Eva Waddell Mader Macdonald (7 October 1902 – 27 April 1997) was a Canadian medical professional at the

Women's College Hospital Women's College Hospital is a teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in downtown Toronto at the north end of Hospital Row, a section of University Avenue where several major hospitals are located. It currently functions ...

. She began as a medical professor in hygiene before becoming the Director of Laboratories at WCH from 1945 to 1952."Notes: Dr. Eva Mader Macdonald." Archives of Women's College Hospital. Outside of medicine, Macdonald was the chancellor of the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

from 1974 to 1977.

Early life and education

In 1902, Macdonald was born in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

. In 1927, she graduated from

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus ...

and went to the

with a health scholarship. She received a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine in 1929.

Career

In 1927, Macdonald began her medical career as an intern at Nova Scotia Sanatorium. After a brief stint at Nova Scotia Sanatorium, Macdonald began working at the

in 1929. At the Women's College Hospital, Macdonald was a medical professor in hygiene for the University of Toronto until 1933. During her career, she held multiple positions for the Women's College Hospital, including Hospital Bacteriologist (1939–1945), Director of Laboratories (1945 to 1952), and Director of Hospital Health (1953–1968). During her time at Women's College Hospital, Macdonald co-developed, with Marion Hilliard, a simplified

Pap test The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE), cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes i ...

in partnership with W. L. Robinson of the Banting Institute. Alternatively, Macdonald began working as a private practitioner in 1952 and continued until 1962. In 1963, Macdonald created an initiative called Operation Recall to convince former women doctors to return to their careers. Outside of her health career, Macdonald replaced Pauline McGibbon as the chancellor of the University of Toronto in 1974. Macdonald held the position of chancellor until 1977 and retired in 1978.

Awards and honours

In 1974, Macdonald was named alumna of the year of

Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine The Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University, also known as Dalhousie Medical School, is a medical school and faculty of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Faculty of Medicine has operated continuously since 1868 and is ...

. In 1975, Macdonald was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by

Mount Saint Vincent University Mount Saint Vincent University, often referred to as the Mount, is a public, primarily undergraduate, university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and was established in 1873. Mount Saint Vincent offers undergraduate Arts, Science, Edu ...

Personal life

Macdonald was married with two children.

Death

Macdonald died on 24 April 1997.

References

External links

Eva Mader Macdonald oral history interview
held at th
University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, Eva Waddell Mader 1902 births 1997 deaths Canadian medical academics Chancellors of the University of Toronto Place of death missing Academics from Nova Scotia