McWhinney Memorial

The late Dr. Ian McWhinney, known as the Father of Family Medicine was honoured by family, friends and colleagues at a special memorial service on November 30, 2012 at St. Paul's Cathedral. His daughters Heather and Julie, shared reminiscences of their father illustrating his warmth and love. Meanwhile academic and clinical colleagues from as far away as the United Kingdom and Japan recalled his humanity, generosity and humility.

As the founder of the first Department of Family Medicine at Western University and the first Chair of Family Medicine in Canada, Ian McWhinney will always be remembered through the McWhinney Teaching Award presented to a faculty member identified each year by the graduating class of residents and the McWhinney Chair of Family Medicine Studies.

His legacy will live on through the clinical and scholarly work undertaken through patient-centered medicine and patient-focused research. Through his example and his writings we are reminded of the necessity to rise above the merely technical mastery of medicine; to nurture what Robertson Davies referred to as the 'breadth of spirit' that identifies the first-rate healer.