Interior Health is mourning the passing of its board of directors chair Dr. Doug Cochrane.
IH CEO and president Susan Brown says she’s deeply saddened by the passing of her colleague, and remembers Cochrane as mentor and friend who had a kind and gentle approach to leadership.
BC Health Minister Adrian Dix adds Cochrane was a brilliant doctor and scientist who made everyone around him better.
Cochrane joined IH in 2017, he also served as co-chair of the First Nations and Metis partnership leadership tables.
A Ministry of Health statement confirms Cochrane passed away following a brief illness.
See a statement from Interior Health below:
Interior Health president and CEO Susan Brown has issued the following statement on the loss of Interior Health Board Chair Dr. Doug Cochrane:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Doug Cochrane, Chair, Interior Health Board of Directors.
“Dr. Cochrane joined Interior Health in 2017, and every day since then, he demonstrated a deep commitment to continuous improvement of patient care, quality and safety knowing it would lead to improved health outcomes for the people we serve. Doug leaves a lasting legacy as he guided our reconciliation efforts from a personal commitment to listening and learning from Indigenous peoples in the Interior, their histories and how the current systems in place have impacted them directly. Indigenous health and wellness were of particular importance to Doug as he served as Co-Chair of both the First Nations and Métis partnership leadership tables.
“Doug’s contributions to British Columbia’s health-care system overall are unparalleled, having chaired the BC Patient Safety Task Force from its inception in 2003 to the creation of the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (now known as Health Quality BC) and as the provincial patient safety and quality officer from 2008 to 2019. Doug was also past chair of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute.
“Doug was a highly esteemed mentor and educator, with more than three decades of clinical expertise as a pediatric neurosurgeon. He was appointed Professor Emeritus by the UBC department of surgery in 2016 and served as faculty for the Health Quality BC Quality Academy and Clinician Quality Academy programs, as well as the Sauder Physician Leadership program at UBC.
“I will miss Doug as a colleague, mentor, and friend and remember him for his kind and gentle approach to leadership, always willing to take on the toughest of challenges in the most human of ways.
“On behalf of Interior Health, I extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
A statement from BC’s Health Minister is available below:
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has released the following statement about the passing of Dr. Doug Cochrane:
“With a heavy heart I regret to announce Interior Health’s board chair Dr. Doug Cochrane has passed away following a brief illness.
“Dr. Cochrane was a highly respected pediatric neurosurgeon who retired from clinical practice in 2017 after delivering more than three decades of care to children at BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre.
“In addition to his role with Interior Health, Dr. Cochrane’s dedication to health-care safety and quality led him to chair the BC Patient Safety Task Force from its inception in 2003. Through his leadership at the task force, the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council (now Health Quality BC) was created, which he chaired until 2019.
“Dr. Cochrane was also a well-regarded clinical educator. He was appointed professor emeritus by the University of British Columbia department of surgery in 2016 and continued to serve as faculty for Health Quality BC’s Quality Academy and Clinician Quality Academy programs, as well as the Sauder Physician Leadership Program at UBC.
“At a personal level, Doug was a mentor to thousands of people who work in our public health system, including me. He was a brilliant doctor and scientist who made everyone around him better, as colleagues and people. I am grateful to have known him.
“My condolences go to Dr. Cochrane’s family and loved ones, and his many health-sector friends and colleagues in B.C., across Canada and around the world. His impact throughout the health system will be felt for years to come and he will be truly missed.
“An interim chair appointment at Interior Health will be determined at a later date.”
– Article includes statement and image from Interior Health, statement from Minister of Health Adrian Dix
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