In Memoriam: William (Bill) Whitelaw, Cumming School of Medicine

The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) is mourning the loss of Dr. William (Bill) Whitelaw, MD, PhD, an accomplished researcher, educator, clinician and division leader in respiratory medicine. He passed away July 7 at the age of 82.

Whitelaw, with his signature bow ties, arrived at the University of Calgary in 1976 and led the UCalgary Faculty of Medicine’s (now Cumming School of Medicine) Division of Respiratory Medicine for nearly two decades from 1978 to 1997. He was instrumental in achieving Royal College of Physicians and Surgeon’s of Canada approval for the division’s training program and published landmark articles on breathing control, respiratory muscle function and physiology throughout his research career.

Whitelaw played a key role in starting the Foothills Medical Centre Sleep Lab and served as its first medical director, expanding it from a research lab to a sleep clinic offering consultative care and clinical diagnostic testing. He was an early expert in sleep apnea and a leading hiccups researcher, which was the focus of a sabbatical in France later in his career.

A lifelong passion for teaching and learning medical history, Whitelaw taught in the Calgary History of Medicine program starting in 2001. He was the History of Medicine and Health Care program chair until 2007, and an annual award for the best student presentation in the History of Internal Medicine is named in his honour.

Whitelaw proudly graduated from the prestigious honours math, physics and chemistry program at the University of Toronto before completing his medical degree and specialty training in internal medicine at McGill University in Montreal.

An adventurous spirit, Whitelaw then trained in tropical medicine and cardiology in Uganda for a year before returning to McGill to earn his PhD in respiratory physiology. He went on to do subspecialty training in respiratory and critical care medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland and London, England before arriving in Calgary. He taught internationally numerous times, supporting teaching programs in Nepal, Laos and the Philippines during his career. Whitelaw retired in 2007, moving to Salt Spring Island, B.C.

He is remembered as an engaging teacher, mentor and colleague with sharp intellect and an infectious sense of humour. He was a generous supporter of many charitable causes throughout his life, and Whitelaw’s family encourages anyone wanting to express condolences to donate to your favourite cause in his memory.