Nearly a half-century of providing care in Cape Breton – Dr. Rex Dunn retires after a fulfilling surgical career

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As a high school graduate, a career in medicine wasn’t even a consideration for a young Rex Dunn. In fact, it would take 19 years after his graduation for Dr. Rex Dunn to find his calling - working as a vascular surgeon.

Now, after almost 50 years of providing care for thousands of patients in Cape Breton, Dr. Dunn is retiring. Since 1979, Rex has been known in Cape Breton for more than his surgical skills. His reputation for kindness, compassion and dedication has left a lasting impression with patients, families and colleagues in Cape Breton and beyond.

Rex was born in Halifax. His father, a Baptist minister, worked in a series of small towns in the province before taking on a large church in Montreal, where Rex went to high school. He then went to Acadia University, where he met his wife, Heather. After a three-month courtship, they got married.

“Heather has strong roots in Nova Scotia and lived for a while in Little Narrows – attending a one room school and always feeling a connection to Cape Breton,” he says. “Once we graduated from Acadia, we packed up our Volkswagen Beetle and headed off to British Columbia, but the East Coast drew us back.”

At the time, Rex was on track to be a zoologist and wanted to work in any field that would allow him to work outdoors. After completing a PhD in zoology at the University of British Columbia, studying vasoactive peptides in turtles, he and Heather headed back to Nova Scotia to start an aquaculture company, a venture that ultimately led him to medicine.

“When the company wasn’t going well, I walked into the Dean of Medicine's office at Dalhousie University to see if I could get in. Three months later, after a few classes, I realized this is where I should have been all along,” he says. “Adding four more years to the five-year MD program to complete my surgical training was challenging.

“Heather stuck with me through all the twists and turns, including four more years of residency, a brutal schedule and two small kids at home – Heather worked as a teacher to keep us afloat. But finally, 19 years after graduating high school, I had an actual job and it has been a wonderful, fulfilling career.”

With his education finally complete, and a specialty in vascular surgery, Cape Breton, by this time, had the necessary supports for intensive care (ICU), cardiology, arteriography, renal dialysis and an experienced perioperative services team to draw them. Dr. Mahmood Naqvi, the former medical director, put an excellent offer forward so Rex and Heather packed up the kids and the dogs and settled in Cape Breton.

“Dr. Naqvi was a phenomenal recruiter and Cape Breton had the best offer,” Rex says. “In a very short time we were settled in. I did have offers to move away during the first few years, but we felt so welcomed. And for me, already embedded in the Cape Breton medical community, we just stayed.”

Rex has dedicated his surgical career to advancing vascular care in Cape Breton. He has held several leadership positions with Nova Scotia Health and the former Cape Breton District Health Authority, including chief of staff at Cape Breton Regional Hospital, vice president of medicine of the Cape Breton District Health Authority, governor of the American College of Surgeons and president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

Rex is very community-minded and has volunteered as chair of the YMCA Cape Breton Capital Campaign, vice-chair of Cape Breton University’s Board of Governors, member of the Sunrise Rotary and member of the Cancer Care at Home Campaign Cabinet for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation. He has been recognized for his contributions to patient care with many awards and accolades including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (2001), QEII Foundation Heart Heroes Award (2017) and an honorary doctorate from Cape Breton University (2022).

Despite an accomplished career, Rex is known for his humble disposition, humility and ability to connect with people. He’s very proud of his family and notes his surgical missions to Guatemala as a career highlight.

“Our eight surgical missions to Guatemala with an exceptional group of nurses and doctors, has been a highlight - it was amazing how many people jumped at the opportunity to go,” he says. "The patients we saw had no access to any kind of surgical care. No elective surgery at all, unless they could afford it. And they simply couldn’t."

As for retirement, Rex says he’ll continue to work on and enjoy their property in Sydney and their special cottage in West Bay on the beach with Heather and their yellow lab. He looks forward to visiting his two sons and their families. He will also continue singing as a member of the Cape Breton Chordsmen, Cape Breton Chorale and the quartet, Quattro. But he’s not looking to take on any new hobbies.

“Nothing new, really for retirement. My woodturning hobby, hiking, increased family time in Houston and Dartmouth with my sons and their families, doing a bit of writing, playing bridge and some occasional golf and travel – but I think all retirees say that,” he jokes. “Heather and I will be married 60 years next year. For 50 years, she carried the load of responsibilities for our two boys and so many of the details of just living. The reason the boys have turned out so well is all her doing. In my final years, I will be trying to do some pay back for all she has done for me.”  

Congratulations, Dr. Dunn on your retirement! Thank you for your tireless service, your unwavering excellence and the kindness in which you treated every patient and peer. May this next chapter bring you rest, joy and the same peace you so generously gave to others.

Photos of Dr. Rex Dunn.