm and in partnership with Gary Slaight.
Canada’s Walk of Fame is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number 889896924RR0001.
