Our esteemed Juror Dr. Simon Sutcliffe and the Dr. Rogers Prize – a catalyst for cultural change in medicine

For over 15 years, Dr. Simon Sutcliffe has served as a juror for the Dr. Rogers Prize, witnessing firsthand the transformation of healthcare from a field resistant to alternative healing methods to one that increasingly embraces integrated approaches to patient care. His perspective, shaped by decades in clinical oncology and work across multiple continents, offers a unique window into how medicine is evolving.

From Resistance to Recognition

Dr. Sutcliffe’s journey began over 40  years ago when Canada’s health institutions were “not particularly receptive to so-called complementary and alternative medicine.”

Yet something remarkable has happened over the past two decades. Today, organizations that were polar opposites to each other, actively collaborate, and share patients through referrals, and work together in ways that would have seemed impossible even a decade ago.

The Evolution of the Dr. Rogers Prize

As medicine has evolved, so too has the Dr. Rogers Prize. Dr. Sutcliffe has been instrumental in guiding this transformation, moving the award beyond its original focus on recognizing practitioners who faced hostility for their alternative approaches.

“That is an outdated concept now,” he explains. “The field of medicine has moved past being adamantly opposed. Minds are now opening up more to the fact that patients heal in different ways – through Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, spirituality – that patients have belief systems rooted in what heals them, not in how you categorize the medicine.”

What the Prize Really Recognizes

For potential nominees hoping to be considered for the Dr. Rogers Prize, Dr. Sutcliffe offers clear guidance: the award isn’t about research achievements, publications, or accolades. Instead, it recognizes “a level of commitment and personal belief to what causes people to heal and to experience well-being.”

He looks for evidence of “long sustained belief system” and genuine commitment to changing how healthcare approaches healing and patient well-being. It’s about practitioners who embody a philosophy of care that goes beyond treating symptoms to embracing the full spectrum of human healing.

Measuring Impact: Culture Change Over Individual Outcomes

When asked about measuring the impact of the Dr. Rogers Prize, Dr. Sutcliffe provides a profound insight that challenges conventional thinking about healthcare metrics. Rather than focusing on individual patient outcomes, the prize’s true value lies in its “societal value” – its ability to change the culture of medicine itself.

“The real value of the Roger Rogers Award is changing how society thinks about interventions for the well-being of the population,” he explains. “Over the nearly past two decades of the Dr. Rogers Award, the culture has changed. There has been acceptance of alternative forms of healing beyond biomedicine. There has been recognition of the importance of health, well-being and quality of life as endpoints in their own right.”

This cultural shift represents something far more significant than any single treatment outcome. It’s about transforming how we conceptualize health, healing, and the relationship between healthcare providers and patients.

Honouring Dr. Rogers’ Vision

Dr. Sutcliffe believes that Dr. Rogers himself would be “very pleased” with how healthcare has evolved. As a UBC medical graduate and practitioner, Dr. Rogers “fundamentally believed that listening to patients and hearing what they value and what they aspire to was part of the healing process.”

This vision of collaborative care – where patients are active participants in determining their healthcare priorities rather than passive recipients of treatment – has gradually become mainstream. The confrontational period between conventional medicine and alternative approaches that characterized earlier decades has given way to a more integrated understanding of healing.

Looking Forward 

As the Dr. Rogers Prize continues to evolve, it serves as both a recognition of pioneering individuals and a catalyst for ongoing cultural change in healthcare. The award represents a future where healing is understood in its fullest sense – encompassing not just the biological, but the psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions of human well-being.

The transformation Dr. Sutcliffe has witnessed over his 15 years as a juror offers hope for a healthcare system that truly puts patients at the centre.

Our Gratitude

Thank you, Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, for your generosity and time serving as a juror for the Dr. Rogers Prize, and your ongoing commitment to improving healthcare for all Canadians.