connective issue - College of Medicine - University of Saskatchewan

College of Medicine Alumni Spring 2007
connective issue
Helping Celebrate the 50th Anniversary
IN THIS ISSUE
Greetings from the Dean ..............................2
Greetings from the President ......................2
Editor’s Comments ..........................................3
Saskatchewan’s Red Dean ..........................4
Making a SWITCH ..........................................4
The Class of ‘57 ...............................................6
2005
Fall
A Pre Med Moment ........................................8
Lives of Passion & Beauty ............................9
In the Beginning............................................10
Alumni Pride ..................................................13
Class Notes ....................................................15

Greetings from the Dean
Dr. W. A. Albritton
Dean, College of Medicine
Dear College of Medicine Alumni:
On April 3, 1907 the University of Saskatchewan
Act received royal assent. 100 Years
later we celebrate the accomplishments and
growth that we have experienced. 2007 is a
special year. Not only are we celebrating the
University’s milestone birthday, we are also
celebrating the 50th anniversary of the fi rst
graduating class of the College of Medicine.
We often hear that we have the most beautiful
campus in Canada and indeed we believe
this to be true. Our greatest asset is not our
buildings; it is our students, alumni, faculty
and staff who have attributed to the success
of our institution.
One occasion I encourage you to take part in
is Homecoming 2007. This special University
event is planned for September 14 to 16.
Reconnect with old friends and professors,
visit your college, tour the campus, enjoy a
football game or visit the campus art galleries.
There is something of interest for all who
attend. In addition to the U of S activities,
the College of Medicine will be planning a
special event. We will keep you posted on
the details. Come back to the University of
Saskatchewan and join us in celebrating our
Centennial!
On June 5, 2007 the 50th class of students
graduate from the College of Medicine
adding to our group of alumni. On behalf of
our institution, congratulations. I hope that
throughout your careers you will have fond
memories of the place where your medical
journey began. Please stay in touch with us
and let us know where your life is leading
you.
Editor’s Comments
Welcome to the fi rst of two issues of the
Connective Issue for 2007. The 100th
Anniversary of the University inauguration
took place on April 3. I mention this to
remind you of the 100th Anniversary
which we will highlight in each of these
issues. A special opportunity to celebrate
will occur at the highlights in June and
again at homecoming in September.
the College of Medicine Alumni Association
in 1992. The Class is being honored at this
year’s graduation to highlight the 50th
Anniversary of their graduation as the fi rst
class of MD’s graduating from the University of
Saskatchewan. Wilf Hathway, a class member
and artist, has also contributed a fi ne pre med
story and a fi tting cartoon to highlight some of
the pain and fun of medical school.
In this issue we have begun what we
think will prove to be an interesting series
on the history of the College of Medicine
Alumni Association. This is written by Daphne Tkachuk,
former Executive Director who the Board considered the best
person to do this work. She interviewed three of the pioneers
in the development of the Association; former Dean Ian
McDonald who initiated the dream, Dr. Jim Spooner a key
member of the Dean’s offi ce who helped to make the dream
a reality, and Dr. Hal Baldwin the fi rst President.
Dave Keegan (‘64), Editor, Connective Issue
We also have a wonderful glimpse of the class of 1957
through an interview by Annette Horvath of three classmates,
Ernie Baergen, Norwood Kavanagh and Ross Wheaton. Ernie
should also be noted as a former Honorary President of
We have the second edition in our Memories
series in the Alumni Pride section. Peter Dyck
Med Sc. ’53, Honorary Alumni President ‘93
provides with an interesting fi sh story to highlight his time
at the University. He recognizes the impact this has had
on his career as an expert in peripheral nerve disease. As
well, Annette Horvath provides recognition of Drs. Ali Rajput,
Professor Emeritus Neurology and David Murray for their
accomplishments.
We look forward to seeing many of you during the University’s
100th Anniversary Year for the College of Medicine Alumni
Association’s Highlights of Medicine and Reunion in June
and the Homecoming of University of Saskatchewan in
September.
connective issue 2

Class of ‘ 77
Greetings from the President
This time of year always reminds me of graduation.
It was in 1977 that I fi nished my undergraduate
degree. This year my former classmates and I will
be celebrating our 30th anniversary at the annual
Highlights in Medicine conference and reunion.
Looking back at our class photo I notice that our
class from so long ago and the graduating class
of 2007 have a great deal in common – a good
fashion sense, great hair, and a strong desire to
make a difference in the world by helping people.
Having the op-portunity to study medicine at the
University of Saskatchewan has given me the
opportunity to have a rewarding career in Family
Medicine. In addition, I have very much
enjoyed the chance to be part of the College of
Medicine’s Alumni Association as a volunteer,
Board Member and President. The Alumni
Association assists the college in giving back to
the students and it is our hope that we can lend a
hand in building life-long relationship with our
young graduates.
I welcome the new graduating class members of
2007 into the alumni association. I wish you the
best of luck in your new careers in the health fi eld
and hope you will take every opportunity to stay
connected with the College of Medicine and the
University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Don Stefi uk, President
College of Medicine
Aumni Association
connective issue 3

