Ron Stewart (Canadian politician)

The Honourable Ron Stewart CC ONS
Stewart in 2015
MLA for Cape Breton North
In office 1993 – September 15, 1997
Preceded by	Brian Young
Succeeded by	Russell MacLellan
Minister of Health
In office June 11, 1993 – June 27, 1996
Preceded by	George Moody
Succeeded by	Bernie Boudreau
Personal details
Born	(1942-10-11)October 11, 1942 North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died	October 21, 2024(2024-10-21) (aged 82)
Political party	Liberal
Residence(s)	Bras d'Or, Victoria County, Nova Scotia
Occupation	Physician, professor

Ronald Daniel Stewart CC ONS (October 11, 1942 – October 21, 2024) was a Canadian medical doctor and politician. He represented the electoral district of Cape Breton North in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1997. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.^[1] He played a role in the professionalization of emergency medicine in the latter half of the 20th century, being named a "Hero of Emergency Medicine" in 2008.^[2]

Early life and education

Stewart was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to father Donald and mother Edith,^[3] and raised in Sydney Mines.^[4] He graduated with his BA and BSc from Acadia University,^[4][5] and from Dalhousie University in 1970 with his medical degree.^[6] During his time as an intern at the VG Hospital he was heavily influenced by his professor and head of Emergency Medicine Dr. Bob Scharf.^[6] Upon graduation, he began his medical career by taking up a rural practice in Neil's Harbour, Nova Scotia.^[5]

Medical career

In 1972, after two years in Cape Breton, Stewart entered the residency program in Emergency Medicine at the University of Southern California.^[5] He was the first medical director in the Los Angeles paramedic program.^[5] In Los Angeles, Stewart treated patients like Charles Manson.^[3] While working in Los Angeles he was also hired as a consultant for the television shows Emergency! and Marcus Welby, M.D..^[3]

In 1978, he left California for Pennsylvania, where he served as the founding head of the emergency medicine department at the University of Pittsburgh.^[3] He was appointed medical director for the Department of Public Safety of Pittsburgh,^[4] where he was known as "Doctor Emergency".^[7]

In 1988, Stewart returned to Canada, first to the University of Toronto and then to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to teach and establish a pain and trauma research lab.^[5]

Stewart served as the chairman for study of health reform in United States, which advised Bill Clinton, that looked at one phase of ambulatory care and the training standards with regards to emergency care. In 2008, the American College of Emergency Physicians named Stewart a "Hero Emergency Medicine."^[2] Stewart is considered "a remarkable pioneer in the field of Emergency Medicine and EMS," for which he credited his "island-bound" upbringing and sense of community.^[8]

Political career

Stewart entered provincial politics in the 1993 election, defeating Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Brian Young by over 1500 votes in the Cape Breton North riding.^[9][10] In June 1993, Stewart was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Health.^[11][12]

Stewart commissioned several reports on health care reform. Based on these reports, a reform of Nova Scotia's health care system was started in 1994, with the provincial government taking over control of ground ambulance operations and consolidating them into a single entity called Emergency Health Services.^[13]

Stewart resigned from cabinet on June 27, 1996, and was replaced by Bernie Boudreau.^[14][15] On September 15, 1997, Stewart resigned as MLA, opening up a seat for premier Russell MacLellan to run in a byelection.^[16][17][18]

After politics

Stewart founded the Music-in-Medicine program at Dalhousie Medical School, which is part of their Medical Humanities Program.^[4][19] Stewart later served as the Honorary Colonel of 35 (Sydney) Field Ambulance.

Stewart died from cancer in October 2024, at the age of 82.^[20]

Awards and honours

In 1993, Stewart was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.^[21] In 2006, he was named a Member of the Order of Nova Scotia.^[22] In 2023 he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada.^[23] In 2008, Stewart was named a Hero of Emergency Medicine by the American College of Emergency Physicians.^[5] Stewart has also received honorary doctorates from Acadia University (DSc-1989), Cape Breton University (LLD-2010)^[4] and Dalhousie University (2017).^[24]

References

1. "Electoral History for Cape Breton North" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
2. "Obituary of Ronald Daniel Stewart | T.J. Tracey Cremation & Burial Specialists - Halifax". tjtracey.com. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
3. Meek, Jim (April 22, 2007). "Ron Stewart's long strange trip". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
4. "Ronald Daniel Stewart". Cape Breton University. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
5. "Stewart named Hero of Emergency Medicine by American College of Emergency Physicians". Cape Breton Post. April 3, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
6. "Ron Stewart MD and MLA" (PDF). Canadian Parliamentary Review. Spring 1994. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
7. Haddow, Rodney; Stewart, Ian (2000). The Savage Years: The Perils of Reinventing Government in Nova Scotia. Formac. p. 122. ISBN 9780887805097. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
8. "NAEMSP Remembers Ronald D. Stewart, M.D., FAEMS". NAEMSP. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
9. "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1993" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. p. 47. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
10. "Liberal sweep claims cabinet ministers". The Chronicle Herald. May 26, 1993. Archived from the original on August 30, 2000. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
11. "Historic Liberal cabinet sworn in". The Chronicle Herald. June 12, 1993. Archived from the original on August 30, 2000. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
12. "New cabinet in Nova Scotia smaller by one". The Globe and Mail. June 12, 1993.
13. "Information Morning Cape Breton: Dr. Ron Stewart interview". CBC Radio. September 29, 2011. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
14. "Boudreau trump card in shuffle: Health gets top billing". The Chronicle Herald. June 28, 1996.
15. "Premier shuffles cabinet". Government of Nova Scotia. June 27, 1996. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
16. "Ron Stewart calls it quits" (PDF). Cape Breton Post. September 16, 1997. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
17. "Stewart quits politics" (PDF). The Daily News. Halifax. September 16, 1997. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
18. "Distrust wrecked minister's hopes". The Globe and Mail. September 22, 1997.
19. "Dalhousie Medical School biography". Dalhousie University. Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
20. "Nova Scotia emergency medicine pioneer and politician Ron Stewart dies at 82". CBC News. October 22, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
21. "Order of Canada". Governor General of Canada. April 22, 1993. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
22. "Order of Nova Scotia: Recipients-2006". Government of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
23. "Order of Canada appointees – December 2023". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
24. "Ronald D. Stewart". Dalhousie University. Retrieved 2018-06-13.