Posted: October 23, 2024
By: Dayna Park
Dr. Ron Stewart (MD’70, LLD’17), has built his legacy of innovation and transformation in the dynamic world of emergency medicine, where every moment counts. A visionary whose contributions have reshaped the landscape of emergency care, Dr. Stewart's journey from practicing family medicine in Neil’s Harbour, a small outport community of Cape Breton, to his tenure as Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health, has made him the embodiment of dedication and service.
Dr. Stewart's career spans over 50 years and across North America. From becoming the first medical director within the Los Angeles paramedic program to signing on as the founding Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, it was amidst the frenetic energy of emergency medicine that his passion for revolutionizing healthcare took shape.
Reflecting on the theme of transformation in healthcare, Dr. Stewart shares insights drawn from a lifetime of experience. "Transformation is an ongoing process," he remarks, emphasizing the dynamic nature of healthcare delivery. "It is shaped by lived experience, by what’s current in society, in our environment, and by learning.”
The grassroots of emergency medicine
Building the foundation of emergency medicine, Dr. Stewart, alongside his colleagues, navigated uncharted territories, turning challenges into opportunities for innovation. A specialty no one really wanted to take on, Stewart felt pulled to emergency medicine. “The unknown calls to me,” he says.
As one of the early architects of paramedicine, Dr. Stewart's leadership paved the way for groundbreaking advancements in trauma care and pre-hospital emergency services.
“We didn’t know enough to be scared, we just did it."
He does acknowledge now that ignorance may have been bliss when it came to the early days of developing new programming. “We were at the grassroots of emergency medicine, and we—maybe luckily—didn’t realize we were in the thick of it until I look back now,” he says. “We didn’t know enough to be scared, we just did it. Problems became opportunities and with the help of mentors and colleagues along the way, we were forced to come up with fresh ways to problem solve.”
An enduring legacy
Dr. Stewart’s tenure as the Nova Scotia Minister of Health from 1993 to 1996 further underscored his commitment to affecting systemic change, culminating in the establishment Emergency Health Services (EHS), the province’s paramedicine organization—a testament to his enduring legacy.
Honored as a "Hero of Emergency Medicine" by the American College of Emergency Physicians and recently elevated within the Order of Canada, Dr. Stewart's accolades are evidence of his impact on the field. Yet, true to his humble nature, he attributes his achievements to the mentors and colleagues who shaped his journey.
On March 14, Dr. Stewart was elevated in the Order of Canada at the Companion level—the highest tier of this great honour. Remembering his first induction to the Order in 1993, Dr. Stewart recalls how proud his family was of him. “My mother and sister cried,” he says. “They were so excited to be at the ceremony in Ottawa.”
This time around, Rideau Hall, which awards the Order of Canada, will celebrate Dr. Stewart locally, at a special ceremony at the Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor’s House. “What an honour,” he says about the tribute.
“The people in my life that have allowed me to achieve this—I remember them, and they are getting this award with me.”
The student becomes the teacher
For Dr. Stewart, education stands out as a cornerstone of his legacy. With a dedication to training the next generation of healthcare professionals, he has championed innovative curriculum development, empowering paramedics and physician assistants with the skills needed to navigate the complexities of emergency care.
In 2017, Dr. Stewart made a $1.3 million pledge to emergency medicine research at Dalhousie University. His commitment to giving back to his alma mater confirms his belief in the transformative power of philanthropy. Inspired by the legacy of his mother—a steadfast supporter of medical research through Dalhousie’s Molly Appeal—Dr. Stewart's generosity continues to fuel advancements in healthcare education and research.
Reflecting on his legacy, Dr. Stewart defers the spotlight to the countless individuals who have shaped his journey, including his mentor Dr. Robert Scharf.
Dr. Stewart was heavily influenced by Dr. Robert Scharf, an orthopedic surgeon who was so distressed about the state of emergency medicine in the 1950s and 1960s that he gave up his medical practice to improve emergency departments and train physicians and non-physicians.
Dr. Scharf became the Director of the Emergency Department in Halifax and Dr. Stewart became his disciple.
“I remember showing up at the emergency department wearing my white coat and carrying my black bag and I was terrified,” recalls Dr. Stewart. “He met me with a textbook in one hand and an X-ray in the other and said, “What do you think?” while pointing to a white spot on the film. I stood there mumbling and he says, “You’re right! It's tuberculosis. Now, you’ll never forget what TB looks like.”
Dr. Scharf taught with innovative questions and came up with the answers with you, Dr. Stewart says. “I never forgot those moments and when it came my time to be a teacher, I followed in his footsteps.”
Dr. Scharf even followed Stewart to Los Angeles, at his invitation, to work as Director of Residency at the University of Southern California Medical Centre, the same hospital he worked at. “We became friends, and I was at his bedside at the end,” says Dr. Stewart. “Ultimately, I hope to have had the kind of impact on people that he did.”
A life’s work
From the bustling halls of the USC Medical Centre in Los Angeles to the corridors of Dalhousie University, Dr. Stewart’s goal has always been to make positive change.
“There’s no Band-Aid or dose of medicine that can solve some of the challenges in our health-care system,” he says.
“We need to look at whole people, whole systems—and that’s my life’s work.”
Physician, teacher, advocate, and change-maker are just some ways to describe Dr. Stewart. In him, we find not only a pioneer of emergency medicine but a guiding light whose legacy continues to illuminate the path toward a healthier, more resilient future. Dr. Stewart’s passion for transformation continues, inspiring generations to come.
