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Dr. Gabor Mat茅 receives SFU鈥檚 Sterling Prize for work exploring the links between past trauma and illness  

Dr. Gabor Mat茅 is the 2024 recipient of the Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy, in recognition of his work exploring the links between trauma and health and championing the concept of trauma-informed healing.

A retired family physician who worked for years treating addiction in Vancouver鈥檚 Downtown Eastside, Mat茅 has spent three decades espousing the mind-body connection and the links between past trauma and illness, including addiction. 

Mat茅 has written five books on trauma-informed healing and the relationship between trauma, addiction and mental illness. His work has been published in 43 different languages and his books have sold almost four million copies. He regularly goes on speaking tours, sharing his ideas with packed audiences around the world.鈥�

鈥淔rom my perspective, my work is not in the least controversial,鈥� says Mat茅. 鈥淚 mean, when it comes to actual science. I talk about the fact that the mind and the body can't be separated, and that emotions have a huge role to play in health and illness.鈥濃��

Thirty years in, his work continues to have impact. In addition to his sold-out speaking tours, he gets emails daily, thanking him for his work. The Globe and Mail鈥檚 Canadian non-fiction best seller list for Aug. 31, 2024, featured four of Mate鈥檚 books, including some that were published more than 20 years ago. His new book, 鈥淭he Myth of Normal鈥�, written with his son Daniel, spent 19 weeks on the New York Times best sellers list.鈥�

鈥淲hat keeps me motivated is very simple,鈥� says Mat茅, who admits that despite the popularity of his message, acceptance within the medical community is slow. 鈥淚 just love looking for the truth, you know? Which doesn't mean I'm always right, but I just want to know what's going on. 

鈥淧eople need the truth. And, you know, if nobody ever paid attention, I might have given up a long time ago.鈥濃��

The Sterling Prize Ceremony and Lecture with Dr. Gabor Mat茅 will be held Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at the Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema. 

The lecture will be followed by a reception, which all attendees are invited to join. This event is free and open to all.