Image: Fraser Health / The late Dr. Melanie Madill, an acclaimed Chilliwack physician who held multiple roles in the community. She passed in November 2023. A celebration of her life will be held this weekend in Chilliwack. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Dr. Melanie Madill

Celebration of life this weekend for beloved Chilliwack family doctor

Apr 25, 2024 | 9:04 AM

CHILLIWACK — She’s been described as an adored wife, proud mother, esteemed mentor, and a faithful friend.

And in her medical practice, Dr. Melanie Madill embodied everything you could possibly want in a family doctor: a caring practitioner, a fearless advocate and a thoughtful leader.

Family, friends, medical colleagues and the community she impacted will gather this Saturday, April 27 for a celebration of Dr. Madill’s life at Bridlewood Events Centre, 46191 Chilliwack Lake Road, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Dr. Madill passed in mid-November 2023. She was an acclaimed Chilliwack physician who held multiple roles in the community. According to a biography on the Fraser Health website, Dr. Madill had a career spanning 35-plus years in which she was the physician lead at the Chilliwack Division of Family Practice, medical director for the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre, GP lead of the Sto:lo Prenatal Clinic, prenatal GP at the Chilliwack Obstetrics Group, medical director of long-term care at Cascade Lodge, physician lead of the Practice Support Program, and redesign lead for Primary and Community Care.

Dr. Madill followed in the footsteps of her dad, who was a family physician. At the time of the Above and Beyond Lifetime Achievement Award that she received from Fraser Health around June 2022, Dr. Madill was one of nine GPs in Chilliwack who provided prenatal to palliative care, working to ensure patients received the care they needed. At times that meant Dr. Madill would go out of her way to meet at-risk and vulnerable prenatal patients and support them throughout the entire pregnancy, birthing and early parenting experience, according to the Fraser Health biography of her.

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“Her understanding of socioeconomic factors drives her passion for an improved patient journey,” Fraser Health wrote in June 2022. “Because of this she has been involved in maternity, child and youth mental health, adult mental health, hospital, long-term care and palliative care projects. Her passion for each area has made immeasurable impacts. Leading and advocating for services and resources, she ensures the voices of her patients and their families are heard and respected. When she saw a need for local expertise in eating disorders, she obtained the requisite training and experience, and now provides that expertise. She always strives to keep the patient at the centre of her work.”

Dr. Madill sought to address the large gap in primary care and mental health services for youth and young adults between 12 and 26 years of age. This led to her instrumental work creating the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre, which provides high-quality, low-barrier mental health supports to young people in the community. Working with more than 10 community organizations to develop and sustain the centre, she oversaw the centre’s growth from 753 visits in 2015 to more than 3,500 in 2019, according to Fraser Health.

As the physician lead on multiple initiatives, Dr. Madill established effective and collaborative partnerships both with Fraser Health and external organizations. Through the Palliative Shared Care program, she created a streamlined process to attach palliative patients to family physicians in the community.

“She was the visionary and always willing to go the extra mile to attend redesign meetings and work with the first prototype team to iron through challenges,” said Katrina Bepple of the Chilliwack Division of Family Practice.

Dr. Madill mentored and taught through the UBC medical residency program.

“Melanie was very quick to reach out to me as a young physician during a challenging time in my early career. Her support pushed me forward,” recalled Dr. Alison Henry, a Chilliwack community physician, in 2022. “I later joined her in office practice for almost 10 years. She continues to be someone I turn to when I need to review challenging cases or scenarios.”

Dr. Henry organized a memorial walk in November 2023, and is involved in this weekend’s celebration of life.

“The sudden loss of Dr. Melanie Madill has shocked many of us in Chilliwack,” Dr. Henry wrote on Facebook in November 2023 about the memorial walk. “She was someone whose great purpose affected many. To me she was first a teacher, then a mentor and eventually a true friend. Please join me in walking together, thinking of her and all those who miss her. Nothing formal, just a chance to gather in her memory. Anyone who wants to remember her is welcome.”

In lieu of flowers for this weekend’s celebration of life, individuals are asked to consider a donation to the Dr. Madill Legacy Fund (via e-transfer to giftsforCYHC@gmail.com). At the time of her death, Dr. Madill was medical director of Chilliwack General Hospital and medical director of the Chilliwack Youth Health Centre. This fund will be used for an annual reducing barriers bursary for a Chilliwack secondary school student.

For virtual attendance, please go to https://vimeo.com/event/4229822/1cc3b73f6e