MEDICINE

30 UBC MEDICINE | ALUMNI NEWS
L – R: J. Burak, MD’76; V. McPherson,
MD’54; and A. Boggie, MD’54.
photo credit: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY
WALLACE WILSON LEADERSHIP AWARD
Victor McPherson, MD’54
The Wallace Wilson
Leadership Award is given
in recognition of leadership
in the field of medicine.
Today, we are here to
recognize Victor McPherson,
a classmate and good friend.
Victor spent his professional
career in the special area of
military medicine.
His leadership achievements
started in medical school,
where in first year he was
our class president and won
the Schinbein Scholarship in
anatomy. In second year he
won an award in Pharmacology
and on graduation he won the
Dean’s Medal of Proficiency.
Victor joined the Royal
Canadian Army Medical Corps
as a member of their training
program while in medical
school. After graduation he
served in a variety of posts in
his early years, overseas and
in Canada. His abilities were
soon recognized by the Medical
Corps, and he accepted their
offer to specialize in his
choice of Surgery at centres
in Edmonton and Toronto.
He got his FRCS in 1963.
After receiving his Fellowship,
he served in a variety of
military surgical units such
as Zweibruchen, West
Germany as Chief of Surgery
for three years, followed by
similar appointments in
Ottawa and Kingston.
All of these appointments were
accompanied by promotions
and noted by his superiors,
who indicated to Victor that
they would like him to become
part of the Medical Corps
Administration. In 1976
he became Deputy Surgeon
General and in 1980 he was
appointed Surgeon General.
V. McPherson, MD’54 shows off his award
as he takes his seat at the MAA AGM.
photo credit: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Following retirement,
Victor worked as a Surgical
Consultant for the Ontario
Ministry of Health for ten years.
Victor’s lifetime in medical
school and the Army was not
alone. He and his wife, June
were married before entering
medical school. She and Victor
raised four children and she
provided a comfortable family
environment wherever they
were posted. Their children
have all had successful lives in
their chosen professions. June
passed away a few years ago,
but would certainly be proud
of this event today.
Victor is a thoroughly decent,
unassuming, kind man, who
“rose through the ranks” to the
top leadership position in the
Canadian Medical Corps.
He has represented the medical
school and the University
of British Columbia in an
outstanding way and the Class
of 1954 is very proud of him.
Well done Vic!
The speech presented by
Al Boggie, MD’54 at the
MAA Annual General Meeting
on May 9, 2013.
V. McPherson, MD’54 with his daughter in MSAC’s
courtyard. photo credit: VARUN SARAN PHOTOGRAPHY