J. Wendell Macleod, Saskatchewan’s Red Dean
McGill Queens Press
Dr. Louis Horlick’s latest book titled J.
Wendell Macleod, Saskatchewan’s Red
Dean is now available. This is a revealing
biography of one of the architects of
medical education in Canada.
Popularly known as Saskatchewan’s
Red Dean because of his progressive
views and strong support of Canada’s
fi rst medicare plan, J. Wendell Macleod
(1905-2001) was a charismatic pioneer
in social medicine and medical education.
Louis Horlick mines Macleod’s diaries,
which span seventy-fi ve years, in a vivid
biography that depicts the social and
political complexities of health care in
Canada in the twentieth century.
Macleod was an ardent believer in the
social principles of health care. His early
awareness of the economic chasm that
separated rich from poor provided the focal
point of his career as fi rst Dean of Medicine
at the University of Saskatchewan.
He taught that understanding the social,
economic and political world in which
people lived was critical to good medical
education and practice and made it the
core of the curriculum.
J. Wendell Macleod offers a revealing
portrait of an early advocate of universal
health care who passionately advanced
his social agenda in his profession and
practice. Macleod was appointed an
Offi cer of the Order of Canada in 1980.
Louis Horlick is Professor Emeritus,
Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. He
began his career at the College of Medicine
in 1955 when he was hired by Dr. Wendell
McLeod to teach a biochemistry class.
Throughout his career, he was a professor
and head of the Department of Medicine
from 1968 to 1974. He returned to staff
status and then was acting head again in
1979 and 1980. In 1989 he retired from
his academic position. Dr. Horlick was
part of the medical team at the fi rst open
heart surgical operation at the University
Hospital in Saskatoon in 1958 and was
a participant in the fi rst installation of a
heart pacemaker in 1962. In addition, he
was recognized for his efforts in bringing
911 to Saskatoon and is an offi cer of the
Order of Canada.
Dr. Horlick is the author of Medical College
to Community Resource: Saskatchewan’s
Medical School, 1978-1998 and They Built
Better Than They Knew: Saskatchewan’s
Royal University Hospital, A History, 1955-
1992.
J. Wendell Macleod, Saskatchewan’s
Red Dean is published by McGill Queens
Press. Website address: http://mqup.
mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=2085
Making a SWITCH:
Building Community Through a Student Managed Wellness Center
Jenni Cram, 4th Year Medical Student
The Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health
(SWITCH) has now been operating as a functional clinic for over 18
months! For those unfamiliar with SWITCH, we are a student-run
interprofessional primary health care clinic that, in conjunction
with health care professionals and community partners, serves the
residents of Saskatoon’s core neighborhoods. Since opening our
doors we have oriented 383 students from 11 different colleges
and 87 professionals from 18 different disciplines. In one year
there have been over 3500 client visits including children and
program participants.
SWITCH has three primary objectives: community service,
interprofessionalism and education. Through service-learning
SWITCH is helping to create future health care professionals
connective issue 4

L to R: Kathie Munro,
Educational Liason,
Cecette Brons – Nursing,
Gail Deneschuk – Nursing,
Laura Marshall - Medicine
who have a strong interest in primary health care, respect
for the interprofessional health care team, a passion for
positive social change and the skills and knowledge to effect
that change. By providing after-hours clinical, social and
programming services in an underserved neighborhood,
SWITCH is responding to real needs in Saskatoon.
fund the SWITCH DVD. It is our hope that this video will
increase student involvement ensuring as many students as
possible benefi t from this program. In doing so, SWITCH will
become sustainable, which will help to maintain and build on
the services that it offers to the community it serves.
In order to operate SWITCH relies on its many
community partners, sponsors, and, of course,
the students. Given the busy schedule and rapid
turnover of students, SWITCH is looking for new
recruitment strategies. To date, we have relied on
word of mouth, presentations and the internet to
help develop student and professional interest
in this venture. But due to the innovative and
pioneering nature of SWITCH these methods
fall short of adequately describing its unique
and dynamic environment. To help overcome
this diffi culty, the members of SWITCH intend
to create a promotional and recruitment DVD.
Creating a video which tells the story of SWITCH
will provide an inside glimpse into how the clinic
works, the services provided to the community,
the transformative effect it has on the students
involved and the positive effect on patients.
This DVD will be created in partnership with
the Division of Media and Technology of the
University of Saskatchewan. Production will
take place over the summer months and the
DVD will be ready for viewing by fall of 2007.
I would like to thank the Alumni Board on behalf
of SWITCH for the generous donation to help
connective issue 5

