Dr. Dennis Modry is a retired cardiothoracic surgeon who helped shape modern heart and lung transplantation in western Canada. Dr. Dennis Modry joined the University of Alberta’s medical staff in 1984 and was part of the team for 30 years. He directed the medical center’s Heart and Lung Transplantation program and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit for 23 years.
Under his leadership, the University of Alberta’s heart and lung transplantation program achieved several milestones, including western Canada’s first heart transplant in July 1985, first combined heart and lung transplant in December 1989, and first double lung transplant in November 1990. The program grew to become the largest and most successful in Canada. Dr. Modry also published extensively, focusing on therapeutic strategies for reducing mortality in heart and lung transplantation, as well as cardiovascular surgery.
Dr. Modry contributed to several hospital committees and successive Alberta Conservative Governments Finance Committees. He sat on the boards of public companies, and was CEO of Ceapro Inc. and director of Briana-Biotech. His contributions earned him national recognition, including the Vanier Award, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, and the Alberta Centennial Medal. Now retired, he remains active through the nonprofit he chairs, Alberta Prosperity Society.
Dr. Modry earned his BSc and MD at the University of Alberta before advancing his surgical and critical care training at McGill University. He later pursued specialized postdoctoral work in transplantation immunology and cardiovascular surgery at Stanford University.