Honouring Audrie “Dody” Bienenstock, champion of women in psychiatry

The family of Audrie “Dody” Bienenstock announced her death on Jan. 9, 2024, at the age of 91.

Bienenstock was an accomplished clinician, teacher, and administrator and was a pillar in McMaster University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and the Hamilton medical community. She will be remembered for many accolades, but most especially for her mentorship and advocacy for women in psychiatry and leadership positions.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Dody Bienenstock. She brought an unmatched passion to the care of her patients, the advancement of learners, colleagues and women in medicine, and to her leadership roles. We are grateful for the legacy she leaves,” said Paul O’Byrne, dean and vice-president, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University.

Bienenstock completed her medical training in the United Kingdom and came to McMaster for her residency in 1968 with her husband John. Over the next 45 years Bienenstock went on to a distinguished career. She served as chief of Psychiatry at Hamilton Health Sciences and became deeply involved in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CSPO) where she led a governance overhaul, chaired the Disciplinary Board, and became president.

She was one of the founders of the simulated patient program and a passionate advocate of problem based, self-directed learning. Her love for teaching is reflected in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences’ Adsett-Bienenstock Award, named in tribute to her and presented by the department annually for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

“Dody was  a sensitive, bright, compassionate, insightful, caring forthright colleague and friend, and a clear and effective communicator and administrator. She was one of the people who helped to lay the foundation of the department we have today and she will be missed by all who knew her,” said Nick Kates, former chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences.

Bienenstock is pre-deceased by her husband John, chair of McMaster’s Department of Pathology from 1978 to 1989, and dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster from 1989 to 1997.

Donations can be sent to the Toronto Western Hospital via UHN Foundation https://support.uhnfoundation.ca

*Photo credit: Mike Lalich Photography. Image background edited with the help of an AI tool