The
A
Class
Trip
of ’57
Down M
In honor of the fi rst graduating class of
the College of Medicine (MD program),
Norwood Kavanah, Ernie Baergan and
Ross Wheaton recently gathered to
reminisce of memories of their time
spent at the College of Medicine.
This class began their medical
education in 1953. The class size for
the fi rst year was 33 students. At the
beginning of the 4th year in 1956/57
there were 29 students remaining; 27
males and 2 females. The class came
from a variety of backgrounds and all
were raised in Saskatchewan. Some
students had jobs in other areas before
entering medical school. Ross Wheaton
was a post graduate in biology. He
remembers his interview with Dean
MacLeod quite well. When the Dean
learned that he was a post graduate
in biology, he told him he did not have
anyone to instruct the lab in parasitology
and asked if he would be interested in
taking on this job. Not only did he take
the class, he helped instruct the lab as
well.
Dean J.W. MacLeod
The majority of the professors and
clinicians that came to lecture at the
College were relatively new to teaching
but were well respected by the students
for their innovation. Gerrard, Brown,
Merriman, Bailey, and Hilliard, were
a number of key professors that had
a profound infl uence on the students
they taught. In addition, they often
provided good advice. When running
low on cash one year, Ernie Baergen
asked the Dean if there were any
bursaries or scholarships that he might
be able to apply for. There were none,
however Dr. MacLeod did have some
advice and told him “you have to learn
to be a optimistic fatalist.” The advice
did not help his economic situation, but
he made it through and graduated with
his class.
After two years of medical school the
class received their BA. When they
wrote their fourth year fi nal exams,
they also took their LMCC exam at the
same time.
The White Glove Ceremony began
with the class of ’57 and it was hoped
this event would turn into an annual
connective issue 6

emory Lane
tradition. A pair of white gloves were worn by Dean J. W.
MacLeod at a post-examination social gathering indicating
that all students had passed their fi nal examinations. This
showed that the faculty did an excellent job with the class.
This tradition is no longer done.
The tradition of the Senior Stick began in the 1930’s. At
that time, the senior medical class elected a “president”
who was known as the Senior Stick. That person was
presented a stick of offi ce which resembled a Mace of
sorts, and had bands on it with the Senior Sticks’ names
engraved on them. This person was not the president of
the Student Medical Society. Since the Class of ‘57 was
the fi rst class going through to the MD program, they were
the senior class for three years: 1954-55, 1955-56 and
1956-57. Ernie Baergen was the Senior Stick in
1954-55, Norwood Kavanagh in 1955-56 and
Art Hindmarsh in 1956-57.
Of the 29 graduates 17 (49%) entered general practice
while 12 (41%) specialized; 11 remained in Saskatchewan
(8 practiced in Saskatoon), 6 went to the USA, 4 to British
Columbia, 3 to Alberta, 3 to Ontario and 2 to Quebec. 23
(79%) are still living and a few still practice on a part-time
basis. The class has been excellent reunion attendees and
only 3 classmates have never returned.
We salute the Class of 1957. They were leaders in medical
education in Saskatchewan and have a signifi cant role in
the history of the College of Medicine.
L to R: R. Wheaton,
N. Kavanagh, E. Baergen

A Pre Med Moment...
Submitted by Wilf Hathway, Class of 1957
It was a Physiology class and we were there to learn how to
do an intra muscular and an intra venous injection. Various
instructions were given and we were divided into small
groups. Jacobi and I and a few others ended up in the
I.M. class where we learned various ways as how to hold a
needle and syringe and how to press this through the skin
and into the muscle of the buttock. I believe at that point we
practiced on an orange but decided it may be better to have
a real patient. Since no-one wanted to volunteer, we had a
coin toss. Jacobi lost the toss and was to be the target and I
was to give the shot. The others in our group offered advice.
Some said we should just press hard and others thought we
should sling the syringe like a dart.
Jacobi lowered his trousers and stepped behind a screen
over which be guffawed and carried on with other class
members. As the time drew nearer he began to pale and
his courage began to fade as did my bravado in being able
to carry out the great stab on my friend, or even worse that
he might somehow turn the tables and get me to be the
target. After a couple of “are you ready’s” I plunged the
syringe deep into his right shiny buttock only to be greeted
by a great “ARRGGAAHH.” He fell forward tipping the screen
and exposing himself to the class while I fell backwards in
my chair. Knowing no anatomy to speak of at the time, I
thought I had hit the mother load of all nerve endings and
vowed never to give an I.M. injection again (if I lived so long)
after he yelled “take it out, take it out!”
connective issue 8

