The George Elliot Award for lifetime contribution to public health
This mid to late career award is named for Dr. George Robert Ford Elliot. He was Acting Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of British Columbia in the 1960s and after 10 years as Assistant Deputy Minister, was appointed Deputy Minister of Community Health Programs in 1972. Dr. Elliot’s long-standing concern for the promotion of health and prevention of disease has been expressed by his untiring commitment as on the boards of directors for numerous voluntary organizations, including CPHA, where he served as chairman of the Medical Care Section. In recognition of his outstanding contribution as a leader in Public Health in British Columbia and in Canada, Dr. George Robert Ford Elliot was awarded CPHA’s Honorary Life Membership in 1975
The recipient of this year’s Elliot Award was Dr. Richard Stanwick.
Dr. Richard Stanwick received George Elliot award from Dr. Marcus Lem (SPPH)
Dr. Stanwick has fellowships in both Paediatrics and Public Health and Preventive Medicine and has worked in both fields. Early in his public health career, he was Provincial Epidemiologist in Manitoba, and beginning in 1990, Medical Health Officer for Winnipeg. In 2005, he became the Medical Health Officer for Capital Health Region in Victoria, and subsequently became the Chief MHO for Island Health.
He has been a strong health advocate throughout his career, particularly for children, youth, and other vulnerable populations. He was the President of the Canadian Paediatric Society in 2009-2010 and in both this capacity and his role as an MHO, he has spoken out on often controversial issues such as the impact on refugee children of changes to the Immigration System Act; protection of sexually exploited youth; and the impact of reduced wages on the health and wellbeing of contracted housekeeping staff within the health authorities.
He has made significant contribution, throughout his career, in the field of injury prevention. This has included research, and advocacy that has led to such things as:
- a ban on the manufacture and sales of infant walkers in Canada,
- changes in recommended hot water temperature settings to reduce scald injuries,
- changes in recommendations for positioning of sleeping infants to prevent SIDS, and
- standards for alpine helmets in Canada.
Congratulations to Dr. Stanwick.