Passing of Dr. Marvin Tile
Dear Colleagues,
It is with profound sadness that we share with you the passing of Dr. Marvin Tile, at the age of 92, on August 18, 2025.
Dr. Marvin Tile, C.M., MD, B.Sc. (Med), FRCS(C)
As a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Tile was a world authority on orthopaedic trauma, in particular the treatment of pelvic and acetabular fractures. He was instrumental in the establishment of Canada’s first regional trauma centre at Sunnybrook in 1976 with the hospital remaining Canada’s largest trauma centre today. He has trained several generations of orthopaedic surgeons with many specialized surgeons subsequently becoming hospital and university Department Chairs at their respective institutions all over the world. As a key figure who supported and led the international growth and diversification of surgical education in the AO Foundation (Association of the Study of Internal Fixation AO/ASIF), Dr. Tile’s seminal textbooks on the “Fractures of the Pelvis and Acetabulum” (now in its 4th edition) and “The Rationale of Operative Fracture Care, Schatzker and Tile” remain foundational reading and reference for surgical trainees as well as orthopaedic faculty alike.
Marvin Tile was born in Toronto where he attended Harbord Collegiate and the University of Toronto, graduating with B.Sc. (Medicine) and M.D. degrees in 1957. In 1963, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada. In 1965, as a Detweiler Traveling Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, he visited major orthopaedic centres in England and Europe. Returning to Canada, he joined the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital, working with his mentor Dr. George Pennal. He was appointed to staff at Sunnybrook Hospital in 1966, became Head of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1971, and from 1985 to 1996 he served as Surgeon-in-Chief.
Dr. Tile was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2009 for his contributions as a surgeon, educator and innovator. He received numerous prestigious awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. His skill and care touched many lives which led to his philanthropic involvement to further academic surgery through AO and the establishment of the Endowed Marvin Tile Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery at Sunnybrook. His numerous professional leadership roles have included:
- Surgeon-in-Chief, Sunnybrook Heath Sciences Centre
- Chair, Examining Board in Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
- Founding President, Ontario Orthopaedic Association
- President, Canadian Orthopaedic Association
- Chair, Sunnybrook Foundation
- Patron, Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
- President, International Society for Surgery of the Lumbar Spine
- President, AO/ASIF Foundation, an international foundation dedicated to research and education in trauma and fractures, with headquarters in Switzerland
Dr. Tile was also deeply committed to his family and passionate in his reflections about the cultural past and present. He shared his lived experiences publishing his autobiography ‘Severed Roots’ in 2010, which he wrote with contributions by his lifelong partner Esther following a powerful introspection into his ancestral homeland while traveling to Poland in 2006. He promoted diversity and inclusion, combated antisemitism, racism, and violence. He broadly shared experiences at lecture discussions held by the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and related topics were featured by Visiting Professors in their lectures delivered as part of our university’s Department of Surgery annual Tile Lecture in Trauma.
In recent years, Dr. Tile continued to mentor clinicians, scientists, and trainees through a Wyss Medical Foundation supported project focusing on enhancing surgical team performance in fracture care. He continued to contribute towards continuing medical education writing also several discussion papers to support Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal. He was an inaugural inductee into the Toronto Orthopaedic Hall of Fame in 2017. He was intensely committed to the University Division, and even during the last year was a regular attendee via zoom at University Wide Orthopaedic Rounds. Dr. Tile’s immense influence continues to be reflected by the number of faculty within University of Toronto, across Canada, and around the world that he trained. He was a titan in the orthopaedic community, and his loss will resonate throughout our specialty.
Dr. Tile is survived by his wife, Esther, and the couple’s four children: Gary, Stephen, Andrew and Debbie, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Details of Dr. Tile’s funeral will be shared via Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel as they are confirmed. Tribute donations can be directed to the Dr. Marvin Tile Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery.
All the best,
Albert Yee and Peter Ferguson
