Paul C. Hébert

On January 2, 2007, Dr. Hébert was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). Dr. Paul C. Hébert is a Critical Care Physician at The Ottawa Hospital and a Senior Scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Health Research Institute (OHRI). He also holds the rank of Full Professor in the Department of Medicine (Critical Care) at the University of Ottawa, with cross-appointments to the Departments of Anesthesiology and Surgery as well as Epidemiology & Community Medicine.
 
Dr. Hebert is best known for undertaking several seminal studies examining the clinical consequences of transfusion practice (when and what to transfuse), including the use of alternatives to transfusion and blood conservation, resuscitation fluids and cardiac resuscitation and trauma research.  Among his publications, he has led a ground-breaking trial entitled, “Transfusion Requirements in Critical Care (TRICC)” published in the New England Journal of Medicine (CV ref 115).  This study demonstrated that a restrictive approach (giving less blood) to critically ill patients was certainly no worse and possibly superior than giving more red cells.  This study has impacted how clinicians approach blood transfusions worldwide and has generated a significant research agenda internationally. 
 
Dr. Hébert is also strategic lead and advisor to the president on the Strategy on Patient-Oriented Research, an initiative to set up a new patient-oriented clinical research program for Canada through CIHR. This is a part-time role in addition to his other roles.