One of Canada’s respiratory health pioneers, Dr. Bill Jeanes, passed away on July 1 in Ottawa at the age of 95.
Dr. Jeanes helped transform The Canadian Tuberculosis Association into what is now the Canadian Lung Association, broadening its focus from tuberculosis (TB) to all respiratory diseases.
As a visiting scholar from the British Chest and Heart Association, Dr. Jeanes was invited to join the staff of the Canadian Tuberculosis Association. He also founded its medical section, the Canadian Thoracic Society in 1958.
He led Canada's national tuberculosis program for 15 years and worked tirelessly on TB control, visiting every university respirology department and all 55 TB sanatoria (hospitals) in Canada.
Dr. Jeanes took a leadership role in organizing international conferences on tuberculosis and established working relationships around the world.
His contributions to the fight against TB have been documented on our TB history site highlighting Canada’s role in fighting tuberculosis. His contributions to the establishment of the Canadian Thoracic Society are documented, in his own words, in the first chapter of A Book of Recollections - A Personalized History of the CTS, 1958-2008.
In 1972, Dr. Jeanes joined the new International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), travelling widely in Asia and Africa to oversee Canada's medical aid programs and health policy in over 40 countries. He represented Canada proudly at the World Health Organization (WHO) from 1974-86 and continued working into his mid-70s at Canada's Laboratory for Disease Control where he was responsible for programs in tropical health and quarantine for Canadian travellers.
Dr. Jeanes was a valued member of the Canadian Thoracic Society and was honoured in 2008 as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.
The Canadian Lung Association is grateful to Dr. Jeanes for his enormous contributions TB control, and public health.
A private funeral will be held in Ottawa. A public memorial ceremony will also be held in Ottawa, at The Rockliffe Retirement Residence, on July 26, 2014.
Photo: Dr. Jeanes, onboard the MV Christmas Seal, interprets an X-ray of Rev. W.T. Brown at Badger's Quay in 1954.
