Ron Stewart

Ronald Daniel Stewart (October 11, 1942 – October 21, 2024) was a Canadian medical doctor and politician. He represented the electoral district of Cape Breton North in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1997. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. He played a role in the professionalization of emergency medicine in the latter half of the 20th century, being named a "Hero of Emergency Medicine" in 2008.

Early life and education Stewart was born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to father Donald and mother Edith, and from Dalhousie University in 1970 with his medical degree. Upon graduation, he began his medical career by taking up a rural practice in Neil's Harbour, Nova Scotia.

In 1978, he left California for Pennsylvania, where he served as the founding head of the emergency medicine department at the University of Pittsburgh. where he was known as "Doctor Emergency".

In 1988, Stewart returned to Canada, first to the University of Toronto and then to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to teach and establish a pain and trauma research lab.

Political career Stewart entered provincial politics in the 1993 election, defeating Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Brian Young by over 1500 votes in the Cape Breton North riding. In June 1993, Stewart was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Health.

Stewart commissioned several reports on health care reform. Based on these reports, a reform of Nova Scotia's health care system was started in 1994, with the provincial government taking over control of ground ambulance operations and consolidating them into a single entity called Emergency Health Services.

Stewart resigned from cabinet on June 27, 1996, and was replaced by Bernie Boudreau. On September 15, 1997, Stewart resigned as MLA, opening up a seat for premier Russell MacLellan to run in a byelection.

After politics Stewart founded the Music-in-Medicine program at Dalhousie Medical School, which is part of their Medical Humanities Program. Stewart later served as the Honorary Colonel of 35 (Sydney) Field Ambulance.

Stewart died from cancer in October 2024, at the age of 82.

Awards and honours In 1993, Stewart was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2006, he was named a Member of the Order of Nova Scotia. In 2023 he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. In 2008, Stewart was named a Hero of Emergency Medicine by the American College of Emergency Physicians.