2010 INDUCTEE William A. Cochrane, MD Leadership in Organizational Development, Health and Medical Education & Training, Health Policy

William A. Cochrane inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Calgary, Alberta

Dr. Cochrane moved into the realm of business as Chairman and CEO of Connaught Laboratories

At Connaught, he championed a new strategy for the company that focused on genetic engineering.

Dr. Cochrane became President of the University of Calgary

As president, he established the Faculties of Humanities and Law.

Dr. Cochrane became Alberta’s Deputy Minister of Health

This interlude from the University of Calgary was brief and by the following year he was back at the University of Calgary.

Driven by a desire for new challenges, Dr. Cochrane left the Maritimes with a mandate, but limited resources, to develop a medical school at the University of Calgary

Attracted by the opportunity to start afresh, he introduced a systems-based approach to teaching medicine and began one of only two three-year MD training programs in North America.

Dr. Cochrane secured funding and government support for the new Children Hospital in Halifax.

The Isaac Walton Killam Hospital for Children opened 1970.

Dr. Cochrane shifted his focus and accepted an academic position at Dalhousie University.

While in Halifax, he initiated the first Cystic Fibrosis clinic in the Maritimes and formed the Atlantic Research Centre for Mental Retardation. In 1963, Dalhousie appointed Dr. Cochrane as Physician-in-Chief of the Children’s Hospital.

Returning to Toronto, Dr. Cochrane began his pediatric practice in an office in a drugstore across from the Toronto East General Hospital.

He also continued his affiliation with Sick Children’s Hospital and was appointed to their medical staff.

Dr. Cochrane chose to pursue his growing interest in paediatric sub-specialization.

In 1953, he became a research fellow at the Cincinnati Hospital and the following year moved to Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London. His research interests led to the development of an acetone tolerance test to diagnose glycogen storage disease of the liver (1953) and to the Cochrane (L-leucine) test in 1956.

After graduating medical school, Dr. Cochrane completed an internship in paediatrics.

He then became a resident in pediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children and soon rose to the position of Associate Chief Resident.