Peter J. Fowler, M.D., FRCSC
London, ON

On Sunday, September 8, 2002 in New Jersey, Sandy Kirkley and her husband Michael were killed in a small plane crash. Their young sons Colin and Connor were injured, but have survived. As I write this, Colin is recovering at The Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto and Connor has returned to school.  

I first met Sandy more than twenty years ago when she was an undergraduate student here at the University of Western Ontario (UWO). She was a varsity swimmer with a painful shoulder. We talked about the rotator cuff and why it was overloaded, especially in her situation with concomitant shoulder laxity. She worked hard at her rehabilitation and recovered. Her keen interest in her problem and her curiosity about the shoulder itself became the thread that wove its way through her career and our friendship over many years.

She went on to medical school at Western. Early on, she expressed a desire to enter orthopaedics and was accepted into the residency programme at McMaster University in Hamilton. This was good fortune, particularly, as she was encouraged to take a Masters of Science degree in Health Research Methodology. Following her residency, she completed a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine at UWO. She joined our faculty in 1994 and was a vital part of the University's Orthopaedic Division, particularly the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Section.

Almost immediately, Sandy set her course as a clinical investigator. With energy, determination and enthusiasm that never faltered, she organized clinical trials and obtained funding to carry them out. She successfully applied her epidemiological skills to both every day orthopaedic maladies and to those that are less common. She established evaluation tools that take into account quality of life, socio-economic and other features important to the patient. Designing randomized studies to assess an intervention, a device, or clinical examination test was her talent. Every day she pounded into all of us proper scientific principles applied to the evaluation of clinical problems.

She quickly gained notice, both nationally and internationally and rose rapidly in the ranks of many organizations. She had already served as president of the sport medicine section of the Ontario Medical Association, and the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine. She had been on the research committees of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, the Lawson Health Research Institute and both the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Surgery at UWO.

Her work has been widely published as both peer reviewed and solicited articles in textbooks, and on the Internet. In these difficult fiscal times, she and her colleagues have acquired over $2M to fund current research. Today, there are at least twenty-one projects in progress, some small, some not so small, and many dealing with the sore shoulder. As well, she earned two major Senior Research Scholar and Investigative Awards from national granting agencies and won eight awards for her research. Eleven more have been awarded to students under her supervision.

In her day-to-day work, Sandy was a spirited member of our sport medicine team. No one was prouder than she was, when our clinic was chosen for the 2002 UWO Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry's Team Award. Despite the demands of her academic and research responsibilities, she was a conscientious practitioner who paid attention to her patients' individual situations. Many patients have written to tell us how she took the time not only to deal with their surgery and recovery programmes, but also to talk about other interests.

Earlier this year, she travelled to Europe for three and one half weeks as one of three Fellows selected to represent the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. This was not only an important milestone in her professional career, but also a great opportunity for her to share her knowledge, philosophy and convictions with countless members of the international orthopaedic community.

One month ago Sandy was featured in Canada's "The Medical Post" in an article entitled "Researcher is a role model for young Orthopods." The story correctly pointed out the positive influence Sandy had on young women wishing to enter the male dominated specialty of orthopaedic surgery. This is certainly true. But, it must also be mentioned that she inspired, motivated, and indeed impressed many young men - and older ones too.

Sandy's work and accomplishments were important to her - but not as important as her family. Her stories of Colin and Connor's antics, told with amusement and pride, always made us chuckle. Somehow, even with her often impossible schedule, she managed to get to their school functions, their guitar lessons and their hockey games.

Here at UWO, during the 2002's Orthopaedic Residents Day on September 19, Sandy was honored by the residents. In a beautiful tribute filled with respect and admiration, they remembered her as a teacher and mentor. Also on this day, The Sandy Kirkley Award for Best Clinical Research was established and will be presented annually. On September 21, at the annual meeting of the Canadian Orthopaedic Residents Association (CORA), one of the group's three annual awards was renamed in Sandy's memory.

It has been several weeks now, but the harsh truth of Sandy's absence is not yet a reality. What is real and present in our daily lives here is her spirit, her intellect, the huge joy she felt in her work and in her life. She has left us with a great legacy - one that we pledge to honour and build upon. We will complete Sandy's projects and, in the years to come, we will see to it that her shining example paves the way for many more.

October 21, 2002