After decades of pioneering research, Dr. Philip Wells is hanging up his lab coat, with his appointment as emeritus professor marking the culmination of a distinguished career.
The world-renowned hematologist and full professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine has built a career on venous thromboembolic research, or the study of potentially dangerous blood clots in the veins.
Many lives have been saved, and many patients brought profound relief, under his care.
A shining alumnus of the Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Wells earned his MD at the Faculty of Medicine, followed by specialty training in internal medicine. It was the beginning of a career of service, teaching and lifetime achievement—and an enduring influence on future generations of learners, colleagues and patients.
The title of emeritus professor is one of the University's highest academic honours, recognizing retired faculty members whose careers have been marked by exceptional contributions to scholarship, education and service.
In 2024, Dr. Wells was honoured with an Alumni Award of Distinction from the Faculty: the Exceptional Leadership Award, for his professional excellence, leadership and dedication to the community.
The Faculty also bestowed on Dr. Wells a Lifetime Achievement Award, an Outstanding Service Award, and in 2020, the Chair in Translational and AI Research in Venous Thromboembolic Diseases.
Among countless other honours, awards and distinctions over the years, he received a 2026 Esteemed Career Award from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) in recognition of his exemplary scientific leadership, clinical excellence, mentorship and international collaborations that have helped shape the field.
“They have … caught the fever and passion of doing research in this area from those of us in Ottawa.”
Dr. Phil Wells
— On the impact of Ottawa’s thrombosis program on physicians around the world.
Practice-changing research
As a clinician-scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, Dr. Wells’ research has focused on practical solutions for solving everyday clinical problems, resulting in faster, safer and more accessible diagnosis and treatment for patients.
He is best known for developing his internationally used Wells Model to enable accurate diagnosis and thereby appropriate treatment. He has also championed the use of artificial intelligence to harness predictive analytics for faster diagnostics.
The Wells Model has been incorporated into clinical guidelines worldwide. Dr. Wells is proud of its success, hopeful that future research can improve the tool and expand its impact on patient outcomes.
Collaborative and mentorship-oriented
Dr. Wells’ keynote at the Faculty's inaugural Research Day in 2019 emphasized to participants that “mentorship is absolutely invaluable to career development”—advice he consistently modelled through his teaching and leadership.
A highly respected, talented and multi-skilled leader, Dr. Wells’ transparency and communication cemented trust in his strong leadership. As former director of the Hematology Training Program in the Faculty’s Postgraduate Education Program, he helped train and support generations of physicians and researchers.
Later, as Chair of the Department of Medicine for 12 years, he emphasized physician engagement, mentorship, training and development, with grants, publications and scholarly achievements swelling to record levels. His service on numerous academic and professional committees at the Faculty as well as The Ottawa Hospital and its Research Institute (OHRI) worked to align the three institutions and grow their clinical research profile.
A skilled leader and builder
Prior to his appointment as chair, Dr. Wells served as the head of the Division of Hematology within the Department, where he was instrumental in establishing Ottawa as a globally recognized leader in blood research.
Dr. Wells remarked in a recent interview with the ISTH that it has been “wonderful” to see the thrombosis program developed in Ottawa becoming a model around the world, training countless physicians.
“[They] have taken the gospel, if you like, of venous thromboembolism back to their centres, back to their countries, created units, caught the fever and passion of doing research in this area from those of us in Ottawa,” he explained.
Lasting contributions
Dr. Marc Carrier is a professor in the Division of Hematology and a senior scientist at OHRI. He and Dr. Wells designed a clinical trial in 2018 to test the use of blood thinners in cancer patients to stave off blood clots.
“Phil has always brought tremendous passion and energy to everything he does, constantly moving from one project or idea to the next,” says Dr. Carrier, who has worked with Dr. Wells for years. “But what has always impressed me most is his persistence and determination to keep pushing an idea forward, sometimes over many years, until it changes practice.”
“What has always impressed me most is [Dr. Wells'] persistence and determination to keep pushing an idea forward, sometimes over many years, until it changes practice.”
Dr. Marc Carrier
— Professor, uOttawa Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist, OHRI
Dr. Carrier says the enduring impact of Dr. Wells' work is extraordinary, highlighted by the daily use of the Wells Model in emergency departments around the world.
“The model has helped clinicians safely avoid unnecessary diagnostic imaging for millions of patients while preserving scarce health care resources,” he explains. “Very few researchers can say that their work has become so deeply embedded in everyday clinical care."
Dr. Wells may be retiring from the hallways of The Ottawa Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine, but coming right around the corner are those he has taught and inspired, filled with the same drive to improve outcomes for patients.
“Phil has opened new doors into the future of thromboembolic medicine,” says Dr. Carrier.
“His leadership has inspired so many to walk through that door with the anticipation of having just as great an impact.”
Dr. Phil Wells was appointed emeritus professor in September 2026. His legacy will be honoured through the Dr. Philip S. Wells Legacy Fund, which supports an annual visiting lectureship for the Department of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and The Ottawa Hospital held in honour of Dr. Wells and for the educational experience of health care professionals and trainees.
We wish him all the best in his retirement.