This May, recently-retired Queen’s professor, Jacalyn Duffin, was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of fame—joining five others dubbed ‘medical heroes’ for their contributions to the field.

Duffin served as the Hannah Professor of the History of Medicine at Queen’s from 1988 to 2017. She’s a specialist in the treatment and diagnoses of blood-related disease, but is better known for using history to inform modern medicine.

Her research has explored diagnostic technology, rural practice, drug development, disease concepts, health policy, and religious healing. 

Duffin spent nine years studying medical miracles in the Vatican Archives, her most famous contribution to the medical field.

On its website, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame stated Duffin “has made enduring contributions to medical research and education that deepen our historical understanding and cause us to reflect on the origins of present-day health care.”