Although a general surgeon, Langer developed an expertise in liver, pancreas and biliary tract surgeries.
In that role, he established a recruitment methodology which allowed the development of subspeciality areas within general surgery.
The Canadian Association of General Surgeons has a Langer Lecture at its annual meeting.
In 2002, Langer was named an Officer in the Order of Canada[2] and in 2015 was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame(2).
Langer married Ryna Manson; the couple had four children including Jacob Langer, himself a notable general and paediatric surgeon and the former Chief of General and Thoracic Surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.