In memoriam - Dr. Neil McKenzie
Flags will be lowered to half-mast today at London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) Victoria and University hospitals in honour of Dr. Neil McKenzie, who passed away on March 25, 2024.
Our London medical community has lost a true pioneer in medicine and research. Dr. McKenzie was a trailblazer in the Canadian medical community, making innumerable contributions to the field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.
The following message was shared by the Division of Cardiac Surgery at LHSC and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry in his remembrance:
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Dr. Neil McKenzie passed away on March 25 at St. Joseph’s Hospice in the presence of his wife, Maureen McKenzie. Dr. McKenzie, a Canadian pioneer and distinguished figure in the field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, has left behind a legacy of hard work, excellence and innovation. He began his remarkable journey in the medical profession by earning his medical degree with commendation from the University of Aberdeen in 1968. Following this, he pursued specialized training in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, culminating in research fellowships in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Canada. In 1974, Dr. McKenzie joined University Hospital as a senior resident, marking the beginning of his longstanding commitment to the institution where he spent nearly 50 exceptional years.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. McKenzie made significant contributions to the field of cardiac surgery, particularly in heart transplantation, where he performed Canada’s first successful heart transplant with the use of cyclosporin, a game changer in organ transplantation. He also performed Canada’s first heart-lung transplantation and earned recognition as Canada’s foremost heart transplant surgeon. His pioneering work led and elevated University Hospital’s heart transplant program to be one of the busiest and most productive heart transplant programs in Canada, where the program has still completed the most heart transplants in Canada to date. Dr. McKenzie’s leadership extended beyond the operating room, where he served as Chief of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Division and later as City-wide Chair of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.
His dedication to advancing medical knowledge and patient care was further acknowledged with prestigious accolades, including the James Travelling Fellowship, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Annual Achievement Award in 2009 and the Dean’s Lifetime Achievement Award from Western University in 2015. He was Residency Program Director for over a decade and has taught and mentored generations of cardiac surgeons in North America and abroad. Dr. McKenzie’s profound impact on the field of cardiac surgery and his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others will be remembered and cherished by colleagues, patients and the medical community alike.
Dr. McKenzie will be dearly missed and will forever be remembered for his surgical skill, innovative spirit, kindness, modesty and cheerful laugh. There will be a visitation at the Harris Funeral Home on Saturday, April 13 from 2 to 5 p.m., with brief remarks at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Hospice or the Neil McKenzie Chair in Cardiac Care at Western University; attention Kendra Lealess, Western University, Suite 110 Westminster Hall, London, ON N6A 3K7 (cheques payable to Western University), by calling 519- 661-4200 or online at www.westernconnect.ca/mckenzie.”
Dr. McKenzie’s groundbreaking contributions will continue to influence the way care is delivered across Canada and around the world for generations to come. We will be forever grateful for his commitment to medical excellence as well as the curiosity of spirit that led him to advance the fields of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery to new heights.
Our thoughts are with Dr. McKenzie’s wife, Maureen, as well as the couple’s loved ones, friends and colleagues.
An In Memoriam page has been created on LHSC’s intranet for Dr. McKenzie. Please send any recollections, memories or stories you wish to share on this page to LHSC_Communication.Broadcast@lhsc.on.ca. Please include Dr. McKenzie’s name in the subject line.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Chan
Acting President & CEO
London Health Sciences Centre
Dr. John Yoo
Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
