November 16, 2022 at 6:52 pm
Dr. Peter John Fowler of Western University’s Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic has died at the age of 84.
Hours after Fowler died Wednesday, a statement on the clinic’s Facebook page confirmed his death.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our founder, mentor, teacher and friend, Dr. Peter Fowler,” the obituary read. “Dr. Fowler passed away surrounded by his family at the University Hospital in London, Ontario, where he completed most of his groundbreaking career.”
The London native began his plastic surgery residency at Western University in 1966 under the late Dr Jack Kennedy. In 1974, he and Kennedy opened a sports injury clinic that became one of the largest sports medicine clinics in North America.
Fowler’s career continued to evolve over the years, and he quickly became an icon in the sports medicine community. He was elected president of the American Orthopedic Association for Sports Medicine, one of only two Canadians to be so honored. He was also the founding president of the International Society for Arthroscopy and Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS).
In 2018, Fowler was named an Order of Canada “in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the development of sports medicine in Canada.”
“Today, we all feel the loss of the soul of the clinic,” said Dr. Robert Litchfield, the clinic’s medical director. “It is impossible to state clearly the scope and impact of Dr. Fowler’s career. He left a lasting legacy in sports medicine, in the medical professions of London, Ontario and Canada, and across Western University campuses.”
The Fowler Kennedy Clinic said it will share more information about Dr. Fowler’s celebration of life soon.