Richard L. Cruess is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, as well as a Member of the Centre for Medical Education at McGill University. He previously served as Chair of Orthopedics (1976-1981), and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University (1981-1995), and as President of the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges (1992-1994). He is an Officer of The Order of Canada and of L’Ordre National du Québec. Since 1995, he has carried out independent research on professionalism in medicine.