It is with profound respect and heavy hearts that we commemorate the passing of Dr. Balfour M. Mount. Dr. Mount was not only the founding father and global leader in palliative care but also a humanistic visionary who elevated spiritual care to a central position in medicine. His passing on September 29, 2025 (Canada time), is an immeasurable loss to the international palliative care community.
A Global Pioneer and Visionary
Dr. Mount’s academic contributions established milestones recognized around the world. Ag McGill University in Canada, he founded the Palliative Care McGill Program and the Spiritual Care Academy. He is also credited with coining the term "Palliative Care Medicine," which became foundational to the discipline as we know it today.
Beyond his professional accolades, his character itself testified to his greatness. He was a giant of his era—brimming with positive energy, passion, and unwavering conviction, yet possessing a heart of immense tenderness and peace. Even while facing illness himself, he remained radiant and full of grace, embodying the maturity and wisdom refined through life's journey. In many ways, he truly lived out the very essence of the spiritual care he championed.
A Lasting Legacy in Taiwan’s Hospice Movement
Dr. Mount’s influence is deeply rooted in the history of palliative care in Taiwan:
- Sowing the Seeds of Spirituality: On June 4, 1989, during the summer meeting of the Academy of Hospice Physicians in the United States, Dr. Mount shared the concept of the "Spiritual Care Academy" with Professor Yin-Liang Lai. That conversation profoundly inspired Taiwan's emerging hospice and palliative care movement.
- Laying the Foundation for Professional Training: Inspired by this vision, the Hospice Foundation of Taiwan launched the "Spiritual Caregiver Training Program" in late 2001 and established its own "Spiritual Care Academy."
- Teaching and Mentoring in Person: Around the year 2000, when Taiwan first invited internationally renowned scholars to conduct spiritual care education and training, Dr. Mount personally accepted the invitation to visit. He became a key mentor in cultivating the first generation of local spiritual care educators.
A Twenty-Five-Year Bond of Mentorship and Friendship
The friendship between Professor Yin-Liang Lai and Dr. Mount began with their first meeting in 1989 and later deepened into a "mentor-and-friend" relationship during Professor Lai's advanced studies in the United States. In September 1991, Professor Lai traveled to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada, to learn directly from Dr. Mount about the development of spiritual care.
This bond extended far beyond professional life into their family life. Dr. Mount affectionately nicknamed Professor Lai's two sons "American Buffalos." Furthermore, his own adoption of a child from China further showcased his humanistic compassion that transcended race and culture.
Even during their final meeting at a commemorative conference in Montreal in 2004, Dr. Mount, despite being physically frail, continued to embody the true meaning of compassionate humanism through his characteristic gentle humor, warmth, and encouraging words. In the years that followed, the friendship endured through annual Christmas e-cards exchanged over nearly 25 years.
We offer this tribute with the deepest respect and remembrance for a truly remarkable humanistic pioneer. Dr. Mount's spirit and his vision of "Whole-Person Care" will continue to inspire generations to come.
