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Toronto surgeon dies triathlon while competing in Barrie event, leaving the city’s medical community in profound grief.
Tragic Event in Barrie
Dr. Sean Cleary, 52, Langer Chair of the Division of General Surgery at the University of Toronto, collapsed during a triathlon on Sunday morning in Kempenfelt Bay. Barrie police reported that Cleary went into medical distress shortly after 8:30 a.m. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Carol Swallow, Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, described Cleary as a “reliable, wise, honest, insightful, and compassionate” leader with a “perpetually wry sense of humour.” She added, “Sean has touched the lives of many of us – as a colleague, mentor, supervisor, advisor, and friend.”
A Career Dedicated to Medicine
Dr. Cleary trained at the University of Toronto as a general surgery resident and HPB (hepatopancreatobiliary) surgical fellow. He earned an MSc in cancer genetics from the university’s Surgical Scientist Training Program.
After completing his fellowship, Cleary joined the University of Toronto Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor. He served at University Health Network and Princess Margaret as an HPB surgical oncologist. Later, he developed a research program in cancer epidemiology, quickly earning a promotion to Associate Professor.
In 2016, Cleary accepted a position at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He returned to Toronto in 2023 as the Bernard and Ryna Langer Chair of the Division of General Surgery.
Community Mourns Loss
Swallow expressed deep sorrow, saying, “I wish Sean had more time to fully deliver on his vision, but much has already been achieved.” She noted that resources are available for faculty, students, and staff who are grieving.
“As a surgical family, we express our shared sense of loss and sincere condolences to Sean’s family. We have lost a fine human being whose like we will not see again,” she added.
Colleagues, students, and patients remembered Cleary for his mentorship, leadership, and dedication to advancing surgical care. His sudden death has left a significant void in Toronto’s medical community.
