Dr Stanley A. Hashimoto, 1938–2016

Dr Stanley Hashimoto passed away on 3 December 2016 surrounded by his loving family at Vancouver General Hospital, where he served as a neurologist for 45 years. He is survived by his wife, Terrie; his daughters, April and Lara; his son, Skip (Nancy); and two grandchildren, Roy and Reid.

Dr Hashimoto was born in New Westminster on 2 January 1938 as a 3.5-lb premature baby and endured the struggles of being a Japanese Canadian during the Second World War, including the internment dictated by the War Measures Act. Following the war Japanese Canadians were not allowed to return to the Lower Mainland until after 1949, so Dr Hashimoto lived in Lake Louise and later moved to Calgary where he graduated from Central High. Dr Hashimoto graduated from medical school at the University of Alberta, where he also met his future wife, Terrie. In 1962 the newlyweds moved to Vancouver and Dr Hashimoto completed his internship at Vancouver General Hospital. After they had their first child, April, the young couple moved to Bralorne, BC, where Dr Hashimoto served as the only general practitioner for the small mining town in order to save enough money to complete his residency specialty program.

After 2 years of general practice, the challenging specialty of neurology, with its infinite potential for discovery, understanding, and advancement of patient diagnosis, treatment, and benefits, sparked an interest in Dr Hashimoto. The family returned to Vancouver where he completed his postgraduate training in neurology and neuropathology, followed by a year at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr Hashimoto joined the UBC Faculty of Medicine in 1974, which began an esteemed 45-year career of practising neurology. During this period Dr Hashimoto was the director of the postgraduate neurology program (1990–2001), which he described as some of the most rewarding years of his career. Through his tenacity and passion for training future neurologists he personally raised funds for residents to attend conferences and finance additional learning opportunities while attending to his private practice and university appointment. He shaped the careers of many neurologists who have continued his legacy of compassionate care and clinical excellence. As noted by his Asian colleagues, Stanley was a pioneer in the Japanese Canadian community, as one of the first Japanese Canadians appointed to the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

From 1980 to 2000, Dr Hashimoto and his close colleague, Dr Donald Paty, established the University of British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis clinic, which has grown to be the largest and most respected MS clinic in the world for its multidisciplinary approach to treating and supporting MS patients. In the latter years of his practice Dr Hashimoto expanded the MS clinic’s reach by establishing satellite clinics in Prince George and Victoria, which he would attend regularly.

In recognition of his incredible contributions to the medical field Dr Hashimoto was inducted into the CMA and Doctors of BC as an honorary member in 2007. He was also awarded the position of professor emeritus at UBC for his dedication to his patients and postgraduate teaching.

Dr Hashimoto will be remembered for his achievements as a diagnostician and clinician and for his many contributions to the specialty of neurology, from resident training to caring for his many patients. His kindness, determination, sense of humor, and energy will be missed by his family and many friends and colleagues. 
—The Hashimoto family
Vancouver
—Eric Yoshida, MD
Vancouver