Dr. Ronald E. MacCormick has a long-standing and deeply-rooted connection to Cape Breton. Both his parents were born and raised in Cape Breton, and Dr. MacCormick has impacted the lives of thousands of Cape Bretoners whom he has cared for during his time as a medical oncologist at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Cancer Centre. Dr. MacCormick is devoted to the community, spending most of his career here and raising his family on the Island.
Dr. Ron MacCormick, MD, FRCPC, is an Associate Professor of the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie University, plus an Adjunct Professor at Cape Breton University. He completed his medical training at Dalhousie and his specialty training at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. He has worked in Lesotho, Africa, with World University Services of Canada and has worked extensively in the Middle East. As well, Dr. MacCormick has worked to develop an important cancer registry the Republic of Sierra Leone and leads a lecture series in the Caribbean three times a year.
Dr. MacCormick is a past recipient of the prestigious R. M. Taylor Medal of the National Cancer Institute of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society for his efforts in cancer control. In 2007, he was named Mentor of the Year by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. MacCormick has more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, numerous awards, recognitions and certifications.
The first Nova Scotian medical oncologist, founding Medical Director of the Cape Breton Cancer Centre and its current Chief of Medical Oncology, Dr. MacCormick has impacted the lives and health outcomes for innumerable patients and their families in Cape Breton and Eastern Nova Scotia. He stands as an exemplar of compassion and care in the very personal fight against cancer of his patients.
Along with his many awards and certifications, Dr. MacCormick’s advocacy work and commitment to delivering quality medical oncology care to Cape Breton and eastern Nova Scotia is unmatched. His advocacy has included active and ongoing lobbying of governments and medical bureaucracies to provide cancer care service to under-served areas of Nova Scotia.
In particular, in 1987, Dr. MacCormick visited Cape Breton and was surprised by the high rates of cancer and cancer mortality on the Island. At this time, Cape Breton cancer patients had to travel to Halifax for care. This realization began an active and aggressive advocacy campaign for cancer care in Cape Breton. The Cape Breton Cancer Centre opened its doors in 1998 thanks, in large part, to the efforts of Dr. MacCormick.
Other accomplishments include his coordination and chairing of the Cape Breton Cancer Symposium from 1998 to 2008, still Atlantic Canada’s largest ongoing cancer education event. He was a member of the National Medical Advisory Council, Canadian Cancer Society from 1999 to 2001. He has served on more than 20 national, provincial and local committees related to cancer treatment and palliative care.
Dr. MacCormick`s compassion for those in medically under-serviced areas also extends to the developing world, and he advocates for social justice initiatives in equal medical treatment for under-represented groups.
An engaged and caring father and husband, Dr. MacCormick is also a proud promoter of Cape Breton Island. Dr. MacCormick currently lives in Cape Breton with his wife, Rhoda, and they have three children, Danaio, Maggie and Sam.