Yves Clermontprofessor

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of a pioneer and long-time member of the McGill Faculty of Medicine family. Dr. Yves W. Clermont, Emeritus Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, passed away Friday, October 10, 2014, at the age of 88. In 1953, Drs. Yves Clermont and C.P. Leblond of McGill University published a seminal paper that first identified the stem cell renewal theory. Almost a year ago to this day, Dr. Clermont was honoured by McGill on October 18, 2013, as the histology laboratory located in the Strathcona Anatomy and Dentistry building was renamed in his honour. A fitting tribute, the newly renamed Dr. Yves Clermont Histology Lab is the place where Dr. Clermont spent decades as an educator, sharing his knowledge, passion and inspiration with countless McGill students. Born in Montreal, Yves Clermont received his BSc in Biology from Université de Montréal in 1949 and his PhD in Anatomical Sciences from McGill in 1953. His PhD thesis on spermatogenesis, performed under the supervision of Dr. Charles Leblond, is regarded as the founding work in the field of stem cells, a discovery that has influenced and served generations of scientists. After post-doctoral studies at the Collège de France in Paris, he returned to McGill as an Assistant Professor in 1956. He became a full Professor in 1963 and chaired the Department of Anatomy from 1975 to 1985. As a professor, Dr. Clermont exemplified the best of what education can be by showing his passion for the craft of teaching and his respect and compassion for his students. In 1990, he was the recipient of the Osler Award, the Faculty of Medicine’s top prize for outstanding teaching.