Drs. Yip and Jen in the backyard of their home in Saskatoon
Lives of
Passion & Beauty
If you have had the good fortune to be touched by the lives of Suzanne Yip and Ivan Jen (M.D. 1960) chances are
your view of the world has changed at least a little. Over the course of their lives as physicians, faculty members and
community members in the city of Saskatoon, this couple have devoted themselves to lives of exceptional purpose
and caring, both professionally and personally. Nowhere is this more evident than in their philanthropy and their
support of their alma mater.
Honouring Sydney Inskip
In conversation with Suzanne and Ivan in their beautiful
home, recently built to showcase their many paintings
and sculptures by Saskatchewan artists (whom they
have supported with passion and fi erce loyalty spanning
decades) the couple’s own generosity and kind hearts are
plainly evident. In talking about why they recently chose
to honour Sydney Inskip, a well loved former employee of
the College of Medicine, by creating an award to honour
excellence amongst administrative staff of the College,
they share their special memories. They recall, “we
fi rst met Sydney at Dean Wendell MacLeod’s offi ce in
the 1950’s when we began our studies at the medical
college. We were so impressed with her kindness,
warmth, compassion and caring attitude. Whenever we
encountered problems in our student affairs, Sydney was
always there, helping us to fi nd solutions. She was simply
more than wonderful in so many ways. Her extraordinary
contributions to the University and to the community
through her volunteer work and her generous donations
have brought huge admiration, respect, inspiration
and gratitude from the many people she impacted in
all walks of life. Personally, it meant a great deal to us
that Sydney gave us her full blessing along with 2 other
couples to marry before graduation. This was something
that was unprecedented at the Medical College in the
late 1950’s.”
Since marrying, Drs. Yip and Jen have raised 2 children.
Stephen received his B.Sc. and Dental Medicine degree
and lives and practises in Saskatoon. Leslie, with degrees
in English, Law and Architecture works in Toronto as an
Associate Editor of the journal “Canadian Architect”.
Dr. Bill Albritton is especially grateful for the support Drs.
Jen and Yip have provided at such an interesting and
challenging time in the College for faculty, students and
staff. He notes, “Our College and University are living in
very uncertain times –we are witnessing unprecedented
change in attitudes about the role of government in
education and who should support it. At the same time
we are also living in an increasingly competitive
environment amongst North American universities.
Special gifts like this one from Drs. Jen and Yip help us
to foster and recognize excellence in our College in
unique and meaningful ways. We are thankful that
Suzanne and Ivan feel so connected to their alma mater
and that they have chosen such a special person in
Sydney Inskip to express their appreciation.
Sydney Inskip provided support and
advice to well over 1000 medical
students over the course of 3 decades
in her work for 6 Deans for the College
of Medicine at the University of
Saskatchewan. Sydney retired in 1976
and still lives in Saskatoon today. In
addition to receiving many other
awards, Sydney became an honourary
lifetime member of the College of
Medicine Alumni Association in 2006.
connective issue 9

In the Beginning...
A History of the College of Medicine
Alumni Association
By Daphne Tkachuk, former Director, College of Medicine Alumni Association
In 2003, the College of Medicine
celebrated the 50th anniversary of
the fi rst year class of the 4 year MD
program. In 2008, the Alumni
Association will celebrate its 25th
anniversary. In the following article,
I wish to review with College of
Medicine Alumni the beginnings of
your Association.
The early history of the Association
is one of vision, effort (mostly
volunteer), perseverance, and growing
pains. To gather information about
the Association’s development, I
interviewed Dr. Ian McDonald, Dean of
Medicine 1983 -1993, Dr. Hal Baldwin,
the fi rst President of the College of
Medicine Alumni Association and
Dr. Jim Spooner, former Director of
Educational Support and Development,
College of Medicine. The following are
their personal perspectives on the
development of the Association.
Prior to becoming Dean in 1983,
Dr. McDonald attended the 100th
anniversary of the University of
Manitoba. He was accompanied by Dr.
Doug Buchan, Professor of Medicine,
author of Greenhouse to Medical
Center, Saskatchewan’s Medical
School 1926-78. Both attended to
class reunions and became excited
about what they saw. They witnessed
Alumni reconnecting, the joy and
laughter of reminiscing, and how the
University of Manitoba was working
to keep graduates involved with their
alma mater.
On becoming Dean, Dr. McDonald
established the College of Medicine
Alumni Association. He was adamant
that the Association have its own
identity, that the spirit among the
College of Medicine graduates
be nurtured and that alumni take
ownership of the organization. This
was a position which may have
been at odds with the University of
Saskatchewan Alumni. Dean McDonald
agreed the College would fund the
Association for a period of time until
it was established and was able to
support the day to day operation of the
offi ce and make the annual reunion,
the Highlights in Medicine Conference,
fi nancially independent. The College
funded the Association until 1988.
Harnessing the excitement of the
idea of an organization of alumni, the
75th Anniversary of the University
of Saskatchewan was chosen to
launch the College of Medicine Alumni
Association with an all-class reunion.
The Dean approached Dr. Hal Baldwin
(Class of 1975) to accept the role of
fi rst President. The fi rst Board consisted
of Drs. Bill Chernenkoff, Alanna
Danilkewich, Ann Doig, Brian Gushulak,
Oli Laxdal, representing Continuing
Medical Education and Jim Spooner,
representing the Dean’s Offi ce. After
his appointment, Dr. Baldwin said that
in speaking with colleagues about the
possibility of developing the Alumni
Association, all responses were very
positive.
The fundamentals of the Association
were to provide services to its
membership to strengthen the bond
between alumni and the College
of Medicine and to develop within
the Alumni a sense of tradition and
history. At that time it was hoped the
Association would act as a fund raising
arm for the College. It was agreed the
Association would be complementary
to the University of Saskatchewan
Alumni Association by encouraging
continued interest in and commitment
to the University by facilitating
communication among its graduates
through class reunions, a newsletter
and a current mailing list.
The Board’s deliberations on how it
could become fi nancially independent
resulted in a membership fee. It was
anticipated all Alumni would take out
memberships but, in reality, only onethird
did. However, those memberships
resulted in enough funds to allow the
Association to retain an offi ce and
do what was necessary to get the
Association on a fi rm footing.
As noted above, Dean McDonald
wanted the birth of the Association
to coincide with celebrations of the
75th anniversary of the University
of Saskatchewan. A committee was
formed and all alumni were invited
to the fi rst Highlights in Medicine
Conference –with the theme “Medicine
– Today and Tomorrow” in June, 1984.
The College of Medicine obtained the
services of Ms. Mona Chappell who
connective issue 10

