David Sackett was a pioneering clinical epidemiologist and the founding father of evidence-based medicine who transformed medical practice through rigorous scientific methodology. Born in Chicago in 1934, he earned his bachelor's degree from Lawrence College in 1956 and established himself as a visionary leader in medical research methodology at McMaster University in Canada. He founded the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University, creating the institutional framework for evidence-based clinical practice. Demonstrating remarkable intellectual humility, Sackett undertook a two-year residency program in internal medicine at age 49 to refresh his clinical skills despite being a full professor. His innovative approach to medical education and research laid the groundwork for modern evidence-based clinical decision-making worldwide.
Dr. Sackett's most significant contribution was the development of systematic methods for critically appraising medical literature, which became the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine. He pioneered the explicit methodology for assessing published research through his influential series of articles on how to read clinical journals, revolutionizing how clinicians evaluate scientific evidence. His seminal textbook Clinical Epidemiology A Basic Science for Clinical Medicine established the theoretical foundation for integrating epidemiological methods with clinical practice. Sackett's work catalyzed a paradigm shift in medical decision-making, moving from tradition-based practice to evidence-informed care that has improved patient outcomes globally. The widespread adoption of evidence-based medicine across healthcare systems represents one of the most significant transformations in modern medical practice.
Beyond his methodological contributions, Sackett was instrumental in developing McMaster University's innovative problem-based learning medical curriculum, which has been adopted by medical schools worldwide including most Australian institutions. His legacy continues through clinicians and researchers trained in evidence-based methods who now populate academic medical centers globally. Known for his legendary sense of humor and non-conformist attitude, Sackett paid homage to his literary hero Kurt Vonnegut by listing the fictional character Kilgore Trout as a corresponding author and naming his research center after him. Though Dr. Sackett passed away in 2015, his intellectual framework for evidence-based practice remains the gold standard in clinical decision-making, continuing to shape medical education and practice across generations of healthcare professionals.
