Dr. Michael Kramer is a distinguished James McGill Professor Emeritus whose pioneering contributions have fundamentally shaped the field of maternal and child health epidemiology. He holds joint appointments in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and the Department of Pediatrics at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine, where he has maintained academic excellence for over four decades. Previously serving as Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health from 2003 to 2011, he established himself as a leading authority in perinatal epidemiology through rigorous methodological approaches. His academic journey includes directing the Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre from 2013 to 2018, and he received continuous salary support from Canadian health research agencies for 25 years from 1982 to 2007.
Dr. Kramer's landmark Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT) represents one of the most influential studies in pediatric epidemiology, with his systematic review of optimal exclusive breastfeeding duration directly catalyzing new infant feeding recommendations by the World Health Organization and World Health Assembly in 2001. His extensive research on perinatal population health trends has significantly contributed to contemporary guidelines reducing unnecessary labor induction and prelabor caesarean delivery before 39 completed weeks, resulting in measurable declines in preterm and early term births across North America. With an impressive scholarly output exceeding 500 original research articles and 20 books, his work on the causes and prevention of preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and determinants of fetal and infant mortality has informed global health policy. The profound impact of his research is evidenced by his recognition among the most impactful 0.01% of researchers worldwide across all scientific fields.
Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2011, Dr. Kramer further cemented his standing in the epidemiological community by receiving the American College of Epidemiology's Abraham Lilienfeld Award for Overall Excellence in Epidemiology in 2016, becoming only the third Canadian to receive this prestigious honor. His leadership extends beyond research as he has mentored numerous scholars and shaped research agendas through his influential roles at major health research institutions. Dr. Kramer continues to contribute to the field as Professor Emeritus, maintaining his position as the S. Shan Ratnam Visiting Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the National University of Singapore. His enduring legacy lies in establishing evidence-based practices that have improved maternal and child health outcomes globally, demonstrating the profound real-world impact of rigorous epidemiological research.
