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Philip C Etches, MA, MB, FRCP(C), FRCP (Lond), FAAP, FRCPCH, DCH

Phil was born in Leeds, England, on 4 September 1945 and passed away peacefully on 20 March 2018 in West Vancouver, BC. Loving husband of Wai and proud father of Nick, he will be dearly missed by family, friends and colleagues.

Phil had an idyllic childhood in Hornsea, Yorkshire, where he made many deep and lifelong friendships. He obtained his medical training at Cambridge University (where he attained First Class Honours) and St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, and graduated as a physician in 1969. After obtaining his MRCP in 1972, he decided to pursue a career in Pediatrics and subspecialized in Neonatology, completing a fellowship in Neonatal Medicine at Denver Children’s Hospital, Colorado, USA. He and Wai emigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, in 1980, where he joined the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta as a staff neonatologist based primarily at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), which served one of the largest newborn delivery services in Canada. He went on to become Director of the RAH NICU and was the first Regional Director and Head of Newborn Medicine, Capital Health Authority, Edmonton. Phil was part of the RAH team that developed the first and most active neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program in Canada, which for many years was the only program in Western Canada. The RAH team was also one of the first to use inhaled nitric oxide therapy in term neonates. Phil was a compassionate and caring physician, an excellent clinician, and a very well respected mentor. His commitment to patient care was exemplary, and he was much loved and respected by colleagues and co-workers, who felt he was someone with whom they could always share their concerns. During his long career at the RAH, Phil taught generations of residents and medical students, for whom he was an excellent role model. He spearheaded the planning, design and establishment of a new state-of-the-art NICU at the RAH in 2000, which will remain one of his fondest legacies. For his longstanding service on the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) Committee on Reproductive Care, which was instrumental in the development of the Alberta Perinatal Health Program, he was recognized with the AMA Member Emeritus distinction in 2006 and the Canadian Medical Association Honorary Membership Award in 2011.

Phil was a very loving and caring husband and father, devoting all his time outside of work to Wai and Nick. He had a very active role in Nick’s upbringing, and along with Wai, happily spent many hours sitting in cold hockey rinks and standing on the sidelines of soccer fields in all weather conditions. He taught Nick the values he observed all his life: compassion, integrity, generosity, a constant readiness to help others, and a great work ethic. Phil grew up with a strong sense of social justice and cared deeply about environmental issues. Throughout his professional life he was a passionate supporter of Medicare, and he was profoundly grateful for the excellent care he received over the past couple of years. He also supported many charities, particularly those aimed at helping people in developing countries. His endearingly goofy sense of humour will be sorely missed by all.

After retirement, Phil and Wai moved to West Vancouver in 2010, where he enjoyed skiing, cycling and running. They loved travelling, and went on many cruises and trips together through the years.

Phil will live on in the numerous babies he helped to save and also in the many trainees he mentored. He will live on in our hearts and minds forever.