Dr. Yannick LeManach, October 16, 1974 – July 13, 2020

It is with great sadness that we report that our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Yannick Le Manach, passed away on July 13, 2020 at the Toronto General Hospital, at the age of 45 years. Consistent with his spirit of generosity, his heart and lungs were donated via the Gift of Life Program. Yannick is survived by his beloved wife Stephanie Bouvier; his three precious daughters, Maëlle (16 years old), Enora (14 years old) and Rozenn (9 years old); his parents, Raymond and Pierre Le Manach; and his sister Anne Laure Le Manach.

Yannick was born in Paris, France. He did his training in both Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the University of Paris where he also earned an MSc in Cardiac Physiology and a PhD in Biostatistics. In addition, Yannick completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Oxford University in England. Immigrating to Hamilton in 2012, he joined the Department of Anesthesia as well as the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact. His clinical interest was in Cardiac Anesthesia and his research focus was on research methodology, perioperative medicine and hemodynamic monitoring and management. Yannick published over 120 peer-reviewed articles in high impact journals including NEJM, Lancet and JAMA which spoke to both his individual drive as well as his highly collaborative nature. He engaged in collaborations with over 200 other researchers, fellows, and students from more than 10 countries, resulting in over $10 million in grants since 2012. Yannick was also on the editorial board for several journals.

Yannick was a passionate clinical teacher and always made the effort to include his learner as part of the team for the day. He offered a unique perspective which focused on pathophysiology, pharmacology and evidence-based medicine. His clinical approach was often a little bit different than those of his colleagues, given his broad sphere of influence and training as well as his distinctive, keen intellect and his anesthetic plans were invariably well thought-out and expertly executed. The surgeons and nurses assigned to Yannick’s list for the day arrived at work knowing they would have a good day and that their mutual patients would do very well.

Despite his many professional accomplishments, his deepest passion was for his family. He was a loving husband to Stephanie and a devoted father to his three girls of whom he was immensely proud. He had many interests and hobbies that reflected his intense thirst for knowledge, his athletic ability and his aptitude for technical things. He loved music and could not only recognize any piece of classical music but could identify the conductor leading the orchestra. Other interests included history, philosophy, epistemology and movies, ranging from French comedy to the Star Wars series. In his younger years he was a competitive swimmer, equestrian (jumping, dressage and cross country) and triathlete. He was an avid road biker. While he raced yachts in his University days, more recently he rekindled his love of boating and bought a fishing boat, spending many hours this summer in the Hamilton Harbour, with family and friends.

He was very handy and made many models, drones and radio-controlled cars by hand. A true Frenchman, Yannick enjoyed fine food and could often be found at his favourite local restaurant, Quatrefoil, where he enjoyed sharing a fine Bordeaux with friends and family. He was also equally comfortable sharing a burger and beer with his friends downtown. More than his prodigious gifts, it is Yannick himself, as a person, that we shall miss the most: the vigorous way he would enter the lounge at the Hamilton General Hospital, with his rod-straight posture, ever so slightly Kramer-esque; the conspiratorial smile that started with his eyes and culminated in a laugh and shrugged shoulder; the way you had to really pay attention when speaking with him, and how he always made that effort more than worth it.

Yannick has left his mark on our Department and our profession, and we are richer for it.

James Paul, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor & Chair
Anesthesia
McMaster