“The Four Deans, Left to Right: R. G. Murray, J. W. McLeod, J. R. Gutelius, I. M. McDonald”
immediately started to collect all the
information that was needed to contact
Alumni. With her organizational skills
and the assistance of Continuing
Medical Education, Mona and the
committee brought the proposed
celebration to reality. Speakers from
various graduating classes of the
College were invited to present. The
conference and the reunion provided
challenges to alumni to examine the
needs and expectations that society
had of its physicians, opportunities
for social and professional interaction
to facilitate up-dating and exchange
of ideas and new developments and
examples of achievements of graduates
of the College of Medicine.
Dr. McDonald recollects the event
with very fond memories. All former
Deans were invited with Drs. Wendell
MacLeod, John Gutelius and Bob
Murray in attendance. The College
was blown away by the response, not
only by the numbers that attended but
also by the enthusiasm of individuals
from the various classes who had not
seen each other for years. Surprisingly
a number of alumni from the School
of Medical Sciences returned for the
special event. This was a particularly
moving experience as many of them
had not been back to the campus since
they left, and had not seen each other
since their graduation. They told great
stories of time spent overseas during
World War II, of chance encounters
with old school mates and of their lives
when they were medical students in
Saskatoon during the depression and
drought. Stories of boarding houses,
landladies and the diffi culty in scraping
up money to support themselves added
to the general atmosphere of the alumni
gatherings. This testifi ed to their sense
of obligation to the University which
provided them with a fi rst-rate preclinical
education and that without
the support of the School of Medical
Sciences they would probably have
never fulfi lled their dreams of a medical
career. It was indeed a very memorable
experience.
The excitement of the fi rst event had to
be maintained. The Board continued to
look at ways the Alumni could continue
to be part of the Association and to return
on an annual basis to the conference
and reunion. It was agreed that instead
of inviting all Alumni on a yearly basis,
it would start with classes that had
graduated ten years prior and every fi ve
years thereafter. Representatives of
each class were contacted to become
part of the planning of annual reunions
and to assist the Alumni offi ce recruiting
their classmates to be part of the
celebration.
The “Spirit of the Class” Award
was established by the Board to
assist in building relationships with
undergraduate classes. This award
was to be given to an individual from
each graduating class who showed
exemplary participation in leadership
roles in the activities of his or her class.
It was agreed that each graduating class
would nominate the individuals and the
Executive of the Board of Directors of the
College of Medicine Alumni Association
would choose the recipient. Dr. Shirley
Maltman (nee Bell), Class of 1985 was
the fi rst recipient.
When the alumni association was fi rst
formed, it was not actively involved
in fund raising activities, an area that
Dr. McDonald had hoped would be a
prominent part of the organization.
The major reason for the inactivity
was the attitude that the University
of Saskatchewan Alumni Association
was responsible for fund raising. He
connective issue 11

Memories
1984 Reunion
Memories
said that in hindsight this should
have been one of the mandates that
the Association should have followed
strongly while retaining its own
identity. He still feels today that if one
of his colleagues would approach him
to donate specifi cally to the College of
Medicine, he would be more inclined to
do so. The personal contact reinforces
the fact that donations would be put
to good use and gives the donor a
sense of pride in giving back to the
institution that gave them their start.
Indeed, at the fi rst Reunion there was
so much excitement by some of the
Alumni to get something organized
among their classmates to “give back
to the College” that Dr. McDonald felt
there would be no problem in obtaining
fi nancial support through this avenue;
however, because the excitement of
the moment was not retained, it was
felt many possible donors were lost.
At that time, it was also hoped that
chapters of the Association could be
formed in various cities throughout
Canada and the United States. Prior
to a visit to Vancouver by the Dean in
April 1985, invitations were extended
to Alumni in that area to discuss
the possibility of starting a chapter.
The evening was organized by Dr.
Bob Thompson (Class of ‘66). The
astonishingly large number that
showed up confi rmed the belief
that the Association’s purpose was
worthwhile. However, like everything,
if the excitement is not maintained it
gets lost and consequently the hope
of forming chapters vanished. Over
the next several years, attempts were
made to start regional chapters but due
to lack of fi nancial support and interest,
the idea eventually waned.
In the next issue of this newsletter we
will be taking a look at volunteers and
how the Association looks in its present
form. We continue to ask for the support
of our Alumni and to request any fond
memories that Alumni may have that
will help us to meet the needs of
organization in the future. Please send
your recollections to daphne.tkachuk@
tkachuk.sk.ca to be included in our
next report on the history of the Alumni
Association.
connective issue 12

