2001 INDUCTEE Lucille Teasdale-Corti, MD Service Abroad, Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Women in Medicine
January 30, 1929
(Montreal, Quebec)
August 1, 1996
MD, Université de Montréal (1955)
2004: Gold Medal for Civil Merit, Italy
1999: Parc Lucille-Teasdale in Montreal is named in her honour
See All AwardsAwards & Honours:
2004: Gold Medal for Civil Merit, Italy
1999: Parc Lucille-Teasdale in Montreal is named in her honour
1997: Premio Moscati Caserta Italy
1996: Premio Speciale Cuore D’Oro by the Premio della Bontà Motta, Notte di Natale Milan
1996: Honorary Doctorate, Université de Montréal
1995: Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
1995: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Premio Professionalità by Rotary Club Milano
1995: Velan Award by Rotary Club Montreal
1995: Prix d’Excellence pour la Cause Africaine by CICA New York
1995: Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec
1995: Honorary Consultant for the Ministry of Health of Uganda by The Uganda Ministry of Health and the Makerere University Senate.
1993: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Cuore Amico Prize Italy
1991: Member of the Order of Canada
1990: International Medical Women Association Award Italy
1987: FNG Starr Award, Canadian Medical Association
1986: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Sasakawa Health Prize, World Health Organization
1986: Paul Harris Fellow Recognition by Rotary Club International Italy
1984: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Ambrogino d’Oro by the Municipality of Milan
1983: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded a Premio della Bontà Notte di Natale Angelo Motta
1982: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Officer)
1972: Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti are awarded Missione del Medico
Established the Lacor Hospital and served Ugandans for 35 years
A Trailblazer for women in medicine and a devoted surgeon to the people of Uganda
After residency training at Ste-Justine Hospital in Montreal and l’Hôpital de la Conception of Marseille, Dr. Lucille Teasdale-Corti dedicated herself to a career in Uganda, together with her husband, Dr. Piero Corti. In addition to practising surgery at St-Mary’s Lacor Hospital, the couple established a school of nursing at the hospital, which went on to train hundreds of Ugandan health care professionals. In addition, Dr. Teasdale-Corti ran a program to train surgical residents at Makerere University in Kampala and also prepared Italian practitioners for service in Africa. During the period of the Ugandan civil war, she operated on wounded from both factions, often under difficult and dangerous conditions; in 1982, she contracted AIDS in the course of an operation.
Key Facts
Became one of Canada’s
first female surgeons
Grew Lacor Hospital
into a 500-bed institution
Performed 13,000 operations
at Lacor Hospital
Worked in dangerous conditions that included the threat of kidnapping
Continued to work six hours every day, even while suffering from AIDS
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada created an named award in her honour
Professional timeline
Impact on lives today
Dr. Teasdale-Corti created a lasting legacy of compassion that continues long after her death. Today, Lacor Hospital continues to serve the people of Uganda. As of 2020, it employs 6000 Ugandans and treats over 250,000 patients. The hospital also plays an important role in the training of new doctors as well as offers crucial public health support during epidemics.
2013
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Lucille-Teasdale International School in Brossard, Quebec is renamed in her honour
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Lucille-Teasdale Secondary School in Blainville, Quebec is built and named in her honour
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Lucille Teasdale-Corti posthumously inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Canada Post issues a 46 cent stamp in Lucille Teasdale’s honour
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Lacor Hospital is awarded the Premio Antonio Feltrinelli in recognition of their extraordinary moral and humanitarian merit, awarded by Accademia dei Lincei Rome.
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The Lucille Teasdale and Piero Corti Foundation was established
Service AbroadThe foundation was created to ensure the continued work of Lacor Hospital.
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A partnership with Makerere University in Kampala was established
Health and Medical Education & TrainingFor ten years, Teasdale-Corti collaborated with the University to train surgical residents.
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Lacor Hospital continued to expand with the opening of a second surgical wing
Leadership in Organizational Development, Patient CareThe hospital also held a library, pathology laboratory, archives and space of physiotherapy. By the 1990s, the hospital had 400 Ugandan employees and 450 beds.
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The School for Registered Nurses opened
Leadership in Organizational DevelopmentShortly after, three satellite heath centres were established.
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Lucille Teasdale-Corti became a war surgeon in Uganda
Women in Medicine, Patient CareWhen civil war broke out in Uganda, Lacor hospital was often caught in the cross-fire of violence. Throughout the war, the hospital became an important centre for healing.
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Lacor Hospital's surgical ward was completed
Committed to providing the best care possible, Teasdale and Corti worked tirelessly to expand the services available at the hospital.
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Lacor Hospital was built by Comboni missionaries
Leadership in Organizational Development, Service AbroadTeasdale-Corti and her husband arrived in Uganda in May of 1961 and took over management of the 40-bed hospital.
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After graduating medical school, Teasdale-Corti specialized in surgery and interned at Sainte-Justine Children’s Hospital in Montreal
While there, she met Piero Corti who would become her lifelong partner in medicine and life.
1955
Medicine is not just a profession, it is a vocation.
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