Remembering Our Friend & Colleague, Dr. Adrian Edward Pointer

"Life does have meaning. There is goodness and badness. To me there is no question that these feelings are real. They have meaning. Science sets the scene for all this meaning, and artists give voice to it. But most of us just feel it." –Dr. Adrian Edward Pointer

We were deeply saddened to hear that Dr. Adrian Edward Pointer, a physiology and anatomy professor at IUON on the UMHS campus, passed away last December 24, 2013 at age 72 at his home in Nova Scotia, Canada. Dr. Pointer, born in Maidstone, Kent, England on May 3, 1941, was more than just an anatomy professor. He was well liked on campus for his warm personality and known for his humanitarian contributions and adventurous nature. He is survived by his wife, Verena (who worked at the Simulation Lab on the UMHS campus for many years). In addition, he is survived by his four children (Jennifer, Toby, Suzanne, Tony), six grandchildren (Halle, Makayla, Carter, Taylor, Spencer), and brothers Joseph and Geoffrey Pointer.

Dr. Pointer also worked for the Ross family at Ross University in Dominica. Ann Celestine, UMHS Assistant Professor of Library Research and Library Director, often told Dr. Pointer that he should write his memoirs because he traveled, lived and worked all over the world, from Africa to the South Pacific to the Caribbean, and had an amazing life. Dr. Pointer, who retired in 2011, touched the lives of everyone he met, particularly his students and academic colleagues.

A Canadian website devoted to memories of Dr. Pointer shows just how inspiring he was to everyone he met, whether in Africa, Asia or the Caribbean. People who knew Dr. Pointer write of his kindness and dedication to medicine and science.

“I first met Adrian when he was caring for injured children in Vietnam at the height of the war,” writes friend Brian Staley. “I will always remember him for his compassion, moral and physical courage in striving to build a more just and peaceful world.”

Friend Sharon Mullen writes about Dr. Pointer’s time in Tanzania. “His work as a doctor will always be remembered by all the many people who worked with Adrian and appreciated his contribution to preventative medicine, especially in the third- world countries,” she remembers.

Friend Carole Thompson echoes these sentiments. “My memories of Adrian are mainly of when we were in Africa,” she writes. “His determination to find new and improved medicines was a fantastic contribution to the medical profession. He will be truly missed. An inspirational man indeed.”

The UMHS Pulse spoke to Dr. Pointer’s good friend, Dr. Thomas McCracken, UMHS Professor of Gross and Developmental Anatomy, about his memories of the man.

Some thoughts about my good friend and colleague, Dr. Adrian Pointer

"I first met Adrian when I was hired to work with him in the nursing school, me teaching anatomy and Adrian teaching physiology. I came to this small island in the Caribbean not knowing anyone and having to share teaching responsibilities with a person I had met once for a brief time. Well, it turned out to be a “match made in heaven,” mostly because of Adrian’s open, intellectual, and sharing personality.

"We worked closely together to coordinate our teaching responsibilities, and I can’t remember us ever having any disagreement about our work or for that matter anything else. I would sit in on many of his lectures, while most of us used PowerPoint presentations, Adrian relied on Elmo overhead projection and he would draw diagrams, formulas, chemical interaction, etc. as he was lecturing. I have to say it was very engaging for me and the students. He had a way of explaining complicated physiology and anatomy that was basic and clearly delivered; again, I learned along with the students. We spent much time preparing lab practicals with models late into the evening some times until after 12:00 AM, discussing the best ways to make tests the best reflection of what they had learned that block, as usual Adrian came up with unique and inventive solutions.

"Often I would just sit in his office and we would discuss all kinds of subjects from books we had read to politics, most fascinating would be the times he talked about the many places he and his wife had lived while working for the UN. One story I remember and repeat often is the way he would get his house in Africa thoroughly cleaned periodically by army ants; they would know when the roaming hordes were coming their way and leave for a few days to return to the house cleansed of any and all pests and organic waste material.

"Adrian was dedicated to helping third-world peoples share in the medical technologies and methods of treatment from more technically developed countries, in the course of teaching he improved many lives and I’m sure saved quite a few. He incorporated many of his experiences as clinical correlations for the students during lectures, which were very engaging and very much appreciated by the students.
Outside of work, we spent much time hiking and swimming throughout the island. Many Saturdays we would plan a hike or swim, many times taking students with us or a small group of friends, pack a lunch and off we would go.

"Whatever it was we chose to do, Adrian was always a cheerful and enthusiastic companion great to have along with his upbeat personality; he also had a considerable knowledge of the local flora and fauna.

"I will truly miss Adrian. He was a gentleman, scholar, and a good friend."

Video of Photos of the Life of Dr. Pointer

Adrian Edward Pointer from TO Points on Vimeo.

(Top photo) Dr. Adrian Edward Pointer. Photo: Courtesy of the Pointer Family.

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Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciencesfocuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. UMHS is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.