Page 41 - 10x10_Pages SRGB update November 26, 2025-standard-none-Acr4

The Queens Years: The Second Chapter

fter recovering from my illness I returned to Queen’s University medical school. I was allowed
Ato re-enter second year, 1959-60 in a new class – Meds’64. Things really began to change and
that year was memorable. By then, I had matured and began to truly embrace my path in medicine.
We began studying anatomy, which included dissecting cadavers. Back then, that hands-on approach
was standard, though it has become rare in modern medical schools. There was even a solemn
ceremony to honor those who donated their bodies to science. These experiences grounded us in
the humanity of medicine, thanks in large part to our professor, Dr. John Basmajian. He brought a
personal touch to the material, making anatomy more than just a technical subject—it was about
understanding life itself. Two decades later, I was doing a sabbatical at McMaster University. Dr.
Basmajian was on faculty there at the time and when we met in the hall he remembered me straight
away.

41