OTTAWA, Aug. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has named Dr. Anne Fanning of Edmonton, a leader in the global fight against tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, the recipient of its 2014 Frederic Newton Gisborne Starr Award.
"Dr. Fanning has worked tirelessly to promote education and training in the global fight against tuberculosis and other communicable diseases", said Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, CMA President. "Her achievements serve as an inspiration to the medical profession in Canada."
"I am greatly honoured to be the recipient of the CMA's F.N.G. Starr Award which has gone to real giants in medicine. My contribution has been a small one to draw attention to tuberculosis, a killer disease globally and one which attacks the most vulnerable," said Dr. Fanning. "If we neglect it wherever it occurs, it will come back to haunt us."
A graduate of the University of Western Ontario medical school, Dr. Fanning did postgraduate training in internal medicine in Montreal and Alberta. After subspecialty training in infectious diseases, in 1972 she joined the University of Alberta's Department of Medicine where she became responsible for the care of tuberculosis patients — a clinical responsibility she held for more than 30 years.
She was director of tuberculosis services for Alberta Health (1987–96) and consultant at the Edmonton TB Clinic which she proposed and designed. In 1998 she took a one-year position as medical officer for the World Health Organization's global TB program. When she returned, she became coordinator of International/Global Health with the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, a position she held until 2011.
Appointed Professor Emerita in 2005, she continues her work as a consultant and is involved in the Keiskamma Canada Foundation, the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation, and the Global Indigenous STOP TB initiative working group. In 2005 the Alberta Medical Association named her as one of the "100 physicians of the century," adding to her awards for teaching excellence, global health advocacy, and mentoring. Dr. Fanning is a member of the Order of Canada.
She will be presented with the Frederic Newton Gisborne Starr Award at a ceremony on Aug. 20 held at the Westin Ottawa during the CMA's 147th annual meeting.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian physicians. Founded in 1867, the CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing more than 80,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and territorial medical associations and 60 national medical organizations. CMA's mission is to serve and unite the physicians of Canada and be the national advocate, in partnership with the people of Canada, for the highest standards of health and health care.
SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association
Dominique Jolicoeur, Communications Officer, Tel.: 613-731-8610 or 800-663-7336 ext. 2038, Cell: 613-809-5669, [email protected]
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