In Memory of Dr. Ian McWhinney

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

It is with sadness that the Department of Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, remembers the passing of Dr. Ian McWhinney on September 28, 2012 at the age of 85.

Dr. McWhinney was widely regarded as the "father of Canadian family medicine." He came to Canada from England in 1968 and became the first Professor of Family Medicine in Canada and the first Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Western.

Dr. McWhinney laid the groundwork for the establishment of Family Medicine as an academic discipline. He was the founder of the Graduate Studies Program in Family Medicine at Western in 1975.

In 1986 he founded the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine which is known worldwide for the quality of its research. He has been the author of over 100 papers and the widely acclaimed Textbook of Family Medicine, first published in 1989 and now in its third edition.

In honor of his work, Dr. McWhinney was named Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998 and was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2006.

The family and the Department of Family Medicine would like to encourage you to make a donation in Ian's name to the McWhinney Chair (currently held by Dr. Stewart Harris).

All donations are being directed to Foundation Western
Memorial cards are available along with pre stamped envelopes.
Foundation Western accepts credit cards, cheques and cash (however they prefer to receive cash only in person, not by mail or intercampus mail).

Donors can also make a donation online by visiting: http://www.givingtowestern.uwo.ca/howtogive/ and choosing "Memorial/Tribute Gift"
The donor fills out the online form and notes the gift is in memory of Ian McWhinney. Foundation Western is aware the gifts are being directed to the Ian McWhinney Chair in Family Medicine.