David J. Steward MB, BS, FRCPC
Jerrold Lerman, MD
It is with great sorrow that I wish to share the news that David J. Steward, MB.BS, FRCPC passed on August 31, 2023, at the age of 89 years in Blaine, Washington. Born in England, David received his MB BS with Honours from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine at the University of London, England after which he immigrated to Canada where he completed his residency in anesthesia at the University of Toronto receiving his Diploma in Anesthesia. In 1968, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and in 1969 completed his American Boards in Anesthesiology. He joined the anesthesia department at the Hospital for Sick Children in 1968, became Anaesthetist-in-Chief in 1971 and was appointed Professor of Anaesthesia at the University of Toronto in 1976. In 1984, he moved west as Anaesthetist-in-Chief at the British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital in Vancouver where he remained until 1991. David then followed in the footsteps of Digby Leigh leaving Vancouver that year for Los Angeles to become Head of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles where he remained until his retirement in 2000.
During his 32 years in practice, David watched our specialty shift from an art form to a science-based specialty that emphasized research. He quickly jumped on the research wave investigating numerous questions that resulted in over 100 peer-reviewed publications including the first report on postoperative apnea of prematurity. However, the publication of which he was most proud was the Manual of Pediatric Anesthesia, which he first published in 1979 and continues to this day. David was perhaps best known as a consummate speaker, who possessed the innate ability to deconstruct complex subjects and present them very eloquently in clear and understandable terms. As a result, he was invited to lecture at meetings and Universities all over the world. As the Chairman on Pediatric Anesthesia at the World Congress in 1984, he inaugurated the 1st World congress on Pediatric Anesthesia in the Philippines that continued for many years. In 1992 he spearheaded the Canada China Child Health Foundation that resulted from his numerous trips to lecture at hospitals and institutions in China as early as 1983 to share knowledge and teach staff the latest advances in care for infants and children. All told, there is little doubt that David ranks shoulder-to-shoulder with the giants in our specialty, who together worked tirelessly to ensure the care we provide to infants and children today is safe. Godspeed to you David, until we meet again.
PS: From Myron: David trained and influenced hundreds of pediatric anesthesiologists during his long and remarkable career. He was a giant and will be greatly missed. If you would like to share some of your memories and experiences please send to me (myasterster@gmail.com) and I will post in upcoming PAADs