ACS Governor Passes Away

The surgical community has lost a talented clinician, teacher, mentor, and advisor. Sean P. Cleary, MD, MSc, MPH, FACS, FRCSC, passed away on August 10 while participating in a triathlon. He was 52 years old.

Dr. Cleary was the Bernard and Ryna Langer Chair of the Division of General Surgery at the University of Toronto in Ontario, a location where he trained and spent a large part of his career. He also spent 7 years at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as a professor of surgery and division chair of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery. 

His commitment to his profession and his patients was notable, as was his service to professional surgical societies, including the ACS. A Fellow since 2012, Dr. Cleary served on the ACS Board of Governors and several of Board’s pillars, including Communications, Member Services, and Quality, Research, and Optimal Patient Care. He also was a specialty society representative on the Advisory Council for General Surgery. 

Dr. Cleary was a president of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons and Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, as well as a member of the board of directors of the James IV Society.

Dr. Cleary will be fondly remembered; as his colleague, Carol Swallow, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCSC, wrote, “To me, he was the consummate foot soldier turned leader, who was always there for me – reliable, wise, honest, insightful and compassionate, with a perpetually wry sense of humour.”

Read more about Dr. Cleary’s life and career.