Medicine Makes A Wonderful Life: William Arthur Cochrane

by Robert Lampard, M.D., and Barbara Kermode-Scott.

Spurred on by the role model of his family GP, the young Bill Cochrane chose medicine as a career, graduating from the University of Toronto in 1949.  He decided to specialize in pediatrics, with a focus on the field of inherited metabolic diseases.

In 1958 Dr. Cochrane moved to Dalhousie University and Children's Hospital in Halifax for a full-time teaching and research position.  In his nine years at Dalhousie he initiated new pediatric services, became involved in the design and building of the Izaak Walton Killam Children’s Hospital, and wrote chapters on hypoglycemia for two medical books. 

During this time he became interested in the "body system" approach to teaching medicine.  He moved to Calgary to design and build one of the last medical schools in Canada, where as Dean he implemented the innovative system-based curriculum.  After a year as Alberta’s Deputy Minister of Health Services, in 1974 he became the third president of the University of Calgary.

In 1978 Bill Cochrane became President of Connaught Laboratories, guiding its transition into an international biotechnological success story.  While there he advised the Canadian government on biotechnological advances and transfer technology.  He also assisted the Alberta government on the establishment of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR).

Dr. Cochrane's many awards and honours included membership in the Order of Canada, Alberta’s Order of Excellence, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

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