Medical laboratory professionals across the country are mourning the death of David Ball, president of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). Mr. Ball died on Wednesday, July 11 at Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, Newfoundland as the result of complications of chronic kidney disease. He was 47.
Mr. Ball was elected to the CSMLS Board of Directors in 1999, where he served as vice president, president-elect and president. He also chaired the Council of Presidents–an interprovincial body comprised of presidents of provincial societies and regulatory bodies. Prior to his term on the CSMLS Board, Mr. Ball served twice as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Society of Laboratory Technologists.
In addition to his responsibilities as CSMLS President, Mr. Ball was an active member of his community of Deer Lake. He was deputy mayor from 1977 to 1979 and had been a member of the town council for the past four years. Mr. Ball was also very involved in the Salvation Army Citadel in Deer Lake and the Boy Scouts of Canada.
Mr. Ball was the manager of the Core Laboratory at Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, a position he had held since 1996. He is survived by his wife Barbara and their two children, Jonathan and Sarah.
"The medical laboratory community has lost a leader and a friend," says CSMLS executive director, Kurt Davis. "David’s passion for his profession and his commitment to improving our health care system will be sorely missed." Reuben Noseworthy, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Society of Laboratory Technologists says that Mr. Ball’s death is particularly difficult for laboratory professionals in Newfoundland. "David Ball was an inspiration to all of us...his work with professional societies at the provincial and national levels has strengthened the voice of laboratory technologists across the country."
The position of president has been assumed by president-elect, Margaret Flynn of Moncton, New Brunswick.