Alumni Pride
Peter Dyck Biography
David L. Keegan
Peter James Dyck BA ’50 Med. Sc,
’53 MD Tor.’55, Resident/ Fellow
Neurology, U of S/ University
Hospital ‘55-59, Honorary
President College of Medicine
Alumni Association ‘93 has had a
long and distinguished career in
Neurology and is internationally
recognized in the fi eld of peripheral
nerve disease.
Peter Dyck
Peter and Isabelle (Bonham) Dyck, live in Rochester MN
where they have resided for almost 50 years. Peter continues
an active interest in scholarship and is the Roy E and Merle
Meyer Professor of Neurosciences and Head of the Peripheral
Neuropathy Research Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic and Mayo
Medical School. Peter and Isabelle have four children, three in
Rochester: Ernest in Physical Medicine at Mayo, Fred in the
hotel industry, James “Jim” an Associate Professor in Neurology
at Mayo, and Kate (Raver), a free-lance graphic designer living
in Minneapolis, MN. Jim works with Peter in many clinical and
research ventures.
Peter has always been proud of his roots. He was born to a
farm family in a Mennonite village (Neu Hoffnung, Maslov Kut)
in southern Russia. At a young age, his family escaped the
extremes of communist Russia, only to arrive in the relative safety
of Hepburn Saskatchewan where they endured the hardship of
poverty, drought, grasshoppers and the great depression. This
appears to have strengthened his pioneer spirit to overcome
adversity through hard work with good support from his family,
mentors, friends and colleagues.
He has put this into practice and had a career as a pioneer in the
study of peripheral nerve disease. His Peripheral Neuropathy
Laboratory at Mayo has trained more than 100 neurologists,
many who are faculty members in North American Medical
schools. He has authored more than 350 peer reviewed
scientifi c papers and over 100 book chapters. He has served on
numerous journal editorial boards and has co-edited two major
textbooks, Peripheral Neuropathy and Diabetic Neuropathy, both
with a long term colleague and also a former fi sh researcher, PK
Thomas, Emeritus Professor of Neurology at University College,
London, England. He is a founding member of the Peripheral
Neuropathy Association, was President of the Association in
1987 and President of the American Neurological Association
in 1993.
From Fish to Nerve Research
by Peter J. Dyck
I am telling this “fi sh” story to describe my career since it
bridges my life as a young aspiring student at the University
of Saskatchewan, through my association with the College of
Medicine to my training in Neurology and my academic and
research career at the Mayo Clinic and Medical School.
Interestingly, the study of fi sh was the early career track of my
friend and neurological colleague, PK Thomas, now Professor
Emeritus of King’s College London, England. We not only studied
fi sh in our youth but became peripheral nerve investigators and
co-edited two textbooks.
I unwittingly began my career
in research during the three
summers of 1949-51 on the lakes
of Northern Saskatchewan studying
fresh water biology and fi sh. I was
working for Donald Rawson, the
Department Head of Biology at the
University of Saskatchewan, and an
internationally known limno-biologist.
Interestingly, the detailed study of
D.S. Rawson
fresh water biology and fi sh provided
pathfi nding insights which I later used to develop morphometric
approaches to study peripheral nerves. This work led to a better
understanding of low nerve conductions in CMT disease.
After convocating with a BA in 1950, two years of Medical
sciences and an MD from the University of Toronto in 1955,
I returned to the University and the new University Hospital. I
was a Resident and Fellow in Medicine (Neurology) from 1955-
59 which solidifi ed my interest and determination to make
Neurology my career. Wendell McLeod the Dean of Medicine
had attracted an outstanding cadre of clinician teachers and
researchers in neurosciences. These included my mentor Alan
Bailey, who was recruited from the headship of a section of
Neurology at the Mayo Clinic, Don Baxter a neurologist, William
Feindel, a neurosurgeon trained by Wilder Penfi eld, both who later
became Directors of the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI)
and George “Jerzy” Olszewski, a neuropathologist recruited
from McGill and the MNI who had previously studied with the
Vogts in Germany’s Black Forest, and were world famous for
their study of architecture of neurons.
This period had a signifi cant impact on my future career. Alan
Bailey introduced me to the Mayo Clinic and taught me to listen
and record in quotations the actual words patients used to
describe their symptoms and insisted on full disclosure to the
connective issue 13
continued on page 14

