Bruce Squires, A Founding Father of WAME (1934-2011)

WAME members,

Please read these thoughts from Bob and Suzanne Fletcher on the passing of Bruce Squires.

WAME has lost a founding father.  Bruce Squires dies peacefully at his home in Ottawa on 11 May, 2011. 

Bruce was Editor in Chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal from 1989-1996. As a member of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (CMJE), he participated in discussions of how ICMJE might help editors of the larger number of journal editors throughout the world to make their journals be all that they could be. When ICMJE decided that it would remain mainly as it was, a forum for the world's elite journals, Bruce was an early supporter of the notion that a new organization, for the all of the world's journals, should be formed. He was among the 22 participants from 13 countries who met in March 1995 at the Rockefeller Foundation Study and Conference Center in Bellagio, Italy. From that meeting came a proposal for "creation of a global organization of editors of peer-reviewed journals, to be called the World Association of Medical Editors." (1)

WAME was, at first, just a good idea with a few dozen members. It had to be built by volunteers into the respected, global, useful organization it is today - with 1664 members of 980 journals in 92 countries. Bruce was central to that process. As Vice President, then Secretary and Membership Chairman, he worked tirelessly to create and nurture the global communication network, through the WAME list server, that is central to everything WAME has been able to do since. He knew members personally; if you had trouble reaching one, you could contact Bruce and he would know where they were and why their email address had changed.

Bruce was a tireless advocate for the best in medical editing and an ambassador for medical journalism. In addition to his work for WAME, he gave workshops for editors throughout the world. He was a founding member of the Forum of African Medical Editors and an honorary member of the Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors.

Most of all, we remember Bruce as a man of decency, kindness, perseverance, curiosity, and happiness. He had a sunny, optimistic spirit and a ready laugh. WAME members should take a moment to remember all they owe to this wonderful man.

Bob and Suzanne Fletcher

Reference

1. Squires BP, Fletcher SW. The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME): Thriving in Its First Decade. Science Editor 2005;28(1):13-16. (Also on the WAME website)

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DEATH NOTICE/OBITUARY sent to Ottawa Citizen Globe & Mail (Toronto edition) Globe & Mail (National edition) London ON Free Press

Peacefully at home on 11 May, Bruce Paul Squires, MD., Ph.D., age 77. Husband of Patricia (McBane), father of Patti, London ON and Bruce Jr.
(Joanne Kennedy), Ottawa. Grandfather of Grady, Ella, and Audrey. Brother of Ted (Doris), Blue Mountains, Wendy (Murray Hall), Burlington,
and Larry, Milton. Also survived by nieces, nephews, and friends.

Born May 10, 1934, in Toronto, Bruce grew up in Oakville. He received his BA from Huron College in London ON and his MD. and Ph.D. degrees
from the University of Western Ontario.

Following a post-doctoral fellowship in endocrinology at Duke University (Durham, NC), where he met and married Patricia, he returned to UWO in
1965 in the Department of Physiology, rising to full professor. He received the first Douglas Bocking Award for teaching and was elected honorary president of Meds70. In 1971 he was appointed to head Westerns new Office of Service and Research in Medical Education. In 1978 he became the first Director of the Office of Health Sciences Educational Development there. He led numerous teaching workshops in North America and abroad.

Bruce was appointed Assistant Editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 1984, Scientific Co-Editor in 1986, Scientific Editor in 1987, and Editor in Chief of the CMAs Publications Department from 1989 until his retirement in 1996.. His editorials included publishing guidelines for medical articles. He was speaker and facilitator at many international conferences and workshops on medical journal editing.

He was a member of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (Vancouver Group) and the Council of Biology Editors (now Council of Science Editors). In 1995 he co-founded the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), an on-line organization comprising 1565 members representing 965 journals in 92 countries. He served WAME as Vice-President then Secretary and Membership Chairman.

Bruce participated in the founding meeting of the Forum of African Medical Editors and was an honorary member of the Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors. He was an adjunct professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, and served on the Advisory Board of the People-Centred Health Institute. He held membership in the Canadian Association of the Club of Rome, Ottawa Branch.

Bruce Squires received the Award of Merit of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (1993), an Honorary Fellowship in the American Medical Writers Association (1997), and Honorary Senior Membership in the Canadian Medical Association (1999).

In 2006 he rejoined CMAJ as Editor Emeritus during the interim search for an editor-in-chief. That December the Canadian Medical Association established the Dr. Bruce P. Squires Award, presented annually for excellence in medical journalism.

At Bruces request his body has been donated to the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario. (Thus he continues to teach medical students.) No visitation. His funeral will be held on Saturday, 14 May at 10 AM at the Church of St., Barnabas, southwest corner of Kent & James Street, Ottawa, with a reception following the service.

Bruce specified that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the St. Barnabas Church Celebration Fund, 70 James St., Ottawa ON, K1R 5M3.

Sincere gratitude to the numerous health professionals who cared for him.