Avrum Gotlieb is an innovative and dedicated leader of academic laboratory medicine and pathology. He is an award winning teacher, excellent mentor, and a creative and productive cardiovascular researcher. His contributions to the promotion of health sciences include innovative leadership of a very large multidisciplinary university department that is recognized for the strong link its members have developed between quality teaching and creative high impact research on mechanisms of human disease. His leadership in Canadian and international scientific societies has an impact on the academic mission of health sciences and health care in Canada and globally.