Bruce Fehr

Only Bruce Fehr knows his final story. The prominent Twin Cities pediatric emergency physician died July 28, at age 49, in a car fire accident. Investigators called the accident “one in a million”.

Bruce was predeceased by his mother Patricia, and is survived by his father Donald, brothers, Douglas (Shelley) and Thomas (Michelle) and nieces, Meghan and Katherine.

Bruce grew up in Winnipeg and went to Vincent Massey High School. His first love was music and he received the performers ARCT from The Toronto Conservatory of Music. Bruce earned his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Manitoba, he then did pediatric residencies at both The University of Minnesota School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg. After his residencies, he completed a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency at The University of Minnesota School of Medicine. Bruce practiced in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver and at Pilot City Health Centre in Minneapolis before moving to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. He also received an MBA from the Carlson School of Management while at Children’s. According to a colleague, Dr. Drew Dietz, “the pediatric emergency room was a good fit for Bruce. He loved the ER because he never knew what would roll through the door to be his next challenge.”

Bruce’s ability to read people served him well in his most recent professional accomplishment. He was leading an award-winning Lean process improvement team at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics. Armed with both a medical degree and an MBA, Bruce was able to bridge the business and medical worlds in a way few people could. This was a perfect combination for him. He was in his element because it fit the way his mind worked and he was excited to have a large impact on healthcare systems. He was uniquely positioned to be successful in coaching improvement in the core clinical processes of care, the way doctors, nurses, and families interface to collaborate in making good diagnoses, establishing effective plans of care and deploying them efficiently.

Bruce loved people. Staff enjoyed working with him. He was an outstanding mentor and teacher to countless residents and medical students and working with children was a natural fit for Bruce’s personality. His compassion for children and support for their families was measureless. He will be remembered by all people whose lives he touched.

A memorial service to celebrate Bruce’s life will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 11:00 am at Fort Garry United Church, 800 Point Road at Lyon, Winnipeg.

Donations in Celebration of Bruce’s life may be made to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics Foundation, 2910 Centre Pointe Drive, Roseville, Minnesota. 55113 6518552800 www.childrensmn.org/giving

Arrangements under the direction of Thomson "In the Park", Winnipeg, MB.