Dr. Dhalla proud to represent WPG, South Asian community on world stage

WINNIPEG, MB - For many people, the Winnipeg Jets are one of the most iconic symbols of the city. In the science community though, Winnipeg is perhaps more well-known for being a hub for cardiovascular research, thanks in large part to the work or Dr. Naranjan Dhalla.

Dr. Dhalla is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba and Director of Cardiovascular Developments at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre whose cardiovascular research is world-renowned and whose achievements are too numerous to mention. Among them, however, is his pivotal role as a founding leader of two worldwide cardiovascular science organizations - the International Society of Heart Research and the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences - which have incorporated many countries into the ongoing work of securing advanced cardiovascular knowledge and health worldwide.
With the Jets celebrating South Asian Heritage Night at their Feb. 11 game, no celebration of South Asian culture and community members in Winnipeg would be complete without Dr. Dhalla, who will be one of four people honoured through a ceremonial puck drop at the game.

Originally from Ghanieke, Punjab, India, Dr. Dhalla moved from India to North America at the age of 25 -arriving in Pennsylvania where he completed his Master of Science and Ph.D.
"When I came to North America, I had a tough time with the language and communicating with people. Where I could connect with others was through using my smarts and choosing to serve people," he recalled of his choice to pursue a career in the health sciences. "In order to serve people, though, I of course had to have my own credibility and had to work very hard."
Following his studies, he served as Assistant Professor at St. Louis University for two years, before being offered a position to establish a heart centre in Canada that brought him to Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba in 1968 where he has been working in experimental cardiology for the past 54 years.
"I wanted to make Winnipeg a mecca for cardiovascular medicine, and I wanted to serve people of the international community," Dr. Dhalla noted. "My time at the University of Manitoba has been wonderful, as they've allowed me to do what I've needed to do to promote cardiovascular research here and around the world."

Dr. Dhalla has managed to do exactly that, and the stats surrounding his career certainly attest to it.
He hasn't been racking up goals and assists like Jets fans are accustomed to tracking, but he's amassed mind-blowing numbers all the same. He's published 867 full-length papers and reviews and 645 abstracts. His research has been cited more than 33,150 times. He's edited and authored 65 books. He's trained 166 fellows and students who are now conducting independent research around the world. He's received 212 honours and awards ranging from the Order of Canada, to being chosen as the second greatest Manitoban of all-time, to being inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. He's been invited to speak at 542 national and international conferences and academic institutions.
It was at one of those conferences where he saw the reaches of his own work and the reach of the Winnipeg Jets overlap in the least likely of spots.
"In 1974, I traveled to Kazakhstan for a lecture on heart disease. After delivering the lecture, one of the attendants approached me and asked if I knew Bobby Hull. I was naturally delighted to find someone on the other side of the globe who knew about Hull and the Winnipeg Jets. Every city has landmarks, and it was clear then that the Jets are the insignia of Winnipeg."

Dr. Dhalla hasn't just been an advocate for cardiovascular health, though. He's been integral in promoting South Asian culture in Winnipeg as an integral member in establishing the Punjab Cultural Centre - a building that offers the South Asian community a place to celebrate and connect to their culture - and the India Canada Cultural & Heritage Association that seeks to mentor young people and provide scholarships.
It all stems from that passion for serving others that has driven him to not only serve countless people by advancing knowledge of cardiovascular health, but to serve the South Asian and Winnipeg communities as a tremendous ambassador.