We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Jack Taunton, Professor Emeritus in the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Family Practice, an associate member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH) and co-founder of the BC Brain Wellness Program.
As one of the pioneers in sport and exercise medicine in Canada, he helped found countless organizations and initiatives including SportMedBC and the Canadian Health and Fitness Institute.
Dr. Taunton’s journey as a sports medicine doctor began in his childhood as his recovery from several serious health challenges sparked his interest in medicine. He was also an accomplished marathon runner, competing in multiple marathons around the world. In 1971, he started Canada’s first road-running club, the Lions Gate Road Runners, and organized local races which would later grow to become the Vancouver Marathon and the Vancouver Sun Run.
After completing his Doctor of Medicine at UBC in 1976, Dr. Taunton co-founded the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, the first clinic of its kind in Canada, with Drs. Doug Clement and Don McKenzie. As director of the centre for over 25 years, he worked with athletes as both a doctor and a coach, and with students as a graduate supervisor, clinical teacher and mentor. He was also actively involved in clinical and exercise medicine research, with a keen interest in overuse injuries, injury prevention, concussion in sports and cardiac disease in athletes. His dedication to treatment and rehabilitation has redefined care for athletes and inspired countless professionals in the field.
Throughout his career, Dr. Taunton also served as a specialist for elite athletes and the general public, as a national team physician and as chief medical officer for numerous Olympics, including the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver.
In 2019, Dr. Taunton co-founded the BC Brain Wellness Program (BCBWP) with Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell. The idea of the program was to provide complementary support for people who access the clinics at the DMCBH and their care partners, and outreach to the larger community as a preventative intervention to support healthier aging. Over the past five years, the BCBWP has offered free, evidence-informed exercise and lifestyle classes, both in-person and online, to over 2,000 participants across the province.
His dedication and innovation garnered Dr. Taunton many awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Academy of Sport & Exercise Medicine and induction into both the UBC and BC Sports Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, he was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honours.
As a lifelong educator and mentor, Dr. Taunton will be remembered for his boundless energy and unwavering commitment to health and wellbeing. While the UBC community will miss Dr. Taunton greatly, his legacy will endure in the thousands of lives he has touched and the pioneering advancements he has made in his field.
