In Memoriam
Dr Pierre Limoges
Dr Angus Munn
Dr Isaac Uy
Dr Pierre Limoges
|
The The department of Anesthesiology at the University of Montreal recently remembered Dr Pierre Limoges and his contributions as a teacher, in the June 2003 issue of SARBACANE, their departemental newsletter.
As a colleague of 30 years, I am taking this opportunity to write about Pierre's career. Dr Limoges was not a man of ambition, nor did he have a planned out career path. He was a hardworking, loyal man devoted to one cause: the promotion of teaching and anesthesiology based on solid scientific knowledge.
After 4 years of practicing family medicine in Sept-Îles, Québec, Pierre decided to specialize in anesthesia at the University of Montreal. He was known by his professors for his empathy, his exceptional clinical judgement, his curiosity, his ability to use his knowledge and his outstanding working capacity. At the end of his residency, the University of Montreal hospital wanted to recruit him. After an internship in Paris studying surgical intensive care, he started his career at the Saint-Justine Hospital in 1978.
He actively participated in the teaching and the administration of the hospital and university. From 1980 to 1990 he was an examiner and president of the Evaluation Committee of the Royal College. Then, from 1985 to 1990, he was a member of the Committee on Specialties of the Royal College. He was a coordinator of the intensive care unit at the Sainte-Justine Hospital from 1988 to 1994. This allowed him to share his knowledge withe residents of all disciplines, his colleagues in other specialties and the other professionals with whom he worked. His talents as a teacher were recognized by the pediatric residents, who voted him teacher of the year.
In 1988, he joined the Board of Directors of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society and became president in 1995. In 1999, he became chair of the pediatric section. He even found the time to take on the responsibilities of president of the public relations committee for the 12th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists.
At the hospital, he occupied the position of president of the Conseil des médecins, dentistes et pharmaciens from 1983 to 1985 and that of the Chief of the department of anesthesiology from 1992 to 1997.
As well as being very hardworking, Pierre's extraordinary interpersonal skills allowed him to develop and maintain a circle of friends and colleagues wherever he went. Dr Limoges was also well known and respected in the field of pediatric anesthesiology locally and throughout Canada. Because of his excellent interpersonal skills, Pierre was our worldwide liaison.
Dr Pierre Limoges was not a researcher, but was always open and curious about new ideas. He was always devoted to teaching and in this area he excelled daily, both clinically and theoretically. He was always aware of the most up-to-date information, applied this knowledge to his practice and shared it with his students and colleagues of all specialties. All of his publications are found in the form of chapters in books and their influence is felt over the world. Pierre taught almost every member of the department and the quality of his teaching is felt in each of us in one way or another. His final presence at the hospital was between treatments giving a course to residents. As professors, we can all hold up Pierre as our role model.
Jean Charest MD, FRCPC
Photo: François Roy
Dr Angus Munn
|
Dr Angus Munn of Edmonton died in the early hours of May 3, 2003 at the age of 64 after a courageous battle with cancer. His loss is felt deeply by his family, his wife Sandi and his five children in Calgary as well as his eleven grandchildren. One sister and his nieces and nephews also survive him.
Few men have achieved what Angus did in his lifetime. His military career began when he joined the Black Watch as a private solider at the age of 16 (having successfully lied about his age). During his time as a regular soldier, he became the first diver in the army, and for a time, was a bomb disposal expert. He suffered injuries as a result of this activity. He left the army to study medicine at the University of Calgary, where he also completed his anesthesia residency, receiving his Fellowship in 1979. He practiced anesthesia in Calgary until 1988 and on moving to Edmonton continued his practice at the University of Alberta and Sturgeon Community Hospitals. He was a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary until 1988, and then at the University of Alberta until his death. He served as President of the Alberta Division of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.
During his university education, he served in the Canadian Army Reserve. He continued to do so after university, completing his Reserve career as the Commanding Officer of 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion. In 1991, he became the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 15 Medical Company, subsequently becoming the Honorary Colonel until 2002. During this period he qualified as a flight surgeon and a pilot. He was passionate about flying. He served briefly as a Colonel in the Canadian Forces medical Services in Bosnia in 1994. In 1997, he was appointed Honorary Physician to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.
