In Memoriam: Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe, Cumming School of Medicine

The Cumming School of Medicine is mourning the loss of Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe, MD, the medical school’s third dean in its history. He passed away July 5, 2023, at the age of 90.

Watanabe became acting dean of UCalgary’s Faculty of Medicine (now named Cumming School of Medicine) in 1981, serving as dean from July 1982 until June 1992. He is believed to be the first Japanese Canadian dean of a Canadian medical school.

“Mo was passionate about improving medical research, teaching and care. He led a remarkable life and his leadership set the medical school on a trajectory of tremendous growth,” says Dr. Todd Anderson, MD,’85 dean of the Cumming School of Medicine.

“He was an approachable and compassionate leader, having been the dean when I was a student in the medical school. He cared deeply about learners, faculty and staff, and worked extremely hard to drive medical research and education forward and make southern Alberta a place where the best and brightest innovators wanted to be.”

Born in Vancouver, Watanabe was expelled while in Grade 3, following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941 along with other Japanese Canadian students. He spent the remainder of the war in an internment camp before being ordered to leave British Columbia. His family would eventually settle in Montreal, where he attended public high school and McGill University, becoming a medical doctor in 1957. 

He was recruited to UCalgary’s Faculty of Medicine to serve as professor and head of internal medicine in 1974. He was also associate dean of undergraduate education (1974-78) and associate dean of research (1978-80) before being named interim dean. He is remembered for expanding UCalgary’s medical research and pioneering use of telemedicine in rural Alberta.

He continued contributing to medical education long after leaving the role of dean, including as a professor emeritus beginning in 1997, and serving on many provincial, federal and international boards and committees, task forces, and advisory boards for Alberta Health, Health Canada, Industry Canada as well as other health-care and telehealth organizations.

Watanabe was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2001 and was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Last year, the school marked four decades since Watanabe was named dean. At his request there will be no funeral service and cremation has taken place.

More information, including how to leave a personal tribute, is available in the obituary.