2024 Ceremony and Lecture

Dr. Gabor Maté receives SFU’s Sterling Prize for work exploring the links between past trauma and illness  

Dr. Gabor Maté 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’s Downtown Eastside, Maté has spent three decades espousing the mind-body connection and the links between past trauma and illness, including addiction. 

Maté 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. 

“From my perspective, my work is not in the least controversial,” says Maté. “I 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.” 

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’s Canadian non-fiction best seller list for Aug. 31, 2024, featured four of Mate’s books, including some that were published more than 20 years ago. His new book, “The Myth of Normal”, written with his son Daniel, spent 19 weeks on the New York Times best sellers list. 

“What keeps me motivated is very simple,” says Maté, who admits that despite the popularity of his message, acceptance within the medical community is slow. “I 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. 

“People need the truth. And, you know, if nobody ever paid attention, I might have given up a long time ago.” 

The Sterling Prize Ceremony and Lecture with Dr. Gabor Maté 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.