The University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine somberly acknowledges the passing of Dr. Arlington Dungy, Adjunct Professor of Surgery, on April 30.
During his remarkable career at the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Dungy was a vital member of our community who served in a number of leadership roles, including Associate Dean of Alumni and Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Professional Affairs.
The education, support and well-being of our students was of the utmost importance to Dr. Dungy. He is fondly remembered as the “grandfather” of the Student Affairs Office, established to promote and maintain student wellness. With the support of students continuously at the forefront of his work, he established his first of two scholarships in 1997, the Hilda Rebecca Dungy Memorial Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to MD students in need.
Dr. Dungy served as the Indigenous Program’s first Director and was instrumental in the program’s foundation. He and a small team, including former Dean Dr. Peter Walker, worked diligently over a two-year period, securing federal and provincial government support by spring of 2005. Seven student applicants in the MD Program stream became the first cohort of the Indigenous Program (known then as the Aboriginal Program) the following September.
The Dr. Arlington F. Dungy Scholarship for Students in the Faculty of Medicine’s Indigenous Program was created upon Dr. Dungy’s retirement, ensuring continued support for indigenous students wishing to pursue careers in medicine.
The legacy left by Dr. Dungy will continue to be felt by our institution for generations to come. The Faculty of Medicine is grateful and proud to have had him as a colleague, teacher, mentor and friend.