Everyone at Diabetes Action Canada was saddened to learn about the passing of our longtime Patient Partner, David Wells on November 22, 2024.

David lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick and had been a Patient Partner with DAC since 2018 and the Maritime SPOR Support Unit (MSSU) since 2013. His work as a patient advocate and research partner had an enormous impact and is a lasting testament to his commitment to improved healthcare for all.

From 2005-2011 David chaired the New Brunswick Surgical Care Network Advisory Committee, which designed and implemented new procedures that reduced surgical wait times in New Brunswick by 50-70%. During 2012-2015 he was the patient representative on the New Brunswick Primary Health Care Steering Committee, which changed the delivery of primary health care in New Brunswick by producing an extensive guidelines document adopted for Family Medicine New Brunswick in 2017. Dave served on five DAC committees, and as a patient partner on multiple CIHR grants. He also co-facilitated several course on patient-oriented research.

“David was one of the first Patient Partners I had the privilege to work with after joining DAC. As a former professor, he had a remarkable way of organizing and sharing his thoughts, often using a flip chart and marker to guide us through his feedback. When the flip chart wasn’t in use, one of his late wife’s beautiful quilts would often grace the room—a touching tribute to her memory. David was a passionate advocate for SPOR, and his contributions were instrumental in shaping our programs, refining our implementation plans, and fostering a culture of patient-oriented diabetes research,” says Tracy McQuire, Diabetes Action Canada’s Executive Director. “On a personal level, I will deeply miss David as my friend. Over the years, I had the joy of getting to know him better, often calling to check in and share a conversation. He was truly a pleasure to know, and his absence will be profoundly felt by all who had the honor of working with him.”

Marina Hamilton, Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit Executive Director, also shared her condolences on David’s passing. “David was a founding member of the Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit Patient/Public Partner Council and New Brunswick Provincial Steering Committee. We remember him as a passionate leader of our patient-oriented research training, bringing a wealth of knowledge and lived experience to every session. His stories deeply resonated with MSSU staff and the research community, leaving a lasting impact.”

The Diabetes Action Canada Collective Patient Circle were saddened to learn of David’s passing and shared many remembrances of their work with him.

“Thank you for letting us know about David’s passing. I remember working with him on the Do’s and Don’ts project. He was such a champion of patient engagement and a wealth of knowledge and experience. It was always lovely to chat with him in person at the DAC workshops and I’m glad I got to see him this past year in Toronto.” 

“I wanted to share how engaged Dave was during our session this past May; he really engaged with the art and was one of the big reasons we changed the session style. I will always remember his engagement and enthusiasm.”

“I will also remember how much he loved hot and sour soup, his beautiful quilts behind him in his Zooms, and his naps during meetings.”  

Learn more about David Wells on this tribute page.