Dr. Barrie MacLean passed away on May 2nd, 2014 at St. Paul’s Hospital. Dr. MacLean was a retired member of the Department of Pediatrics. He was an important figure as a community pediatrician in Vancouver, known to be a highly astute diagnostician. In the 1990’s he was Residency Director. From 1998-2000 he was Medical Director at Canuck Place. He was also former President of the MSA. Unfortunately he began to experience complications from diabetes and in 2002, had to stop work suddenly and was never able to resume. Barrie was diagnosed during late 2013/early 2014 with hepatic cancer. He was recently admitted to the palliative care ward at St. Paul’s Hospital.
Barrie was an English medical graduate, who after emigrating to Canada, undertook his Pediatric Fellowship training through the UBC Department of Pediatrics. At the time, the Department was located at the Health Centre For Children, part of the VGH complex and the pediatric training area before BCCH opened in 1982. Barrie was a keen athlete and particularly enjoyed soccer. He was very bright and a trusty repository for all manner of obscure types of information, medical and otherwise. If there was an error during a rounds presentation for example, Barrie would be the audience member who would diplomatically note the needed correction. He was a keen observer and somewhat of a philosopher.
As Head of the Residency Program, he took his duties to heart, and always kept the best interests of the trainees as his number one objective. Some of his decisions were difficult and in retrospect, well thought out and invariably correct. He was a man’s man who was devoted to his family and to his profession. He was a good friend and colleague to a large number of individuals. He attended the senior’s luncheons in recent years when his health allowed, and kept up with departmental activities through this route.
Barrie played a significant developmental role within the Department of Pediatrics, particularly in the early formative years during the 1980s and 90s after the opening of BC Children’s Hospital. We will all miss him.
A memorial service will be held on May 7th, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Rotunda at the Musquem Cultural Centre, 4000 Musquem Ave., Vancouver, BC: http://www.musqueam.bc.ca/musqueam-cultural-centre-gallery