Susan MacDonald

I came to NL primarily because I had done an elective here as a medical student and fell in love with the island. When an opportunity to return on a full-time basis arose after my training at Harvard, I jumped at the chance. MUN has been a supportive environment: I have great colleagues, great students and great mentors.

Education

BScN - MacMaster
MD - McMaster
CCFP - Queen’s
Palliative Medicine – U of Alberta
Palliative Medicine - Harvard

Research/Teaching Summary

Her research interests cover symptom management, the utilization of electronic media and healthcare provision. She is a spokesperson for palliative care and Hastened Death. She is an award-winning educator in the Undergraduate Medical program at Memorial University, as the primary teacher of Palliative Care. She teaches at the postgraduate level in both Family Medicine as well as Medicine Residency programs. She spent a year as Acting Assistant Dean of Admissions. She is involved at a provincial and national level with committees in Palliative care and the College of Family Physicians and the Royal College. She was awarded Founder’s Status for her involvement in the creation of Palliative Medicine as a subspecialty of the Royal College. She is a Past President of both the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association. She is a past member of the Board of the NL College of Physicians and Surgeons, and occasionally serves on college Tribunals. Currently, she leads the initiative to create a hospice in the St. John’s area.

Awards

2007  ISD II Teacher of the Year Award
2012  ISD II Teacher of the Year Award
2014  Dr Wallace Ingram Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching
2016  Max House Award for CME/CPD
2017  Silver Orator Award, Best lectures in undergrad Medical School
2020  Certificate of Merit Award, Canadian Association of Medical Education