Louise Taylor, BScN ’82

Recipient of the Health Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award

Louise Taylor has had a distinguished career in pediatric nursing. For 36 years, she worked at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, dedicating herself to the respiratory medicine department, with a specialized focus on cystic fibrosis.

Throughout her career, Louise played a pivotal role in advancing the understanding and treatment of cystic fibrosis. She worked closely with the research team that helped identify the cystic fibrosis gene in 1989. Over the years, she continued to contribute to research and clinical advancements. Her dedication to the education and support of families improved the lives of countless children and adults affected by the disease.

Among her many achievements, Louise was instrumental in establishing newborn screening for cystic fibrosis in Ontario, a crucial step in early diagnosis and treatment. She established the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Nurses Interest Group to bring together the clinical nursing teams from across the country to share and enhance the practice of cystic fibrosis nursing. She also wrote and contributed to many professional publications and spoke around the world at national and international conferences.  

In 2012, Louise was honoured with the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her exceptional contributions to the field.

Even after retiring in 2018, Louise continues to make a difference in the community, working with Cystic Fibrosis Canada to fundraise and educate the public. Her lifelong dedication to helping young families navigate the medical system, improving the lives of children with this fatal chronic illness, and celebrating the advent of transformative new drugs, has left an enduring legacy of hope and progress.