After a 40-year career as Bridgepoint’s first —and only—Ophthalmologist, Dr. John Fowler has hung up his Ophthalomoscope. Friends and colleagues gathered earlier this summer to celebrate his career at Bridgepoint and wish him well in his retirement.
In opening remarks at the celebration, Dr. Mark Lachmann, Bridgepoint’s Medical Lead, described Dr. Fowler as “endlessly generous with his time, particularly with regards to teaching. “In medicine we learn from those who come before us and Dr. Fowler is one of those people who has taught us to be not only better physicians but also better people in our own lives,” he said.
Dr. David Yan, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at Sinai Health System noted: “Dr. Fowler has greatly influenced the careers of many ophthalmologists who are now leaders in our field, including my own. He was the quintessential role model for championing the teaching of medical students, residents and family physicians about primary eye care, and inspired many physicians to take an active role in education.”
Most recently on September 27, 2017, Dr. John Fowler was awarded the highly prestigious Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s Excellence for Educational Leadership in Ophthalmology Award, in recognition for his distinguished career of service to the specialty of Ophthalmology. MPP Soo Wong, surrounded by ophthalmology peers and other members of provincial parliament, presented the award at the main Legislative Building at Queen’s Park.
Dr. Fowler was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Toronto’s medical school in 1958 and went on to work in general practice at Toronto’s East General and Orthopaedic Hospital. Dr. Fowler also served as a physician in the Canadian Navy. He obtained his PhD in Medical Biophysics and then did his residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto from 1969-1972. He was appointed Director of the Ophthalmology Department at the University of Toronto in 1974 and held the position until 1986 when he started working as an Associate Professor.
Dr. Fowler has skillfully taught at the University of Toronto for almost 50 years. In addition to Sinai Health System (Bridgepoint campus), he has been on staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and The Toronto East General Hospital (now Michael Garron Hospital). Dr. Fowler is best recognized in Ontario for his commitment to teaching ophthalmology to residents, medical students, nurses and family doctors. He is the founder of the widely renowned conference “Primary Eye Care Day” that empowers primary care providers to learn about general ophthalmology in order to assist their patients across Ontario.
In addition to speeches, the retirement celebration included a musical tribute by Katherine Brown, Coordinator, Academic Education at Bridgepoint. Katherine and Dr. Fowler play trumpet in a local band and Dr. Fowler is a fan of big band music. Katherine surprised Dr. Fowler with her solo trumpet performance of Chattanooga Choo Choo a song originally recorded by the swing dance band Glen Miller and His Orchestra.
Congratulations and happy retirement to Dr. John Fowler!
From left to right: Dr. David Yan (Ophthalmologist-in-Chief), Brenda Fowler, Dr. John Fowler, Dr. Stephanie Low (new Bridgepoint ophthalmologist), Dr. Mark Lachmann (Physician Lead)