in memory of dr. david l. sackett (1934-2015)

david lawrence sackett, oc, md, frsc, frcp was an american-canadian physician, trialist, and teacher. he is best known as one of the pioneers of evidence-based medicine (ebm), which is arguably the most important movement in medicine over the past three decades. he founded the first clinical epidemiology department in mcmaster university in hamilton, canada in 1967. in addition, he was the head of the center for the evidence-based medicine in oxford, uk. he also was the first chair of cochrane collaboration and the first founding coeditor of the journal of evidence-based medicine and had many other honors. he published 12 books, 60 chapters in other books, and about 300 articles in scientific and medical journals. he died on may 13, 2015 at age 80 because of cholangiocarcinoma. while dr. sackett will be missed by his friends, colleagues, mentees as well as ebm proponents and followers all over the world, his contributions to ebm in particular, and to medicine in general will never be forgotten.