Alumni Pride
patients of their fi ndings. Olszewski, my mentor who was well
known to many pioneer neuroscientists in the USA and Europe
introduced me to the integration of clinical and neuro-pathological
fi ndings and rich accounts of history and science. Subsequent
studies with E. H. Lambert led to my fi rst National Institute of
Neurologic Disease (NINDS) grant directed at understanding the
basis of low nerve conductions.
The study of nerve morphology led to an interesting third
Saskatchewan collaboration with Charlie Bolton, now Emeritus
Professor, Queens University. Although almost contemporaries,
Charlie was my second Peripheral Neuropathy Research
Fellow. Charlie did a detailed morphometric study of Meissner’s
corpuscles in the non-hairy skin of man during development and
in aging. This friend and colleague dating back to my Saskatoon
days, remains active in neurologic practice, education and
research.
Finally, I met Isabelle Bonham, the love of my life, in Saskatoon
and we married in 1954. She is also a graduate of the University of
Saskatchewan in Arts with Great Distinction (later post-graduate
work at the University of Toronto and US universities) and her
extensive background in the humanities, knowledge of several
languages and literature has broadened my life while providing
encouragement and support in my research and writing.
Murray named Loeb Professor
David J. Murray, Class of ’78 was
installed as the fi rst Carol B. and
Jerome T. Loeb Professor in the
School of Medicine at Washington
University in February, 2007.
The Loeb Professorship was
established by Carol Loeb and her
late husband Jerry to recognize
a professor for exemplary patient
Dr. Murray
care and training of students
and physicians. David Murray, a pediatric anesthesiologist at
St Louis Children’s Hospital, has directed the Washington
University Clinical Simulation Center since this learning center
opened at Barnes-Jewish medical center, the major teaching
hospital in 1996.
David’s father, Dr. Robert Murray founded the University of
Saskatchewan’s Department of Ophthalmology in 1955 and was
Dean of the College of Medicine from 1973 to 1983. His brother,
Bruce Murray (Class of ‘75) is Clinical Associate Professor in the
Department of Pathology at the University of Saskatchewan.
David received his medical degree from the University of
Saskatchewan in 1978. He completed an internship in Akron,
Ohio and then returned to Saskatchewan to practice at St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Ile-a-La-Crosse, Saskatchewan.
In 1981, he returned to the United States to complete
anesthesia training and join the faculty at the University of
Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In 1995, David and his wife, Nancy,
and their two girls left the University of Iowa and moved to
St Louis. Nancy is a professor at the Central Institute for
the Deaf at Washington University. Ellen is a freshman at
Washington University and Aubrey their youngest daughter
is in grade 11.
Earlier this year Dr. Ali Rajput,
Professor Emeritus of Medicine,
was named the 2006 Saskatoon
Citizen of the Year by CTV in
recognition of his life-long
commitment to neurology and
the study of diseases.
Dr. Rajput has spent the
last 40 years in Saskatoon
researching movement disorders
such as Parkinson’s Disease and
Dr. Ali Rajput
photo courtesy of CTV
was responsible for the creation of the Saskatchewan Centre
for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders at Royal
University Hospital. He earned his Bachelor of Medicine
and Bachelor of Surgery degrees at the University of Sind,
Pakistan and a Master of Science degree in neurology at
the University of Michigan. With the exception of a oneyear
sabbatical at the Mayo Clinic, he has spent his 35-
year career at the U of S serving as head of the Division of
Neurology from 1985 to 2001 and as an associate member
for the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of
Community Health and Epidemiology.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rajput has been a tireless advocate
for people with Parkinson’s. He has helped raise over $1
million for research from the popular curling bonspiels and
golf tournaments held annually. He has worked on national
and international committees and has published numerous
book chapters, articles and papers. He is a reviewer for
many professional journals and granting agencies.
Past awards include Doctor of the Year for 2006
(Saskatchewan Medical Association), Saskatchewan
Centennial Medal, University of Saskatchewan Distinguished
Researcher Award and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. In
1997, he was named an offi cer of the Order of Canada.
connective issue 14

