He is Dr. Andrew McCallum.
Dr. McCallum was questioned about his background by Counsel for the Ipperwash Inquiry on May 10, 2005:
Here is that testimony:
(VOIR DIRE COMMENCES)
EXAMINATION-IN-CHIEF BY MS. SUSAN VELLA.
"Dr. McCallum...I understand that you are currently the Regional Supervising Coroner for Eastern Ontario?
A: That's correct.
Q: And you have been since September 2003?
A: That's also correct....
Q: And I understand that you obtained your M.D. from McMaster University in 1980?
A: Correct.
Q: You then received -- is it the F.R.C.P.C. in emergency medicine? Perhaps you could just tell us what that is?
A: It's a higher degree in medicine conferred by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in the specialty of emergency medicine.
Q: And you received that in 1987?
A: Correct.
Q: I understand that you also in 1988 received the diploma of the American Board of Emergency Medicine?
A: Yes.
Q: Since July of 2000 you have been an associate professor with the Department of Medicine at McMaster University?
A: Yes.
Q: And since October 2003, you have also been an associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine at Queen's University?
A: Correct.
Q: You are a member of a number of professional organizations including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada?
A: Yes.
Q: The American Academy of Forensic Sciences?
A: That's correct.
Q: -- and the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and you have held the science -- scientific Co-Chair of that organization since 2002?
A: Actually, that was a -- that was a self-limited appointment for a conference that was -- that I assisted in organizing.
Q: Thank you. From July 2001 to August 2003 you were Chief of Staff at Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation?
A: Yes.
Q: From 1998 to July 2001 you were the Chief of Emergency Medicine at Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation?
A: That's correct
Q: And the Medical Director of the Emergency Program at that organization?
A: That's correct
Q: You were also the Vice-Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation?
A: Yes.
Q: From December 2000 to January 2002, you were the Regional Medical Liaison?
A: That's correct.
Q: And from November 2000 to the present you have been a coroner for the Province of Ontario, Ministry of the Solicitor General.
A: That's right.
Q: As well, over the course of your career you have been a consultant in varying capacities with respect to emergency medical services?
A: That's correct.
Q: That includes, for example, having been the Consultant to the Minister of Health in the state of Kerala, India in association with their med and -- sorry, in -- in connection with designing an emergency medical services system for that state?
A: That's right.
Q: In February of 2000 you were a consultant in Mount Sinai Hospital in their utilization of ambulance diversion?
A: Yes.
Q: In February of 2001 you were a consultant to the University Health Network to provide an external review of their Emergency Department?
A: That's correct.
Q: And to provide a review of the University Health Network's emergency services?
A: That's right.
Q: You have conducted numerous reviews of care -- medical care -- conducted for the Chief Coroner for Ontario in -- in various Emergency
Departments?
A: That's right.
Q: From 1993 to 1998 you were the Director for the Department of Emergency Services for Sunnybrook Health -- Health Science Centre?
A: Yes.
Q: You were also a Medical Director for the Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructional Program at Sunnybrook?
A: That's correct.
Q: Prior to that from 1990 to '93 you were the Chief of Emergency Medicine for St. Joseph's Community Health Centre in Hamilton?
A: That's right.
Q: And prior to that, an emergency physician at St. Joseph's Hospital?
A: Yes.
Q: And before that, an emergency physician for the Toronto General Hospital?
A: That's right.
Q: You've also received various honours from your colleagues from time to time -
A: Yes.
Q: -- as listed at page 6 of your curriculum vitae?
A: That's -- that's correct.
Q: You've also held and been engaged in many professional development activities outlined at pages 7 to 8 of your curriculum vitae, including the Chair of the Board of Examiners in Emergency Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada from 1994 to 1996?
A: That's right.
Q: A member of the Board of Examiners in Emergency Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada from 1989 to 1984 -- to '94?
A: Yes.
Q: And a member of the Specialty Committee in Emergency Medicine for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada from 2001 to the present?
A: Actually, that terminated in 2003; that's -- that's -- yes.
Q: Thank you -- thank you very much. As well, you have been a member from time to time of various university committees?
A: Yes.
Q: That's listed at page 8 of your Curriculum vitae and that would include from 1990 to 1993 being a member of the Emergency Medicine Post Graduate Education Committee for McMaster University?
A: That's right.
Q: And as well, you've been on a number of hospital committees listed at pages 8 through 10 of your curriculum vitae including from 2001 to 2003 the Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee for Hamilton Health Services?
A: That's correct
Q: From 1993 to 1998 you were a member of the Trauma Physician Management Group for Sunnybrook?
A: Yes.
Q: And from 1988 to 1993 you were a member of the Acute Care Committee for St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton?
A: Also correct
Q: You are also the recipient of research awards, which are -- are listed at page 10 of your curriculum vitae?
A: Yes.
Q: And you are the author or a co-author of a number of peer reviewed publications listed at pages 10 to 11 of your curriculum vitae?
A: Yes.
Q: That would include, for example, the author of -- of a article in the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Review entitled "Negative Diagnostic Lavage in Blunt Abdominal Trauma"?
A: Yes.
Q: And in 19 -- the 1991 Canadian Medical Association Journal, co-author of a comment called "A Survey of resuscitation Training in Canadian Undergraduate Medical Programs"?
A: That's correct.
Q: As well in 1996, you were co-author of an article entitled "Pre Hospital Interventions:
Critical Resuscitation's Number 1"?
A: That's correct.
Q: And also the author of a -- editor of a non-peer reviewed document entitled: "The Road to Survival: A Review and Recommendations for Enhancement of Emergency Medical Services System in the State of Kerala, India"?
A: Correct.
MS. SUSAN VELLA: Commissioner, I would like to at this time, tender Dr. McCallum as an expert in emergency medicine, including emergency procedures and pre-hospital and in-hospital assessment and treatment of
penetrating trauma to the torso.
COMMISSIONER SIDNEY LINDEN: Does anybody have any comment or question? That's fine.
MS. SUSAN VELLA: Thank you."
A government release indicates that Dr. McCallum's appointment is effective June 4, 2008 - and that it followed "an extensive international search."
Dr. McCallum appears to have remained free from the cliques that governed the Chief Coroner's Office throughout the Charles Smith years.
To this Blogster, Dr. McCallum's commitment to emergency medicine work over several decades should serve him well as he sets out to restore confidence in the Chief Coroner's Office and turn things around in the post-Goudge era;
He has had to work closely with patients and their families at times of great stress and consequence - and must surely understand the devastating pressures on families that lose their children.
He is a worthy successor to Dr. Barry McLellan who played such a huge role in fearlessly coming to grips with the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith - no matter were the chips fell.
This Blog wishes him well.
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
