Emeritus Professors

RICHARD L. CRUESS, MD, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton in 1951 and an MD from Columbia University in 1955. He is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Health Sciences Education at McGill University. An orthopedic surgeon, he served as Chair of Orthopedics (1976-1981), directing a basic science laboratory and publishing extensively in the field. He was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University from 1981 to 1995. He was President of the Canadian Orthopedic Association (1977-1978), the American Orthopedic Research Society (1975-1976), and the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges (1992-1994). He is a Companion of The Order of Canada and of L’Ordre National du Québec. McGill University has established the Richard and Sylvia Cruess Chair in Medical Education. Since 1995, with his wife Dr. Sylvia Cruess, he has taught and carried out independent research on professionalism and professional identity formation in medicine. They have published widely on the subject and been invited speakers at universities, hospitals, and professional organizations throughout the world.

Current research interests: Teaching and evaluating professionalism in the health professions.

E-mail: richard.cruess [at] mcgill.ca
Tel: 514-398-7331

SYLVIA R. CRUESS (February 13, 1930 - September 8, 2022), MD, graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1951 and an MD from Columbia University in 1955. She is an Endocrinologist, and a Professor of Medicine and Health Sciences Education at McGill University. She previously served as Director of the Metabolic Day Centre (1968-1978) and as Medical Director of the Royal Victoria Hospital (1978-1995) in Montreal. She was a Member of the Deschamps Commission on Conduct of Research on Humans in Establishments. Since 1995, with her husband Dr. Richard Cruess, she has taught and carried out independent research on professionalism and professional identity formation in medicine. They have published extensively on the subject and been invited speakers at universities, hospitals, and professional organizations throughout the world. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2011 McGill University established the Richard and Sylvia Cruess Chair in Medical Education.