Richard Fedorak speaks at the announcement of a major gift to the U of A's Women and Children's Health Research Institute on June 22, 2016.
Richard Fedorak had a keen appreciation for the people who shaped the history of the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. Throughout his time as dean, Fedorak would often share how the faculty was built "upon the shoulders of giants"-the pioneering men and women who had gone before. He saw those giants as bold visionaries who established a foundation of excellence upon which today's students, faculty and staff could dare to dream bigger and strive to reach higher.
Now that company of giants has grown by one. Fedorak joined their ranks on November 8 after a valiant fight against cancer. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and their children, Kristin and Bryan.
Early promise as a physician and researcher
Fedorak's life was driven by a deep curiosity, a natural inclination towards leadership and a strong desire to improve people's lives. His personal journey with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD) began in 1974 as a young student, leading to a medical degree with First Class Honours in 1978. While he would further his medical training elsewhere over the next eight years, Fedorak returned to his alma mater as a clinical investigator in 1986, beginning a professional relationship with the faculty that would span more than 30 years.
Bob Bailey, a close personal friend and mentor to Fedorak, remembers him as a rising star in his early years with the FoMD, foreshadowing the remarkable career that was to unfold.
"He was smart, dedicated, trustworthy, had a great sense of humor and was a good doctor. I can't think of anything that wouldn't be kind to say about him," said Bailey, a clinical professor of gastroenterology at the University of Alberta (U of A). "He truly was a superstar and that was recognizable right from the beginning."
"He was a captivating individual," added Lorne Tyrrell, former dean of the FoMD. "He was always interested in how research could improve patient care. He was extremely committed to getting patients the very best care possible. But he was also a visionary from the very start. He could see where things were going earlier on than most people."
Fedorak's foresight was a gift that served him well over the years as he grew from a young physician and academic to one of the most respected gastroenterologists in the world. Over the course of his career, Fedorak would publish more than 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, serving on multiple national and international scientific advisory boards and organizations.
His scientific pursuit of clinical solutions was rooted in a deep relationship with his inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. His family remembers him making rounds with in-patients late in the day or running a "night clinic" after his administrative work was done for the day. He was also known to fiercely advocate for patients individually and collectively for access to medications and improved standards of care.
"He put inflammatory bowel disease on the map in Alberta and trained all sorts of people, and influenced the management and teaching of IBD across the country," said Bailey.
Honed strengths to serve the greater good
While he was undoubtedly brilliant in his field, those who knew him best remember him fondly for his generosity of mentorship. Karen Kroeker, a former medical resident who trained under Fedorak's tutelage, says he was an expert at bringing out the best in individuals. She often spoke with him weekly to seek advice as she progressed in both her clinical and academic careers.
"I always called him my work Dad because he would mentor me on so many things," said Kroeker, now an associate professor in the Division of Gastroenterology. "I remember the first question he asked when he interviewed me was, 'So what's good about you?' And over time I think I realized he wanted to learn what people's strengths were so he could develop them and understand how you would contribute. He'd figure out what every person needed help with and then he would help them with that."
"When he talked to you, you felt that he had a genuine interest and that he understood you better than you understood yourself," added Winnie Wong, a colleague of Fedorak's for 20 years and current assistant dean of postgraduate medical education. Wong also considered Fedorak her mentor and became very close with him and his family.
"The greatest thing that I learned from him was that everybody has something good in them and some greatness to contribute. He never wrote anybody off. He always saw something great in that person and he would think of a way to try to optimize that quality and make that person succeed both for themselves and for the greater good."
Drove Alberta gastroenterology to the top
His talent for deploying other people's strengths would be put to good use as Fedorak took on multiple leadership roles throughout the course of his career. At the University of Alberta he would serve as Director of the Division of Gastroenterology (1996-2006), Director of the Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Centre (2005-2015), Associate Vice President (Research) (2010-2013), Interim Dean (2015-2016), and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry in November, 2016 until his passing.
Under his leadership, the Division of Gastroenterology became a world-class clinical and research centre. He established the Capital Health Colon Cancer Screening Program (SCOPE) and the Zeidler Gastrointestinal Health Centre, putting Alberta gastroenterology on the map. This attracted remarkable scientists and clinicians to contribute their expertise in Edmonton. He was also responsible for securing funds to create the Centre of Excellence in Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research (CEGIIR).
Nationally, he held many leadership positions, including President of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (1999-2000) and President of the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (2007-2018).
Those close to him attribute his many successes in leadership to a resolute work ethic, bold vision and a tenaciousness in all aspects of his life.
"He's just one of those people for whom nothing was ever impossible," said Wong. "I've concluded after many years of watching these great minds that what sets them apart to be visionary leaders is that they are not confined to the practical nature of reality. They just see what's possible and think, 'I can get it done.'"
"He was a thinker and a doer," added Bailey. "But it wasn't all, 'I'm going to do it my way.' It was, 'Here's what I think we should do and I'm going to put the plan in, but I want input. I want you to tell me what you think.'"
A flourishing faculty with Fedorak at the helm
Fedorak put his insightful qualities to work as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, putting his own stamp of excellence on the FoMD. A firm believer in the power of collaborative work, he built closer ties with Alberta Health Services and other key partners in research and care such as health foundations and their communities of donors; he helped guide the City of Edmonton's Health City initiative and drove the launch of the University of Alberta Health Accelerator program in partnership with TEC Edmonton.
He was also instrumental in helping the University of Alberta secure several major gifts, including a $54.5 million gift to the Women and Children's Health Research Institute―the largest gift in the university's history-and most recently, a $7-million commitment to recruit and establish the new Dianne and Irving Kipnes Chair in Lymphatic Disorders.
According to Dennis Kunimoto, acting dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Fedorak's greatest accomplishment in the faculty was his effort to "change the culture of the faculty from good to great," by re-invigorating a sense of pride and affinity he felt had lagged in recent years. He was a proud alumnus who believed in the U of A's promise to 'Uplift the whole people.' He made it his mission to elevate the reputation and standing of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry both nationally and globally.
"Richard was always going at 110 per cent. He was always trying to make things happen," remembered Kunimoto. "Most people who had a serious illness would have just stopped working and said, 'Well that's enough. I'm just going to take care of myself.' But he didn't. There was just so much left that he wanted to try and do."
"All the time he would say, 'I have the best job in the world," added Kroeker. "And you know what? He really believed it. Not because it always came that way, but because he would make it the best job in the world. He recognized the privilege we have in our careers and that we should appreciate it."
"He was my mentor for life."
The University of Alberta and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry will hold a celebration of Richard's life and contributions on December 11, 2018 at 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Bernard Snell Hall Theatre, Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Building, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the University of Alberta for the Dr. Richard Fedorak Memorial Fund online at ualberta.ca/medicine/givingor by mail at 2J2.00 WC Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, 8440 - 112 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7.