Holger Jens Schunemann MD, PhD, MSc, FRCPC

Holger Jens Schunemann, MD, PhD, MSc, FRCPC, is Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Humanitas University, Milan, Italy, and Director of the Residency Program in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. He was Chair of the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (formerly “Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics”) at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, widely considered the birthplace of evidence-based medicine.

He trained in internal medicine, epidemiology, and preventive medicine. He has authored or co-authored over 900 peer-reviewed publications and is among the top-cited scientists since 2015. He is chair and co-founder of the GRADE Working Group (book.GRADEpro.org) and advised governments on best practice and guideline projects, led or participated in numerous high-profile guideline panels, including at the WHO, the European Commission, the American Society of Hematology, the American College of Physicians, and the World Allergy Organization.

He is the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Guideline International Network, chair of the European Commission Initiative on Colorectal Cancer Working Group, and chair of several other committees. He was a key contributor to the revised methods for WHO guideline development beginning in 2006. His work also focuses on practical application of his work by researchers and clinicians through contributions to the guideline development tool (www.gradepro.org), the guideline checklist (heigrade.mcmaster.ca/guidecheck.html), and GRADE evidence to decision frameworks (www.decide-collaboration.eu), and creating the INGUIDE.org guideline training and certification program. Trying to maintain an active clinical practice fulfills his passion for patient care and ensures his research is people-oriented.