The University of Manitoba community is saddened to learn Henry Friesen [B.Sc. (Med.)/58, MD/58, D.Sc./98] passed away on April 30, 2025 at age 90.
Friesen was a pivotal figure in Canadian health research, particularly in the field of endocrinology. Born in Morden, Man., he attended UM and graduated with his bachelor of science in medicine and his doctor of medicine in 1958. He trained as an endocrinologist at the New England Center Hospital, Boston, and was named a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1963.
In 1965, Friesen was appointed to McGill University and Royal Victoria Hospital. He returned to Winnipeg in 1973 and served as professor and head of the department of physiology, and professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba until 1991. He is also a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.
Among his greatest accomplishments was a breakthrough in endocrine research by isolating and purifying prolactin, a hormone key to certain infertility and reproductive disorders. He then helped to develop a drug that aided many thousands of women, previously diagnosed as infertile, to have children.
Friesen is the author of more than 460 publications in the field of endocrinology and also served on many editorial boards of professional journals.
In addition to his extraordinary career as a medical research scientist, Friesen was also responsible for profoundly transforming Canada’s health research funding, thanks to his tireless work in the major national health research organizations. From 1999 to 2000 he was chair of the Interim Governing Council that recommended the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
In 2000, he was appointed the founding chair of Genome Canada, the federal government’s lead corporation supporting genomics research in Canada. He served in that role for five years.
In 1998, UM awarded Friesen an honorary doctor of science degree. The university also recognized his achievements through the creation of the Henry G. Friesen Endowed Chair in Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases.
Friesen has been honoured with many awards and appointments including Officer of the Order of Canada in 1987 and Companion in 2001. In 2001, Friesen was named a laureate of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and in 2017, he was appointed a distinguished fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the highest honour awarded by the academy.
“We are all saddened by Dr. Friesen’s passing and our sincere sympathies go to his family during this difficult time,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. “His contributions have left an indelible mark on health research in Canada.”
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