The Malcolm S. McPhee Years - 1976 to 1995

Dr. Malcolm McPhee graduated from Queen’s University, Kingston in 1965. He moved west and became a resident in the Urology Training Program at the University of Alberta Hospital in 1967. During his years of research, he obtained his Master of Science degree in 1968 for his thesis, “Neurologic Release of Renin in Mongrel Dogs.” He obtained his Fellowship from the Royal College in 1970. He received an Oncology Fellowship at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute in New York City, where he trained under Dr. Willet F. Whitmore Jr. In 1971, Dr. McPhee commenced his Urology practice at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. He became Director of the Department of Surgery at the W.W. Cross Cancer Institute under Dr. Walter C. MacKenzie and Dr. Neil McDonald in 1976. In 1979, he established a laser laboratory at the Cross.

Dr. Malcolm McPhee

He became fervently interested in the use of laser in the therapy of cancer of the bladder and prostate. Initially, this research was confined to the hypothermic lasers, but in 1993, a focus was established for photo-dynamic therapy in association with the Dept. of Electrical Engineering’s Dr. John Tulip and Dr. Don Chapman of the Radiology-Biology Division at the Cross Cancer Institute. This group flourished and in 1990, Dr. J. William Lown of the Dept. Chemistry joined the group to provide new photo-synthesizers, hypocrellins, and diamminianthroquinones. The basic research laboratory became a major initiative of the Division of Urology, enabling over 15 residents to have direct exposure to basic research techniques during the Urology Training Program. Some of these residents obtained a MSc. in Experimental Surgery, and Dr. Ron Moore obtained a PhD. in Experimental Surgery during his two years in research.

In 1986, Dr. McPhee succeeded Dr. Bill Lakey as Director of the Division of Urology at the University of Alberta and continued in that capacity until his retirement. Dr McPhee was very active in the Canadian Urologic Association, and was President in 1987 at the meeting held at the Banff Springs Hotel. As a member of the Royal College, he made significant contributions to Canadian Urology as a member of the Council, the Executive Committee, the Evaluation Committee, and the Post-Graduate Medical Education Committee - over an eight-year period. His legacy at the University of Alberta was to place the research lab front and centre in the training program so that students, interns, and residents were always aware of the importance of research. They were also encouraged to consider academic Urology as a viable career option. He will also be remembered as the facilitator of the multidisciplinary approach to scientific research. Dr. McPhee had a large Urology practice at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. He was an aviation glider enthusiast, an accomplished piano player, and an artist. In 1994, his wife, Barbara died and he lost a great friend. He retired from Urology practice in 1995.

Dr. Eric Estey graduated from Dalhousie University in 1987. He was trained in Urology at the University of Alberta Residency Program and obtained his Fellowship in 1993. He was awarded the R.S. McLaughlin Travelling Fellowship and spent six months at Wayne State University in Detroit, under Dr. James Montie in surgery of urological malignancies. He returned to Edmonton in 1994 and established a practice at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. He is involved in clinical trials and urologic cancer surgery.

Dr. Gerry Todd graduated from the University of Alberta in 1984. He interned at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary and in the Urology Residency at the University of Alberta in 1985. He obtained his Fellowship in 1990. He spent two years on the Renal Transplantation Service at the Cleveland Clinic working with Dr. Andrew Novick under a Fellowship.

Dr. Todd returned to Edmonton to a full-time position in the Division of Urology in 1993 as an Assistant Professor. He is Surgical Director of the Renal Transplantation Program. He has participated in the Urology Residency Program to become Chairman in 1994. His meticulous surgical technique has enhanced his ability to deal with the more complicated repeat renal transplant cases seen today.

Dr. Ron Moore graduated from the University of Alberta with a Distinction and Honors in Research in 1986. His rotating internship was taken at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Although he had six years of residency at the University of Alberta, two of these years were spent in uro-oncology research at the Cross Cancer Research Lab where he obtained a PhD. in Experimental Surgery in 1991. He obtained his Fellowship in 1993. He has received numerous awards and has published numerous scientific articles. Since 1993, as an Assistant Professor of Surgery and Oncology in a full-time position, he has been funded by an Alberta Heritage Foundation Research Investigator’s Award. This funding allows him to spend 50% of his time conducting basic research in photodynamic therapy and the use of laser therapy in the treatment of urologic diseases. His practice is primarily uro-oncology and renal transplantation.

Residents who graduated during the Dr. Malcolm McPhee years included: