As we celebrate 15 years of MitoCanada, we’re sharing the stories of those who make this community so special. It’s a pleasure to share Dr. Tarnopolsky’s story with you.
15 Stories for 15 Years: Meet Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky
As we celebrate 15 years of MitoCanada, we’re sharing the stories of those who make this community so special. Today, we’re highlighting Dr. @Mark Tarnopolsky — a pioneering clinician-scientist whose contributions have shaped mitochondrial medicine in Canada and beyond.
Dr. Tarnopolsky is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at McMaster University and the Division Head of Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Disorders at McMaster Children’s Hospital. He also holds the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation Chair in Neuromuscular Disorders and is the CEO and CSO of @Exerkine Corporation.
His connection to MitoCanada goes all the way back to the very beginning. “I first became aware of this group when @Blaine Penny reached out to me and stayed at my place for the inaugural meeting in Hamilton 15 years ago,” recalls Dr. Tarnopolsky. “I didn’t know he was such a good runner — he came on our usual Saturday morning two-hour trail run and had no problem keeping up! I’ve had many wonderful runs with Blaine over the years.”
Reflecting on that first meeting, Dr. Tarnopolsky says it still stands out as one of the most meaningful moments in his journey with MitoCanada. “It was the beginning of such a great organization,” he shares.
Since then, Dr. Tarnopolsky has witnessed the profound impact MitoCanada has made. “MitoCanada has provided massive awareness of the disorder and support for families,” he says. “They’ve also provided seed funding for important research projects that have led to great advancements in therapy.”
Looking to the future, Dr. Tarnopolsky hopes to see MitoCanada continue expanding its support and impact. “I hope the organization continues its great support for patients and reaches an even higher level of support for mitochondrial disease therapies,” he says. And his greatest hope for the mito community in the next 15 years? “Universal and free access to effective therapies,” he says.
Today, we honour Dr. Tarnopolsky’s contributions to the field and his dedication to the MitoCommunity.
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