Wendy MACDONALD

MACDONALD, Wendy Ann
MD FRCP
[née Hendry]
October 21, 1944 - August 28, 2015
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Wendy MacDonald, who died peacefully on August 28 with family members at her side. She leaves to mourn her beloved husband Barry, and her two cherished children, Jessica [Neil Forchuk] and John [Marie-Helene Foucault]. She was known as 'Nanny' to three precious grandchildren, Beatrice, Benjamin, and Tristan, whose constant presence the past few years gave her the will to stay alive. Dr. MacDonald was a graduate of McGill University Medical School, and she completed her specialty training in Pediatrics at the Montreal Children's Hospital. She obtained Specialty Certification in Pediatrics from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Within weeks of finishing her training, she was appointed Director of Undergraduate Education in Pediatrics, a position she held for 35 years. This appointment marked the beginning of a consummate interest in medical education which spanned her entire career. She had the responsibility of developing and managing the educational curriculum in Pediatrics for every senior McGill medical student, each of whom spent 8 weeks at the Montreal Children's, to learn the basic academic and clinical skills of caring for ill children. She organized their program, wrote all their summative evaluations, counselled them on career plans, and spent many hours teaching them both in the clinical setting and the classroom. As much as she loved clinical medicine, the mentoring and teaching of the students became her passion. In the Faculty of Medicine at McGill, "The Osler Award is presented on an annual basis to a Professor who, in the opinion of the senior medical students has made the most outstanding contribution to their medical education. It is the highest award for distinction in medical student teaching". Dr. MacDonald received the Osler Award on 4 occasions. 1989, 2001, 2006, and 2008. From 1982 through 1989, Dr. MacDonald was Associate Dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs. She was intimately involved in curricular matters for the entire 4 year program and she counselled hundreds of students per year on academic and personal matters. In 1992 Dr. MacDonald developed a program to monitor and evaluate the performance of the 1150 Residents and Fellows in all post-graduate training programs in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill. She wrote the document providing the rules and regulations which govern the evaluation and promotion of these Residents and Fellows, and this document remains in effect to this day. She then chaired this " Faculty Post-Graduate Promotions Committee" for 20 years. Its primary purpose is to identify physicians in training who are unable to attain the required standard for the practice of Medicine. She understood and applied the principles of natural justice but also recognized the responsibility of the profession to ensure the competence of it's members. She chaired this committee with objectivity, firmness and compassion. She was one of the first individuals appointed in 1998 to the Faculty of Medicine Honour List for excellence and outstanding contributions to medical education at McGill. She was a member of the Students Promotion Committee for 35 years, the committee which monitors the performance of all medical students who are having difficulty at some level in the curriculum. She was a member of the University Senate for 3 years, a member of several Royal College Examination Boards, a member of the Nucleus Committee in Pediatrics, and Chair of the Royal College Test Committee in Pediatrics. She was the McGill representative on the Board of Directors of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for 10 years, and a member of the Board of Directors of the McGill Graduates Society. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Selwyn House School for 18 years. Dr. MacDonald was committed to improving the clinical evaluations of medical students and residents and she regularly taught faculty and senior residents how to evaluate and provide constructive feedback to trainees. She taught the principles of fairness in the evaluation process and was intimately involved in the teaching of Professionalism. For many years at the Children's she worked on the clinical inpatient units and in addition she contributed to the call schedule in the emergency department. She had a strong work ethic and a keen sense of professional responsibility. She loved her interactions with patients and their families and especially with the trainees whom she felt were enthusiastic to learn and receptive to and appreciative of teaching. A McGill Chair, endowed by the MCH Foundation and funded in great part by the MCHF Annual Golf Tournament, has been set up in honour of Dr. MacDonald. "The Wendy MacDonald Chair in Pediatric Medical Education", will be dedicated to medical education in child health. Wendy was predeceased by her parents Donald and Betty Hendry and by her niece Julie Crocker and her nephew Dylan Crichton. She will be sadly missed by her sisters Judy Crocker and Penny Purcell and her sisters-in-law Joan McCrimmon, Sheilah Crichton, and Judy MacDonald. She leaves her nephew Aidan, and nieces Shannon [Dave], Jennifer [Justin], Stephanie [Dave] and Jill [Michael]. Despite her significant work related responsibilities, her number one priority was always family. She was so proud of Jessica and John and delighted that they were educated and thoughtful young adults who had become wonderful parents themselves. She will be dearly missed by family, friends, and many colleagues. Special thanks to the oncology team at the Montreal General Hospital and particularly Dr. Thirlwell, Kathy, Stelliana, and Ann and all the nurses in the unit. Additional thanks to Brenda DeJean and the wonderful team team in the Palliative care unit at the new MUHC Glenn facility, headed by Dr. Manuel Borod. In lieu of flowers, donations would be sincerely appreciated to Tyndale-St. Georges Community Centre in Montreal or the Canadian Women's Foundation, @ canadianwomen.org [Julie Crocker memorial fund]. A Celebration of the life of Wendy MacDonald, with a Requiem Eucharist, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 3 at St George's Anglican Church, 1101 Stanley Street, on the corner of Peel and De La Gauchetiere. Convenient parking is available in the surrounding office towers. Celebrant is Archdeacon Bill Gray. A Reception at the Church, with refreshments, will be held immediately following the service. Everyone is welcome.