by Dr. Bob Lester (Class of 6T2)

Dr. Juanita Arline McLEAN, née Gallaugher, at age 83, on February 6, 2023

When I first met Arline shortly after her arrival at Sunnybrook in 1971, I thought to myself, “What a lovely, quiet, and reserved person.” Little did I know that I had just bumped into a veritable dynamo.

In 1971, Arline became a staff neurologist at Sunnybrook. In 1974, she received her MSc in neurophysiology. At a time when there were very few females in neurology, she became known as a highly respected pioneer for women in this specialty.

Arline McLean

Early on, it became evident that she had great strengths in teaching and education. She was appointed Sunnybrook’s Hospital Coordinator, Undergraduate Medicine in 1977. Her natural leadership skills resulted in her being appointed Acting Head of the Division of Neurology in 1993 and subsequently, Deputy Physician in Chief of Sunnybrook’s Department of Medicine in 1994.

In the 1980s, Arline was one of the first neurologists to specialize in neurophysiology and was instrumental in creating the Sunnybrook Neurophysiology Lab. She led the lab for two decades.

Her outstanding career was recognized in 2010 when she was appointed Associate Professor Emerita, University of Toronto.

However, Arline was far more than an excellent clinician/teacher. She had an abounding passion for life. Family was of great importance to her, and she was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She always looked forward to time with her family and friends at the family cottage on Pine River in Mulmur, Ontario. She was forever ready for the next adventure and an excellent athlete, being both an accomplished curler and an ardent golfer.

It was clear to all that Arline had many exceptional gifts, a love for her work and her family, an incredible sense of kindness, and an authentic concern for helping others.

It has been written that life is a journey and death a destination. Arline’s journey was well-travelled, and she will be sorely missed by family, friends, and colleagues.

Family’s memorial https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/juanita-mclean-obituary?id=44397724