Douglas R. Wilson is Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. Previously at the University of Toronto, he held the positions of Director, Division of Nephrology and Professor of Medicine. In 1984, Dr. Wilson became Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta, a position he held for 10 years. Subsequently his interests shifted to population and public health and he was instrumental in developing the interdisciplinary Centre for Health Promotion Studies. He has published over 140 scientific papers and his awards include the Certificate of Merit of the Canadian Public Health Association and the Royal College Wightman Visiting Professor of Medicine, and the Alberta Centennial Medal.