In 1949, Henry Shimizu was granted full citizenship rights and became one of the first Japanese Canadians to practise medicine in Canada. Specializing in plastic surgery, he served with distinction for three decades as a teacher and researcher at the University of Alberta and was president of the University of Alberta Hospital's medical staff where he co-founded a burn-treatment centre. Over the years, he has supported many organizations through his voluntary service, including the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation, where he served as chair.