1991 Fredericton Convocation
Ferguson, George Gordon
Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
Orator: Patterson, Stephen E.
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L to R: Dr. Robin Armstrong, George Gordon Ferguson
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Source: PR-Convocation, 1991
Citation:
CONVOCATION, OCTOBER, 1991
GORDON FERGUSON
to be Doctor of Laws
It is a commonplace that notable achievements are often last recognized by those among whom the achiever lives and works. Fortunately for us at UNB, our attention has been drawn to the quiet yet innovative accomplishments of Dr. Gordon Ferguson, our neighbor here in Fredericton, who has pioneered the idea of a hospital without walls, a programme which we know as the New Brunswick Extra-Mural Hospital, now an acknowledged model for services of its kind throughout Canada.
It has not been easy. Striking out into virgin territory in a province with limited fiscal resources, Dr. Ferguson started just over ten years ago with little more than some ideas picked up from a New Zealand pilot project and his own determination. Over the decade since, he has under¬standably been impatient at times with the progress he has made. But his tenacity has brought about a steady growth in a program which now serves most of the province, vindicating his faith in the idea that high quality medical care can be delivered to a person's home, and that the full spectrum of treatment, whether long or short term, can be provided. At a time when more than ever it has become essential to get the best value we can out of each health care dollar spent, Dr. Ferguson has shown how effectively this can be accomplished with the Extra-Mural Hospital. And as time goes by and we are forced to come to grips with the reality of an aging society, we may well see even more forcefully how much of the hospital care needed by the elderly can be provided at home.
Born in Ireland, Dr. Ferguson was educated at the National University of Ireland before establishing himself in the mid 1950s as a physician in Sackville, New Brunswick. Later, he became the Medical Director of the province's Medicare system, turning in 1980 to the task of creating the Extra-Mural Hospital. Over the years he has published extensively on surgical topics, health management, and home health care, and especially since embarking on his experiment in hospital care at home, he has been in great demand as a speaker to health care professionals in almost every province.
Gordon Ferguson has thus served New Brunswick as a surgeon, public servant, and health care innovator throughout a long and fruitful career. As praise of him begins to accumulate from admiring colleagues across Canada, it is fitting that we too recognize his contribution to our province and its people and to the larger idea of health care everywhere.
Insignissime Praeses, tota Universitas, praesento vobis, GEORGIUM GORDON FERGUSON ut admittatur, honoris causa, ad gradum Doctoris in Utroque Jure in hac Universitate.
PRESIDENT: EGO ADMITTO TE, GEORGIUM GORDON FERGUSON, HONORIS CAUSA, AD GRADUM DOCTORIS IN UTROQUE JURE IN UNIVERSITATE NOVI BRUNSVICI.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
GORDON FERGUSON
to be Doctor of Laws
It is a commonplace that notable achievements are often last recognized by those among whom the achiever lives and works. Fortunately for us at UNB, our attention has been drawn to the quiet yet innovative accomplishments of Dr. Gordon Ferguson, our neighbor here in Fredericton, who has pioneered the idea of a hospital without walls, a programme which we know as the New Brunswick Extra-Mural Hospital, now an acknowledged model for services of its kind throughout Canada.
It has not been easy. Striking out into virgin territory in a province with limited fiscal resources, Dr. Ferguson started just over ten years ago with little more than some ideas picked up from a New Zealand pilot project and his own determination. Over the decade since, he has under¬standably been impatient at times with the progress he has made. But his tenacity has brought about a steady growth in a program which now serves most of the province, vindicating his faith in the idea that high quality medical care can be delivered to a person's home, and that the full spectrum of treatment, whether long or short term, can be provided. At a time when more than ever it has become essential to get the best value we can out of each health care dollar spent, Dr. Ferguson has shown how effectively this can be accomplished with the Extra-Mural Hospital. And as time goes by and we are forced to come to grips with the reality of an aging society, we may well see even more forcefully how much of the hospital care needed by the elderly can be provided at home.
Born in Ireland, Dr. Ferguson was educated at the National University of Ireland before establishing himself in the mid 1950s as a physician in Sackville, New Brunswick. Later, he became the Medical Director of the province's Medicare system, turning in 1980 to the task of creating the Extra-Mural Hospital. Over the years he has published extensively on surgical topics, health management, and home health care, and especially since embarking on his experiment in hospital care at home, he has been in great demand as a speaker to health care professionals in almost every province.
Gordon Ferguson has thus served New Brunswick as a surgeon, public servant, and health care innovator throughout a long and fruitful career. As praise of him begins to accumulate from admiring colleagues across Canada, it is fitting that we too recognize his contribution to our province and its people and to the larger idea of health care everywhere.
Insignissime Praeses, tota Universitas, praesento vobis, GEORGIUM GORDON FERGUSON ut admittatur, honoris causa, ad gradum Doctoris in Utroque Jure in hac Universitate.
PRESIDENT: EGO ADMITTO TE, GEORGIUM GORDON FERGUSON, HONORIS CAUSA, AD GRADUM DOCTORIS IN UTROQUE JURE IN UNIVERSITATE NOVI BRUNSVICI.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
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