It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Bruce Fleming. A gifted emergency physician, Dr. Fleming contributed significantly to the UBC Faculty of Medicine as a teacher, mentor, colleague and academic leader, helping to shape the medical undergraduate experience for a generation of students.
After receiving his M.D. from UBC in 1978, Dr. Fleming continued his training in Napier, New Zealand, later returning to British Columbia to complete his certification in family practice and emergency medicine.
He first joined UBC in 1988 and served as Associate Dean, Student Affairs, from 1999 to 2007. In that role he spearheaded the expansion of student services to all four distributed MD training sites across the province, and worked tirelessly to make the career counselling and mentorship programs more accessible and more responsive to the needs of all medical students.
From 2011 to 2017, Dr. Fleming served as Associate Dean, Admissions, where he oversaw MD undergraduate admissions and spearheaded new policy initiatives to improve the admissions process. A passionate supporter of the Indigenous MD Admissions pathway, he is remembered as a warm and engaging colleague who personally encouraged many prospective students to apply to UBC.
An equally generous and inspiring teacher, Dr. Fleming was devoted to medical education and student wellbeing. He received the “Outstanding Teacher” and “Outstanding Clinical Teacher” awards from fourth-year medical students and residents in Emergency Medicine. It’s no exaggeration to say that Dr. Fleming touched the lives and careers of hundreds of young doctors now practicing across B.C. and Canada.
Dr. Fleming also served on the UBC Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors and as the Executive Director of the Council of Undergraduate Associate Deans. In 2003, he was awarded the Silver Anniversary Achievement Award by his UBC medical school classmates for his contributions to the medical undergraduate program.
An avid soccer player who enjoyed playing the ukulele, Dr. Fleming was a kind and considerate physician who always ensured that his patients were well looked after, and a caring friend to many.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We will miss him dearly.