Dr. Granger Avery
Past President, Canadian Medical Association
Granger trained at the London Hospital Medical College (now the Royal London), in the East End of London, qualifying in 1970.
Following a pre-registration year in Bath, UK, and before the current resident training system, he travelled to New Zealand to pursue further training in Obstetrics (gaining the Diploma of Obstetrics, University of Auckland), Otorhinolaryngology and Chest Medicine, then commenced General practice in the Waikato.
He relocated in 1973 to Vancouver to train in anaesthesia at the Vancouver General Hospital.
He subsequently elected to commence rural general practice in Port McNeill, to exercise all the skills gained, in 1974. At that time, there was neither a road through upper Vancouver Island, nor a hospital in town, so most admissions were made to Alert Bay, some eight miles across the ocean – necessitating many emergency and nighttime trips to hospital in his own boat.
Recognising the need to look ‘upstream’ for his patients’ health, he opened eight remote clinics in First Nations’ communities and logging camps, accessed by boat or helicopter.
Dissatisfied with the health care system’s response for his patients, he became actively involved with UBC Medical School, taking students and residents from 1980 and being appointed Clinical Professor in 2006; and with the BC Medical Association, rising to the President in 1997. He subsequently returned to advocacy for rural patients and physicians, commencing the Rural Joint Standing committee in 2001 and the Rural Coordination Centre of BC in 2005.
His Canadian Medical Association work started in 1993, and he was elected President of CMA for the 2016/17 year. His work at CMA has been focussed upon Health Care system improvement with particular attention to collaboration between the five health care partners; the continuum of physician burnout, depression and suicide; generalism; and advanced practice models.
He has received many awards and honours including Freeman of the Town of Port McNeill, the Doctors’ of BC Silver Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.
He maintains an abiding interest in First Nations health, rural health, generalism, team-based care, physician health and system improvement; and has been appointed as Special Advisor for System Improvement to the UBC Dean of Medicine.
Married for 40 years, Winnie and Granger have three children and seven grandchildren, and continue to maintain their principle residence in Port McNeill.
Granger trained at the London Hospital Medical College (now the Royal London), in the East End of London, qualifying in 1970.
Following a pre-registration year in Bath, UK, and before the current resident training system, he travelled to New Zealand to pursue further training in Obstetrics (gaining the Diploma of Obstetrics, University of Auckland), Otorhinolaryngology and Chest Medicine, then commenced General practice in the Waikato.
He relocated in 1973 to Vancouver to train in anaesthesia at the Vancouver General Hospital.
He subsequently elected to commence rural general practice in Port McNeill, to exercise all the skills gained, in 1974. At that time, there was neither a road through upper Vancouver Island, nor a hospital in town, so most admissions were made to Alert Bay, some eight miles across the ocean – necessitating many emergency and nighttime trips to hospital in his own boat.
Recognising the need to look ‘upstream’ for his patients’ health, he opened eight remote clinics in First Nations’ communities and logging camps, accessed by boat or helicopter.
Dissatisfied with the health care system’s response for his patients, he became actively involved with UBC Medical School, taking students and residents from 1980 and being appointed Clinical Professor in 2006; and with the BC Medical Association, rising to the President in 1997. He subsequently returned to advocacy for rural patients and physicians, commencing the Rural Joint Standing committee in 2001 and the Rural Coordination Centre of BC in 2005.
His Canadian Medical Association work started in 1993, and he was elected President of CMA for the 2016/17 year. His work at CMA has been focussed upon Health Care system improvement with particular attention to collaboration between the five health care partners; the continuum of physician burnout, depression and suicide; generalism; and advanced practice models.
He has received many awards and honours including Freeman of the Town of Port McNeill, the Doctors’ of BC Silver Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.
He maintains an abiding interest in First Nations health, rural health, generalism, team-based care, physician health and system improvement; and has been appointed as Special Advisor for System Improvement to the UBC Dean of Medicine.
Married for 40 years, Winnie and Granger have three children and seven grandchildren, and continue to maintain their principle residence in Port McNeill.
