Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

2015 INDUCTEE Duncan Sinclair, PhD Health Policy, Health and Medical Education & Training, Leadership in Organizational Development

Born:

November 2, 1933

(Rochester, New York)

Education:

DVM, VS, Ontario Veterinary College (1958)
MSc (Agriculture), University of Toronto (1960)
PhD, Queen’s University (1963)

Awards & Honours:

2020: Member of the Order of Canada

2005: Ontario Senior of the Year - Kingston (with Leona M. Sinclair)

See All Awards
Picture of Duncan Sinclair

Implemented policy for the advancement of health care

Portrait of Duncan Sinclair

An Innovative and Visionary Leader in Health Care Reform

After training at the Ontario Veterinary College and pursuing a masters of science in agriculture, Dr. Sinclair completed a PhD in physiology at Queen's University. He later joined the faculty at Queen’s where he proved himself to be an exceptional leader. As Dean of Medicine, he redefined regional health care education, expanding and strengthening ties with partner hospitals. Later, Dr. Sinclair’s astute and pragmatic leadership was called upon in health care reform. His rational, courageous and diplomatic leadership led to a re‐defined health system in Ontario. Over the course of his long and varied career, Dr. Sinclair has been a trusted advisor and counsellor to many. The students, faculty, alumni, principals, premiers and prime ministers with whom he has worked hold him in the highest esteem.

Key Facts

He is the first non-MD to be Dean of Medicine in Canada

His efforts led to the creation of North America’s first alternative funding program for academic medicine, viewed as a gold standard in Canada for academic physician compensation

Served as founding chair and acting CEO of Canada Health Infoway, an organization designed to foster the development of a national capacity for health information management

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

Duncan Sinclair's legacy in health care will continue for many years to come. His ability to highlight the limitations of current structures, and then to effectively negotiate for improved systems, has left a lasting positive influence on the health care system. Dr. Sinclair's handling of health care reform reflected his wisdom that the need for efficiency during a period of fiscal restraint must be balanced so that such restraints did not impact quality of care. This stance is one for which all those who access health care systems can be thankful.

Picture of Duncan Sinclair

2023

  • Photo of Duncan Sinclair

    Duncan Sinclair inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    Winnipeg, Manitoba

  • As chair of the Associated Medical Services board, Dr. Sinclair led the creation of the AMS Phoenix Project, which focused on helping health professionals develop and sustain their abilities to provide humane care

  • The Duncan G. Sinclair Lectureship in Health Services and Policy Research was established at Queen’s University

  • Despite his retirement, Dr. Duncan Sinclair took on arguably his most challenging task in 1996 when he agreed to chair the Health Services Restructuring Commission of Ontario

    Health Policy

    The HSRC was given the power of the government to restructure the province’s 225 public hospitals and asked to recommend changes to other areas of health care. The Commission reflected the largest restructuring activity the Ontario health care system had ever seen.

  • A pragmatic visionary, Dr. Sinclair chaired the National Forum on Health

    In a contentious atmosphere, Dr. Sinclair proved his capacity for mediation as he balanced attention on the social determinants of health with the need to sustain a strong system of care for individuals.

  • Having gained a well-respected reputation for health leadership, Dr. Sinclair was seconded to the Medical Research Council to serve as its Director General of Program Operations

  • Over his long tenure at Queen’s University, Dr. Sinclair held many important positions of leadership

    From 1974-1983, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science. He was then appointed Vice Principal (Institutional Relations) and would go on to serve as Vice Principal, Services and Vice Principal, Health Sciences which included a second deanship leading the faculty of medicine.

  • Duncan Sinclair joins the faculty at Queen's University as a Markle Scholar in Academic Medicine

    This following obtaining a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College, a Masters of Science in Agriculture at the University of Toronto and a PhD in physiology at Queen's University

1966

He is a pragmatic visionary with enormous talent.

Additional Resources:

You might also be interested in these Laureates

Picture of Jonathan Meakins

Jonathan Meakins, MD

Leadership in Organizational Development

An acclaimed clinical scientist

Graduating in medicine from McGill University, Dr. Meakins pursued post-graduate training in the United States before returning to…

Learn more
Picture of Charles Hollenberg

Charles Hollenberg, MD

Leadership in Organizational Development

A leader of the Canadian academic medical community

After receiving his MD from the University of Manitoba and pursing post-graduate training in internal medicine, Dr…

Learn more