Co-founder of Ottawa Heart Institute Dr. Donald Beanlands dies
The co-founder of the University of Ottawa's Heart Institute (UOHI) and world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Donald S. Beanlands has died, the institution says.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Beanlands, who also served as the institute's first head of cardiology, co-founded the UOHI alongside Dr. Wilbert J. Keon in 1976.
The Heart Institute sees more than 211,000 patients a year and has grown to be the largest cardiac prevention and rehabilitation program in Canada. Beanlands established a large number of national and international programs at the Heart Institute, which is also regarded as a leading postgraduate training programs for young cardiologists.
He died last Thursday in Ottawa at the age of 91.
Born in Halifax in 1932, he served in the Canadian Naval Reserve before attending medical school at Dalhousie University, according to his obituary.
He trained to be a cardiologist at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and later became the chief of cardiology at the Toronto Western Hospital. He moved to Ottawa in 1975 to start the Heart Institute.
"Through his leadership and commitment to his patients and their families, his trainees who now practice across Canada and around the world, and the staff who respected him, it has been said that he changed the practice of medicine and cardiology in Ottawa and Canada forever," his obituary said.
"His legacy will always be carried in the hearts of those for whom he cared, and those he mentored and guided."
In 1998, he was one of the first to receive the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s Distinguished teacher/mentor award.
In 2006, he was proclaimed a "living legend" by the World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons, and was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences.
Beanlands served as the UOHI deputy director general until his retirement in 2008 after over 50 years of medical practice.
"Dr. Beanlands is beloved and respected by patients, staff, colleagues, and trainees alike. His legacy will forever be carried in the hearts of those for whom he cared, with whom he worked and those he mentored and guided," the Heart Institute said in a statement.
He is survived by his wife Rhona, four children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the UOHI Foundation.
A celebration of life to honor Beanlands will be announced in the coming days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Air Canada, pilots reach tentative deal, averting work stoppage
Passengers with plans to fly on Canada's largest airline can breathe a sigh of relief after Air Canada said Sunday it has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing more than 5,200 of its pilots.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Liberals will let Conservatives hold non-confidence vote 'fairly soon', no intention of proroguing Parliament
The Liberals have no intention of using procedural tactics to delay the Conservatives' promised non-confidence motion, and they have no plans to prorogue Parliament to hold onto power, according to Government House Leader Karina Gould.
Beef with your neighbour? Here are your rights in Canada, according to a lawyer
If you have beef with your neighbour and you feel it's gone too far, what should you do? A personal injury lawyer has some advice.
Torrential rains trigger mass evacuations as rivers surge in Central Europe during record flooding
Another night of torrential rains pounding Central Europe forced massive evacuations in the hardest hit areas in the Czech Republic, where floods reached extreme levels on Sunday.
Liberal candidate in Montreal byelection says campaign is about her — not Trudeau
In the final stretch of a Montreal byelection campaign widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, the Liberal candidate - Laura Palestini - wants people to focus on her — not her leader.
'Shogun,' 'The Bear' and 'Baby Reindeer' are at the top of the queue as the Emmys arrive
'Shogun' could be in for an epic night, 'The Bear' could clean up for the second time in less than a year, and 'Baby Reindeer' has gone from dark horse to contender as the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards arrive on Sunday.