1950’s
’59 Ronald Young
I enjoy sports and stock market activity.
Look forward to retirement sometime in
2007.
1960’s
’64 Allan Perry
Teaching Medical Disease Conditions
Pathophysiology & Medical Terminology
at Ivy Tech, Fort Wayne Campus. Three
children, 7 grandchildren, 6 months to
16 years. Hello to Class of ’64. George,
Earl and David. You’re doing great things
and congratulations to Ross Petty.
’66 Philip H. Gordon
Together with my coauthor Dr. Nivatuongs,
Mayo Clinic, I just published the third
edition of our textbook “Principles and
Practice of Surgery for the Colon, Rectum
and Anus” Philip H. Gordon, Santhat
Nivatuongs, Informa Health. It is a 1300
page comprehensive textbook on the
subject.
’67 Lorraine Henricks
Private practice in Children, Adolescents,
Adults and Families in Manhattan.
Voluntary Faculty Dept. Child Psychiatry,
New York University Medical School. Two
children, son age 36 (grandson age 5) and
daughter age 28 (grandson 5 months).
Live on upper west side in Manhattan.
’68 Barrie McCombs
I still live in Calgary, Alberta. I’m semiretired
and work part time as the Medical
Information Service Coordinator for the
Alberta Rural Physicians Action Plan.
I started playing the fi ddle in 1995, after
attending the fi ddle camp at Emma Lake,
Saskatchewan. I’ve returned there every
summer since then. I enjoy playing oldtime
music with the Prairie Mountain
Fiddlers in Calgary and also teach adult
beginner fi ddle classes.
Class Notes
1970’s
’70 John D. Donaldson
Interest: Pediatric Otolaryngology
News: Currently Chairman, Board of
Directors, Lee Memorial Health System,
a vertically integrated health system in
Lee County, Florida with seven hospitals
and multiple ambulatory facilities.
LMHS currently has 1700 patient beds
and includes a full service Children’s
Hospital.
John is also Vice President of Florida
Pediatric Society. He continues to teach
internationally and practice Pediatric
Otolaryngology full time.
Daughter Krista and her husband Oliver
Fringer are engineering professors at
Stanford University. Krista has served
the US State Department on the Iraq
Reconstruction Group and spent fi ve
years teaching and designing in East
Africa. They are the parents of a new
baby girl, Avery Sumara.
1980’s
’81 Paul Grimm
Paul just moved to Palo Alto, CA where he
is Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford in
the Division of Pediatric Nephrology. He,
his wife Kim and
their 3 children are
sorry they missed
the 2006 Reunion
and will be there
next time.
’82 George D. Strelioff
George continues in Family Medicine in
Keswick, Ontario where he has been for
17 of the past 20 years. Palliative care
interests, surgical assisting (especially
with orthopods) and problems with the
offi ce lease keep it interesting. Michelle
works as a BScN at a nursing home and
the local hospital. She also books us into
some impressive cottage rental locations
in the summer. Caitlin (17) is considering
a business career. Health care is not
even on the list! Shannon (15) plays RCM
guitar and feels it would just be better to
marry the orthodontist. Bethany (10) has
fi nished her 2nd year of hockey, playing
in primarily an all-boys league. Are we
proud?!!!
’86 Kim (Verna) Illing (nee
Comfort)
Enjoying Calgary. Keeping busy with 4
children, golf in the summer and curling
in the winter.
’89 Sandor Demeter Jr.,
I have moved around extensively since
graduating. I did my fi rst specialty in
Community Medicine (1994) and a
Masters of Health Science and worked in
various public health settings spanning
Ottawa to Southern Ontario to Edmonton.
I then did specialist training in Nuclear
Medicine (2002) as well as a thesis MSc.
I have been working in Winnipeg as the
Nuclear Medicine Section Head and as
the Co-Director for our new PET (positron
emission tomography) program, ever
since. I am married to Lois Blyth and
we have one son aged 12. Winnipeg has
been very good to us and it has a familiar
“prairie culture”. Until the next update
- cheers.
1990’s
’99 Dhiren Naidy
Assistant Professor, University of Alberta,
Sports Medicine
If you have updates you would like posted
in the next Connective Issue, please
send them to annette.horvath@usask.
ca. We can also take digital photos and
encourage you to send those as well.
connective issue 15

Name:
Specialty:
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Offi ce Address:
Fax:
Attention, Medical Alumni!
We are collecting data on each class for the Class Notes section of Connective Issue.
Many alumni have provided updates to us and we would like to continue with this
tradition. You can also send us your digital and/or print photos.
Your updates for Class Notes
Email:
Offi ce Phone:
Highlights since graduating from the College of Medicine:
What I remember most about the College of Medicine:
Individuals who were most infl uential during my time at the College of Medicine,
U of S:
I authorize the Faculty of Medicine, U of S to post the above information in the Class
Notes section of Connective Issue:
Signature:
Return to: Alumni Association, College of Medicine, B103 Health Sciences Building,
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Connective Issue is published twice a
year by the College of Medicine and the
College of Medicine Alumni Association,
University of Saskatchewan
College of Medicine Alumni
Association Board:
HON. PRESIDENT:
Dr. B. D. Gushlak (’81)
PAST PRESIDENT:
Dr. G.R. Armitage (’64)
PRESIDENT:
Dr. D.L. Stefiuk (’77)
VICE- PRESIDENT:
Dr. G.A. Bruce (’70)
MEMBERS AT LARGE:
Dean W.L. Albritton
Dr. J. W. Melenchuk (‘80)
Dr. R. B. Murray (‘75)
Dr. D. M. Reisner (‘81)
Dr. R. H. Kolke (‘61)
Dr. R. N. Kozakavich (‘71)
Dr. E. K. Yeboah (Post Graduate)
Dr. Z. D. Belak (‘62)
Dr. P. E. Stalker (‘89)
Dr. D. L. Keegan (‘64)
Dr. A. Ravichander (Post Graduate)
Ms. V. Moore-Wright
Development Officer
Ms. A. Horvath
Alumni/Communications Officer
PLEASE CONTACT:
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