Dr. John Marshall is a renowned gastroenterologist, educator and researcher at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences Hospital who focuses on personalized care for those with Crohn’s or colitis, which has earned him the 2024 Physician of the Year Award from Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.
“When it comes to delivering care, there is no substitute for compassion, patience and empathy,” he says. “I am a big believer in the ‘nothing for them without them’, making sure I understand each patient’s concerns, and involving each one in all treatment decisions. Establishing the right dynamic with someone living with Crohn’s or colitis does not just build trust, but improves health outcomes.”
Dr. Marshall also stays connected to his patients between episodes of care. He is known to personally follow up with them outside clinic hours, to be available for urgent consultations, and to give much-needed guidance to those going through difficult times.
He ensures patients access the latest treatments and resources available while also advocating for increased research funding and for awareness of the impact of Crohn’s and colitis on Canadian families.
“It’s incumbent on the gastroenterology community to be as active as possible in raising our voices on behalf of those we serve every day,” he says. “I want each patient to have the best chance at long lasting remission and the best possible quality of life.”
On the research front, Dr. Marshall has long been focused on optimizing and individualizing therapies. He has contributed to more than 300 publications, led many clinical studies, and served as a scientific advisor to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. He earned the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) Young Investigator Award in 2008 and served as inaugural Editor in Chief of the Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology among his many distinctions.
He helps ensure that compassionate and personalised medicine will continue for years to come as a professor and mentor at McMaster University where he works to equip young physicians with tools and knowledge to sustain a high level of care.
Dr. Marshall becomes the eighth Canadian to be named Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Physician of the Year for his commitment to each patient through three decades.