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David Moher grew up in Dublin, Ireland, where his teachers were convinced that he would not amount to much.

In elementary school, Moher struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia, a learning disorder that made it impossible for him to decipher the patterns of language. It wasn’t until he was 13 years old that he began to read and write after a headmaster recognized the dramatic disparity between his math and English marks, and sent him for tests that would give a name to his learning disability.

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“I spent many, many days in the dunce’s corner,” remembers Moher, 58. “I think the teachers thought I was a challenge sent by the devil … They were not themselves particularly educated about learning disabilities.”

Moher has overcome his literacy deficits — and those who doubted him — in spectacular fashion. Now a senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and a University of Ottawa research chair, Moher will be honoured Saturday evening at a hospital gala with the Dr. J. David Grimes career achievement award.