Angus was very active in community life, with a wide variety of interests. He served with St. John Ambulance in both Calgary and Edmonton and was the Provincial Medical Officer for Alberta. He was made an Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, and became the Bailiff and Grand Councillor of the order.
Angus lived his life to the fullest, with enthusiasm, passion and a strong sense of duty. His sense of curiosity led him to many new areas of interest and to new friends. His and Sandi's hospitality was open-handed and openhearted, the stuff of legends. His was a life well lived.
Many of his friends and colleagues celebrated his life at a memorial service followed by a wake (complete with some of Angus's fine scotch whiskey) on May 17, 2003.
Dr Robert Seal MD, FRCPC FRCPC
Dr Isaac Uy
|
Dr Uy ("Ike") was born in Manila, Philippines on August 25, 1931. His younger years and perhaps some of his personal views were influenced by the Japanese occupation during the Second World War. His accounts of living and surviving under those circumstances were highly descriptive and deeply imbedded in his psyche. Subsequent to those experiences he successfully completed formal education leading to an MD degree from Saint Thomas University, Manila: a premiere university of the Phillipines.
In the mid-1950s Ike emigrated to Canada, arriving in Toronto with a close friend to attend the University of Toronto for specialty training in anesthesia. I recall a photo of them deplaning an aircraft dressed in long fur coats in the middle of the summer at Toronto airport! After that notable arrival, Ike quickly adapted to his new surroundings and progressed effortlessly and enthusiastically to successfully complete certification in anesthesia in 1962. Some of his fondest memories of those years were the valuable instruction and personal associations developed especially at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Toronto East General Hospital. During this time, he supplemented his income by working as an amateur photographer, a distinctive talent that he fostered and maintained throughout his life. He also met and married Molly Swales of Midland, Ontario who over their many years together was a dedicated wife. Among her many talents, were here exquisite cooking and culinary delights that would exceed any commercial establishment and that Ike would ravenously devour while offering his critical appreciation.
In 1962, Ike, Molly and their first child, Elizabeth came to Saint John, New Brunswick where Ike had accepted a position of Clinical Fellow in Anesthesia while awaiting the opportunity to sit the oral examinations in anesthesia. It was there that I, as a rotating intern from Dalhousie Medical School in Halifax, Nova Scotia first met him and thus began a life-long friendship with a truly unique individual. Over the next 20 plus years, Ike was a member first of the Department of Anesthesia of the Saint John General Hospital and later at the Saint John Regional Hospital as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia affiliated with the Department of Anesthesia of Dalhousie University in Halifax. To those of us who knew him professionally and personally, Ike was an exceptionally talented and intelligent colleague and friend. Surgeons adored him for his talents, his personality and his consistent work ethic. His generosity was legend to those that knew him. His conversations were stimulating and challenging. His knowledge, interests and personal endeavours in a myriad of hobbies and pursuits were well known, and he was a source of expert advice and generous service to anyone who asked.
In 1985, after many years of anesthesia practice in Saint John, Ike and his family
moved to Sudbury, Ontario in 1985. He continued an illustrious career in anesthesia until ill health forced him to discontinue practice in October 2000. His admirable characteristics flourished even more with new colleagues and friends. Ill health continued to take its toll and later he was unable to engage in any of his fondest interests. He remained a true and appreciative friend. He died on June 19, 2003. He will be sadly missed but never forgotten. He is survived by his wife, Molly; daughter, Elizabeth (husband: Peter Linder); sons, Christopher and Anthony; grandchildren, Hillary, Kelsi, Samuel (children of Christopher and Kathy (Johnston) Uy, Cooper and Boston (children of Anthony and Nancy (Heidman) Uy, siblings, Naty of Toronto (husband, John Germain) and 10 other siblings in Manila.
David Rideout, MD
|
CAS Privacy Policy