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 Peter Fowler: physician, teacher,
leader,
family man
When I was a young man I had the good fortune to get to know a group of university students who roomed next door – Grant House, a wonderful Scottish piper; Ray Johnson, an all-round athlete; and Peter Fowler, a swimmer of renown.
Last week I made my way up to the University of Western Ontario, to the 3M Centre, to interview the former star swimmer now turned doctor who has made a huge contribution to London and to athletic medicine.
While waiting to see Peter I wondered around the clinic that bears his name. The walls were plastered with pictures of great athletes, such as hockey player Eric Lindros, skier Todd Brooker and Olympic swimmer Alex Baumann. Many had appended to their pictures the words: “Thank you for putting me back together.”
At four Peter greeted me with outstretched hand and apologized that he had been delayed in the operating room. He graduated from Western’s medical school in 1964 and did his internship at Ann Arbor in general surgery. Paul Kennedy hired the young graduate to be his first resident in orthopedics, a natural fit for the butterfly swimmer with a bad shoulder.
Peter and Libby married the Saturday after graduation and will soon celebrate their 40th anniversary with their four children and grand kids. Looking back they have been years filled with happiness and fulfillment.
In September, 1996, Western and University Hospital combined their resources to fund the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic. Now located in the 3M Centre, it is an amazing concept – one stop sports medicine shopping that employs 100 plus associates, including sport medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, physiotherapists, radiologists, massage therapists, pedorthists and research staff. Last year there were 80,000 appointments.
The clinic, although based in the Forest city, is recognized as the cutting edge of sport’s medicine treatment in North America.
Peter is a busy man. His Tuesday and Thursday schedule begins at 6.30 a. m with eight hours in surgery, followed by rounds and meetings. Monday and Wednesday he sees 30 to 40 patients in the clinic. Fridays used to be the day set aside for administration but now is used to lecture in such places as Chicago, Miami, Edmonton and Adelaide, Australia.
With all of his “free time” he makes his way to Seaforth once a month to operate on three or four patients and see 15 to 20 more in the clinic.
After 40 years in medicine he admits that “he still enjoys tending to my patients, most of whom are keen on getting better and are willing participants in the healing process.”
Peter wouldn’t have wanted to change anything in his life. He is able to leave a legacy to his family, colleagues and his patients. He prides himself as being a good listener and being able to care about his patients and fellow human beings.
I asked Peter where he sees himself in the future. “I hope to continue operating until I’m 70, spend more time with my children and keep on skiing at Devil’s Glen.” Now that he’s a senior citizen he’s old enough to take up golf.
Betty Rutledge and Bob Furlong, with whom he has worked with for many years, summed it all up: “We’ve come to realize that, although we admire Peter
Fowler the surgeon, we have the greatest respect for Peter Fowler the man.”
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