sPring 2011 University of toronto medical al U m n i association magazine MAAMatters 100 years of daffydil drama Laughter is the best medicine Female oncologists go online • thanks to donors TREASURER’S REPORT DR. RONN GOLDBERG (CLASS OF 1981) Alumni donate almost $300,000 in 2009/2010 15 per cent drop in donations a core value, the MAA and $3,560,253, which is a 7.5 per cent our membership believe that increase from the previous year despite As the future alumni of our the portfolio funding budget shortfalls world-class medical school should not resulting from the drop in donations. be deterred from a world-class medical I would especially like to thank Ruth education because of overwhelming Gillings and her MAA staff, as well as the financial concerns. board and executive for their dedication The MAA raises funds through direct and hard work. Thanks also to our mail appeals, online donations, gifts of members, students, volunteers and the securities, and income from designated Faculty. I am also grateful to our donors, Ph ot funds. Last fiscal year, despite the recession, whose commitment is generous and OGRAP our alumni generously donated $295,722. commendable; I encourage all alumni to hy: hy: While representing a significant 15 per consider the importance of supporting ta y cent decrease from 2008/2009, these funds bursaries, and $162,000 in student loans today’s students, tomorrow’s alumni – and LOR allowed the MAA to distribute on your – as well as supporting alumni events. the tradition that links us together. zh OU behalf $177,190 in scholarships and At year end, our portfolio was valued at DEAN’S MESSAGE DR. CathARiNE WhiTESiDE (CLASS OF 1975) specific challenges of a medical education Friends, fun, and clinical practice. These friendships often flourish during key pieces of extracurricular activities both organized and casual. From Daffydil and the myriad student life of volunteer programs to spontaneous tudents come to the Faculty of coffee dates and dinners, these aren’t just Ph otograp Medicine to become doctors, to diversions from academics. They are an dedicate themselves to continual integral piece of student life. S M hy: enrichment of their intellect and practical Students may not recognize the significance clinical skills. Along the demanding road of of these relationships when they are in the acdonnel study, they also acquire something equally thick of their studies. But members of the as important – lifelong friends. MAA can attest to their importance, not only Ph otograp Those of us who have gone through the remain forever. They provide a vibrant life as a support during education and training, experience know that relationships forged beyond academics. And they provide a but as treasured associations and friendships, hy during medical school and residency support network uniquely attuned to the forged in shared formative experiences. MAA Matters is published by the Design and Art Director: The MAA respects your privacy. Medical Alumni Association in Luisa De Vito We do not rent, trade or sell our co-operation with the University For more information, please contact: mailing list. If you do not wish of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine. Ruth Gillings, Room 3249, Medical to receive MAA Matters, please contact Editor: Fiona irvine-Goulet Sciences Building, 1 King’s College us via phone, fax, or email. Contributors: Celeste Alora, Taren Circle Toronto M5S 1A8 Byrne, Paul Cantin, heather Evans, Tel.: (416) 978-0991 Dr. Suan-Seh Foo, Ruth Gillings, E-mail: [email protected] Medical Alumni Association Dr. Ronn Goldberg, Julie Lafford, Website: http://maautoronto.ca Nadia Molinari, Dr. Tom Patterson, On the cOver: Julienne Ramos, Dr. Martina Trinkaus, Cast members of the Dr. Catharine Whiteside, Jennifer 2011 Daffydil show. 2 University of Toronto • Spring 2011 Williams, Dr. Peter Wyshynski Photo: Trason Fernandes cover story 100 years oF daFFydil drama Venerable student variety show celebrates a century of entertainment nothing to do with narcissus, spring or ducks Where did the name “Daffydil” come from? It was first used in 1912, derived from a comic strip in the Toronto Sunday World newspaper. “Daffydowndilly” was a small figure with a pumpkin-like head who offered a weekly wise-crack or play on words to readers. “I saw a horsefly through a window. Do you suppose it felt pain?” was the kind of groaner Daffydowndilly was likely to utter. es ND a N Fer ON ras t : : O t students sing and dance up a storm in 2011 daffydil show O 2011 Ph there is nO dOubt thAt University of Toronto Faculty of “Why do students want to Medicine alumni have tremendous star participate in daffydil?” power. Sir Frederick Banting, Dr. Ernest “If you put 250 high-achieving, A-type McCulloch and Dr. William Thornton personalities in