Jack and Cheryl Taunton
MD Entrance Award

Dr. Jack and Mrs. Cheryl Taunton made their mark across Canada as community builders and passionate advocates for athletics. With a legacy of transforming health for everyone through the intersection of sport and science, Jack and Cheryl’s careers reflected their belief in the power of mentorship, teamwork and service.

From a young age, Jack understood the pivotal role physical activity and an encouraging support system play in people’s lives. A life-altering polio diagnosis and serious car accident as a teenager cultivated in Jack an interest in medicine—one that would later blossom into a career in sports and exercise medicine defined by community and service.

A proud alum of the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Jack laid the groundwork for a lasting impact on sports medicine. Motivated by the desire to create community through running, he co-founded Canada’s first road running club, the Lions Gate Road Runners, and later helped launch the BMO Vancouver Marathon. Jack and Cheryl were two of the core founders of the beloved Vancouver Sun Run, which has grown into one of North America’s largest 10K races, drawing tens of thousands of participants annually.

With a keen interest in mobilizing the latest research to optimize performance and recovery, Jack served as team physician for numerous national and international teams, including Field Hockey Canada, the Vancouver (now Memphis) Grizzlies and UBC Thunderbirds. As Chief Medical Officer for the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games, he led a medical team that received rare praise from the International Olympic Committee in 2010 for delivering the best medical services in Olympic history.

Jack believed in inspiring and investing in the next generation through education and mentorship. He was an outspoken advocate for student-athletes and a staunch follower of UBC athletics, where he served as team doctor for decades.

Today, your gift in his memory will help propel future practitioners, innovators and advocates of sport and exercise medicine to continue Jack and Cheryl’s inspiring legacy. Together, we can continue creating spaces and opportunities for people to pursue their passion, improve their physical performance, and build communities for health.

Photo credit: Paul Wright