The UBC Health community is mourning the passing of Dr. John McNeill, Professor and Dean Emeritus in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Dr. McNeill joined the Faculty in 1971. He was an exceptional researcher, specializing in the diabetic heart, and administrator, serving as Dean from 1985 to 1996 and leading the development of Canada’s first Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. For more than four decades, Dr. McNeill’s leadership helped distinguish the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences as one of Canada’s best graduate programs and research environments.
He trained hundreds of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. In 2015, two outstanding alumni established the John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award in recognition of their mentor, paving the way for future excellence in research and research capacity in health at UBC. The award recognizes outstanding mentorship by faculty members in any of UBC’s health-related disciplines who exemplify a deep commitment to fostering the professional and personal development of faculty colleagues, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows in the early stages of their academic careers.
Following his retirement in 1996, Dr. McNeill remained active in research and the UBC community, including contributing to the new Emeritus College. His extraordinary contributions were recognized in 2020 when he was awarded the Order of Canada.
UBC Health extends condolences to Dr. McNeill’s family, friends, and colleagues. He was truly dedicated to advancing health research mentorship, and he will be missed at UBC Health.
Read more about Dr. McNeill’s legacy.
Posted September 15, 2023
