Jean-Luc Senécal, professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Montreal, received the title of master from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). This is one of the most prestigious distinctions awarded by the organization. This title is awarded to ACR members who have distinguished themselves through their remarkable contributions, whether through their work or their commitment to the profession and their patients and students.
The 2024 Master Awards ceremony took place in Washington DC on November 15, at the ACR annual conference.
“This international recognition would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the Department of Medicine of UdeM, the Rheumatology Department of the CHUM and the CHUM Research Center throughout my professorial career,” said Dr.r Senécal.
A pioneer of rheumatology in Quebec
Recognized for his work on systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, Dr Senécal left its mark on rheumatology in Quebec and Canada for four decades.
In 1983, he founded the Connectivity Clinic and the Autoimmunity Research Laboratory at the CHUM, which today are reference centers.
His scientific contributions include more than 157 publications, including 40 in the official journal of the ACR, Arthritis & Rheumatology. His research, funded to the tune of $5.2 million, has enabled significant advances in the understanding of scleroderma, lupus and autoimmune myositis.
His commitment to patients led him to co-edit the work Lupus: The Disease with a Thousand Faces (Lupus: the disease with a thousand faces) and to support the creation of Scleroderma Québec (1989). He was the first holder of the Scleroderma Research Chair at the University of Montreal (2003-2023).
His influence on teaching is considerable: he has trained 77 residents, which represents almost half of the rheumatologists currently practicing in Quebec.
As president of the Canadian Rheumatology Society (SCR), he contributed to its rebirth in the 1990s. His achievements have earned him several distinctions, including the Career Merit Award awarded by the Association of Rheumatologists of Quebec (2020 ) and the SCR “Master” prize (2020).
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