Thomas Wolever
DM, PhD
Qualification
- Research Fellow, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital (1983-1986)
- House Officer in Medicine to Drs. J Badenoch, TDR Hockaday, B Gribbin, Prof. D Grahame-Smith, and Dr. L Wollner, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England (1981)
- House Officer in Surgery to Mr. AJM Brodribb, FRCS, Devonport Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, England (1980-1981)
- DM, Medicine, Oxford University (1993)
- PhD, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto (1986)
- MA, Physiology, Oxford University (1980)
- BM, BCh, Oxford University Clinical Medical School (1980)
- MSc, Physiology, University Laboratory of Physiology (1978)
- BA, Physiology, Corpus Christi College, Oxford University (1976)
Other Academic and Clinical Appointments
Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Member of Active Medical Staff, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital
At a Glance
- Dr. Wolever is currently Principal Scientist and Medical Director of INQUIS Clinical Research (www.inquis.com) and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto.
- His research interests are the effects of dietary carbohydrates on human physiology and metabolism.
- Dr. Woelver is, perhaps, most well-known for his work on the glycemic index which was as first developed by Drs. David Jenkins and Wolever, along with other collaborators.
About Dr. Thomas Wolever
Dr. Wolever obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Oxford University, UK in 1980, a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto in 1986 and a Doctorate in Medicine from Oxford University in 1993. Dr. Wolever is currently Principal Scientist and Medical Director of INQUIS Clinical Research (www.inquis.com) and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto. While at the University, Dr. Wolever had the following cross appointments: Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Member of Active Medical Staff, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. His research interests are the effects of dietary carbohydrates on human physiology and metabolism. Dr. Woelver is, perhaps, most well-known for his work on the glycemic index which was as first developed by Drs. David Jenkins and Wolever, along with other collaborators, while Dr. Wolever was a medical student. Dr. Wolever has written or co-authored over 360 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and also authored a book entitled: The Glycaemic Index: A Physiological Classification of Dietary Carbohydrate published in 2006 by CABI (www.cabi.org). In 1997, Dr. Wolever founded GI Testing, Inc. to provide confidential GI testing services to industry. To cope with the high demand for GI testing and to enable a wider range of clinical research services to be provided, Glycemic Index Laboratories, was formed in 2004; a corporation of which Dr. Woelver was President. GI Labs changed its name to INQUIS in 2018 and was sold in 2021. More important than anything else, Dr. Wolever is married with 3 children aged 33, 31 and 24 years. He enjoys orienteering, cycling and recorder playing.
Research Synopsis
Dr. Wolever's major research interest has been to understand the physiological effects of dietary carbohydrates (sugars, starch and dietary fiber) on glucose and lipid metabolism and energy balance in humans, and to translate the knowledge gained into practical/clinical use.
Dr. Wolever retired in 2019 and has no plans to start any new research projects at the University.
Awards and Distinctions (Selected)
Robert H. Herman Memorial Award, American Society for Nutrition (2020)
Honorary Doctorate in Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Ottawa (2018)
Senior Sustained Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto (2014)
Outstanding Achievement Award, Canadian Diabetes Association (2000)
In the News
An Ode to Dr. Wolever. NutriNews (Department of Nutritional Sciences graduate student-led publication). Spring 2019.