Remembering Dr. Donald F. Stark
It is with profound sadness that AllerGen shares news of the death of longtime AllerGen colleague Dr. Donald F. Stark, who passed away on January 31, 2022.
Dr. Stark served for many years on AllerGen’s Board of Directors.
“He was a caring and thoughful colleague who brought a valuable clinical and patent-oriented perspective to our discussions,” comments AllerGen President and CEO Dr. Diana Royce.
“He was a valued and much-loved member of our community who will be sorely missed,” she added.
Dr. Stark, MD, FRCPC, was a well known allergist with a busy practice in downtown Vancouver, and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Allergy & Immunology at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Dr. Stark was dedicated to promoting the subspecialty of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. He served as president of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI), Chairperson of the Royal College Clinical Immunology and Allergy Specialty Committee, and president of the BC Society of Allergy and Immunology. He launched the adult training program in Clinical Immunology and Allergy at UBC, where he also served as the first training program director. He was the founding father of the Canadian Allergy Asthma and Immunology Foundation (CAAIF), and served for 25 years on the CAAIF Board.
Dr. Stark won the CSACI Distinguished Member Award in 2015, and in 2021 the Donald Stark Award for Excellence in Leadership in the Canadian Allergy Community was created in his honour.
“His dedication to the field of Clinical Immunology and Allergy was unparalleled, and made a lasting impact,” reads a statement by CAAIF on Dr. Stark’s passing. “He was valued and respected by his colleagues, trainees, and patients’ alike… Our condolences go out to Mrs. Stark and their three children, about all of whom Dr. Stark spoke so proudly.”
Donations to CAAIF’s Donald Stark Memorial Fund can be made online.
If you wish to express condolences to the Stark family, please send a a request for contact information to info@allergen.ca. Due to health considerations for Mrs. Stark, please do not send the family flowers at this time.