Julio Montaner, Professor in the Department of Medicine and Head of the UBC Division of AIDS, has been appointed a University Killam Professor, the highest honor UBC can confer on a faculty member.
Dr. Montaner, who also is the Director of the UBC/Providence Health Care BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, receives this recognition for his outstanding teaching, research and service to the community.
The University Killam Professorship recognizes exceptional teachers and researchers who are leaders in their fields, and who have received international recognition for their talents and efforts. A University Killam Professor will continue to hold the designation for as long as he or she remains a tenured faculty member at the university.
Dr. Montaner established the global standard of care for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention and he continues to provide leadership in the international HIV/AIDS research community. He has dedicated the last 30 years of his life to improving the care and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS, helping establish the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and pioneering “Treatment as Prevention” to decrease morbidity, mortality and HIV transmission.
Dr. Montaner received his MD with Honours in 1979 at the University of Buenos Aires. In 1981, he joined UBC as a postdoctoral fellow, completed a residency in Internal Medicine and Respiratory Medicine and was Chief Resident for the Department of Medicine.
In 1987, Dr. Montaner joined the Faculty as the Director of the AIDS Research Program and the Infectious Disease Clinic. He has held the Endowed Chair on AIDS Research at St. Paul’s Hospital/UBC since 1996. In 1997, he was appointed Professor of Medicine at UBC.