Barry McLellan, New CEO of Sunnybrook is a member of the Department of Surgery

Barry McLellan

Barry McLellan trained at the University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in emergency medicine. He was appointed to the Department of Surgery in the Trauma Program at Sunnybrook in 1985, and conducted research with Bob McMurtry. Barry interacted with residents from all surgical disciplines as a trauma team leader, teaching trauma care and trauma resuscitation. His research focussed on use of blood components, risk assessment of patients, quality assurance and trauma care outcome measures. He continued at Sunnybrook until December 1998 when he joined the coroner's office full time, pursuing his interest in injury prevention. He became Chief Coroner in 2004, but he has maintained connections to Sunnybrook and the Department of Surgery, as a teacher of undergraduates, and has continued to do collaborative research in injury prevention.

The Trauma Program targets specific groups and develops strategies and campaigns to prevent injuries. One Toronto campaign Barry initiated when previously at Sunnybrook educated seniors about the risk of being struck by motor vehicles while crossing the street (the "DareDevil Program"). However, the major focus for injury prevention is young people. Alcohol and substance abuse are areas of concern, as are safe driving and use of seatbelts. Barry worked with Charles Tator on a program to prevent spinal cord injury resulting from unsafe diving.

Barry's previous role at Sunnybrook, where he was vice-president responsible for trauma, the operating room, critical care, emergency and pharmacy for five years, has prepared him well for his new position as CEO, as has his role as Chief Coroner. He sees leadership and vision as the most important qualities in a CEO: "the strength of an organization lies in its team members and a CEO must be able to bring them together and move them forward."

"Barry McLellan was universally admired during his time at Sunnybrook. Everyone is looking forward to his return. This is the perfect time for a leader with the energy and enthusiasm that he is bringing to the job, to take us to the next level," says Surgeon-in-Chief Robin Richards.

Though Sunnybrook has gone through a difficult time in the last five years, it is now poised for growth in many areas, particularly as an academic research institution. Specific areas of surgical research at Sunnybrook are found in cardiac with Steve Fremes, surgical oncology with Andy Smith, Calvin Law, Natalie Coburn, breast cancer with Claire Holloway, Frances Wright, and May Lynn Quan, trauma with Sandro Rizoli, Homer Tien and Lorraine Tremblay with Fred Brenneman, prostate cancer with Laurie Klotz, Rob Nam and Vasu Venkateswaran, orthopaedics with Hans Kreder, Cari Whyne, Paul Marks and Albert Yee, burn care with Rob Cartotto and Joel Fish, and craniofacial reconstruction with Oleh Antonyshyn and Jeff Fialkov.

Sunnybrook's expansion at this time will focus on recruiting new people who will develop synergy and draw in more peer reviewed funding. Sunnybrook's strategic vision has been to focus on growth in priority areas. Growth will be in the programmatic areas including specific research foci within the programs (known as "transformation priorities"). Perinatology and gynaecology will be moving up to Sunnybrook from 76 Grenville Street providing an opportunity for clinical and academic growth in this area. The Foundation is essential for both capital and academic growth. Sunnybrook benefits from excellent community support.

Barry is married to Jeanette who is a special education teacher. They have just celebrated their 25th anniversary. They have three sons; two are in university and one in highschool. The family enjoys spending time together at their cottage where they engage in many outdoor activities, including water sports, hiking and skiing.

M.M.