Western University Biochemist Fred Possmayer Named to Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Western University announced on November 3, 2026, that biochemist Fred Possmayer will be inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2027. Possmayer is a professor emeritus at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. As HEROIC BREAKING NEWS reported earlier, Possmayer was named to the hall of fame for his major contributions to neonatal medicine. [1][5]

Western University reported that when Possmayer began his research in the 1970s, more than half of premature babies who developed respiratory distress syndrome died from the condition. Possmayer pioneered a surfactant treatment that directly reduced fatal outcomes from the illness. [1][5]

According to Western University, the surfactant therapy developed by Possmayer has been used to treat more than 160,000 premature babies in Canada and around the world. The treatment has helped generations of at-risk premature infants survive their first days of life. [1][5]

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame was founded in 1994 as a charitable organization that honours individuals who have contributed to understanding disease and improving health. The organization maintains an exhibit hall in London, Ontario, and hosts an annual induction ceremony. [2]