one room, you’re fortunately going to get people who can Mustard are just a few of our stellar sing, dance or play an instrument. It’s a grads whose accomplishments shine great thing that a lot of med students’ brightly around the globe. But who extra-curricular activities are already knew that the innovator of the “Mustard in line with what Daffydil is all about.” Stuart Douglas (2013), Co-Producer, Operation” was also the esteemed Daffydil 2011 winner of the Daffydil Cup, presented to the 1936 med student “showing the much more than ample medical talent. most outstanding acting ability”? Herewith, according to Torontonensis That award – and his participation 1925 is a short, selective history of in the Faculty’s annual Daffydil variety the “two-night performance of show – may not show up in Dr. Mustard’s colour, sarcasm and humour, Canadian Medical Hall of Fame bio, depicting situations that might but it is proof that many of our past – amuse the morbid mind of and present – students are blessed with the future medico. .” Medical alumni association 3 cover story 100 years oF daffydil 1945 1989 “it was a real bonding experience” 2000 “Some of the people who were in the shows with me are still my really good friends today. It was so much fun and a real bonding experience.” Dr. Jacqueline James (1987) Member of the Daffydil chorus and speaker at Daffydil 100th Anniversary Gala, January 2011 1895 1910 1912 1913-1922 1922 Reportedly the year the Marauding med The first official Faculty members Reportedly the first first U of T all-student students participated performance of medical awarded a “Daffydil year female students medical show took in a downtown Toronto skits – a.k.a “Daffydil” Loving Cup” to the were allowed to place (some sources say Halloween demonstra- – took place in class year judged to perform in the skits. 1897). A puppet show tion – some say riot – Convocation Hall, have the best skit. Made Due to its bawdy in the British “Punch prompting Dr. Charles in front of approximately in Birmingham, England, content, the Faculty and Judy” style, the Clarke, the dean of 1600 people. Some in 1921, this silver cup began censoring the performance featured medicine at the time, reports state that faculty was permanently won show. This was known send-ups of professors. to implement a more were not invited; others by the Class of 1922 as “the cleaning for acceptable outlet for say that teaching staff and now sits in the the dean.” youthful energy. Since were awarded free MAA office. The cup’s the invention of video seats in the front row. base is engraved with games was still decades Many of the skits were a list of names from away, the Medical off-colour. 1988 until 1992. It’s Society duly decided not clear what these that performing medical names represent. skits would fill the bill. thaNKs tO Dr. Tom PattersON, Maa volunteer arChiVist, FOr his researCh assistaNCe. 4 University of toronto • spring 2011 1980 1978 1939 1945 1953 1987 2011 When the Second Students petitioned to The first time an “In late February, Daffydil debuts as a World War began, have Daffydil reinstated. original operetta, the show is brought musical and turns 100. the Faculty took the The Faculty agreed, known as “The together in its rather opportunity to ban assured by the Medical Anomaly” was osteoporotic, skeletal Daffydil’s wild perfor- Society that the show performed as part form before our mances, telling the would be non-offensive of Daffydil. The operetta director’s gaze; usually Medical Society to to an average audience. featured the first one of either stark discontinue them. The ode ever sung to terror, or tearful Med Society rejected an appendix. remorse.” the order, but after – Daffydil description, university administration from 1987 Faculty of intervened, the show Medicine Yearbook was closed down for over $500,000 for the the duration of the war. canadian cancer society Over the past few decades Daffydil has donated over $500,000 to the Canadian Cancer Society, receiving the Society’s Community Partner Award in 2006. Show producers expect to raise about $30,000 for the Society in 2011. 2011Medical alumni association 5 Thanks TO MAA DONORS 2010 dedicated donors From student financial assistance to Med Society support, your MAA donation makes a difference classes oF Dr. Thomas Robson Dr. Donald Cruickshank Dr. Bernard Langer Dr. Arthur Price Dr. Katherine Turner 1930 TO 1939 Dr. Donald Ross Dr. George Davis Dr. Beverly Lewis-Harris, Dr. David Price Dr. Nancy Tuttle Dr. Louis Lester Dr. Alexander Rota Dr. Ruth Davis in memory of Dr. Janice Dr. Gordon Prowse Dr. Murray Tyber Dr. George McQuade Dr. Irving Rother Dr. John Deadman Huffman and Dr. Dr. Gordon Ralph Dr. David Van Praagh Dr. Benson Rogers Dr. George Sanger Dr. George deVeber Dorothea Kulis (1957) Dr.