Dr. Peter Rosenbaum, a researcher and professor of pediatrics, has received the inaugural Dr. Peter B. Dent Memorial Research Impact Fund, an award that honours the legacy of the late Dr. Peter Dent, the visionary founder of McMaster Children’s Hospital.  

The fund is dedicated to bolstering the work of physician-researchers within McMaster University’s Department of Pediatrics who exhibit a commitment to collaborative efforts resulting in enhanced healthcare outcomes for children. 

The announcement was made at the 2023 Dr. Peter B. Dent Memorial Lecture, an annual event that stands as a testament to excellence in pediatric care, research, education, and leadership. 

“I knew, worked with, and really loved Peter,” Rosenbaum said. “He was creative and imaginative and was very supportive of many of the things we were trying to do, including those aimed at addressing childhood disability.” 

Rosenbaum’s tenure as a prolific researcher and a member of the Department of Pediatrics, which began in 1984, has spanned more than four decades. He has played a pivotal role in advancing child health research, with a primary focus on childhood disability.

Since co-founding the CanChild Centre for Disability Research in 1989, Rosenbaum has led research teams in developing innovative programs and resources that improve the well-being of children and their families. He was an early advocate for involving families as essential partners in health research. 

Gita Wahi, Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Pediatrics, praised Rosenbaum’s transformative work, stating, “Peter has shifted the paradigm, giving voice to families’ joy and pride in their children and hope for a fulfilling future. His efforts with CanChild have resulted in meaningful knowledge translation products including freely available tools and resources accessible to families and service providers around the world.”  

Rosenbaum’s leadership at CanChild has resulted in publications and guidelines related to childhood disability that have been embraced globally as benchmarks for care. These resources continue to evolve, opening new avenues for research and clinical applications.