Honorary degree to former Doctors of BC CEO
Dr Mark Schonfeld received a Doctors of Law degree, honoris causa, from the Justice Institute of British Columbia for his contributions to the medical profession and the community at large.
Dr Schonfeld practised family medicine for 22 years and was an active health care advocate for much of his career. In addition to his general practice, he served as head of family practice at BC Children’s Hospital and medical director of the Discharge Planning Unit at Vancouver General Hospital.
As an advocate, he held key positions with Doctors of BC, serving as a board member, director of professional relations, president, and then CEO for 14 years prior to his retirement in 2011. Dr Schonfeld also contributed nationally to the advancement of the medical profession, serving as a board member of the CMA, chair of the CMA Provincial CEOs Forum (2002 to 2005), chair of the CMA Health Information Technology Committee (2003 to 2011), and co-chair of the Ministry of Health Physicians Services Committee. He also served as chair of the Board of Governors of the Hamber Foundation, a member of the Justice Institute Foundation Board of Directors (2003 to 2006), and a member of the Justice Institute Board of Governors (2006 to 2012).
Dr Schonfeld continues his work as a physician, educator, advocate, and community leader. He serves as visiting staff at Vancouver General Hospital; a clinical assistant professor at the UBC Faculty of Medicine; a board member of Pacific Blue Cross, MD Financial Holdings, and the Vancouver Board of Trade; and a member of the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Admissions Selection Committee, and the Sauder School of Business EMBA Healthcare Advisory Board.