Dr Alexander and Mrs Rhoda Boggie

Dr Alexander Boggie was born in Vancouver and moved with his family to Murrayville during the Depression, where they ran a farm, living in a farmhouse with no electricity or running water. After a few years, the family moved back to Vancouver and Alexander went to Templeton and Britannia schools. At 18, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served overseas from 1942 to 1945. After the war, he pursued an offer from the Department of Veterans Affairs to help returning veterans go to university; he applied to UBC and was accepted. In 1948 he married the love of his life, Rhoda Bowes. In 1950 he accepted a place in the first class of UBC’s new medical school. After graduating from medical school in 1954, he completed an internship in Vancouver; then the family moved to Vernon, where he joined the Vernon Medical Clinic.

Back in Vancouver in 1961, Alexander completed a year of pathology at Vancouver General Hospital/UBC. This was followed by an exciting year in London, England, where he completed a year of surgical postgrad studies at Hammersmith Hospital. In 1963 the family returned to Vernon and his busy practice at the Vernon Medical Clinic.

In 1969 Alexander’s career shifted back to Vancouver, where he was asked by Dr Clyde Slade to join the faculty as a full-time teacher and mentor in the new Department of Family Practice. With the job came the opportunity to be an examiner for the Certification Examination in Family Medicine, which developed a practical and reputable curriculum for undergraduate and residency programs.

Alexander spent the 8 years leading up to his retirement in 1988 practising and teaching half-time while also acting as associate dean of admissions to UBC’s medical school. After retirement, he continued to be active, as demonstrated by his numerous achievements:

1989–90: Elected president of the Medical Council of Canada.

2000: Received the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Golden Jubilee Medal for exceptional and outstanding contribution to the faculty.

2001: Received the Wallace Wilson Leadership Award, presented annually to a graduate of the UBC Faculty of Medicine who has demonstrated high ethical standards and outstanding leadership to the profession.

2001: Chair of the UBC 50th Anniversary Endowment Fund Committee, which raised $1.5 million to assist medical students.

2005: Established the Rhoda and Al Boggie MD Entrance Bursary to financially help first-year medical students.

2018: Co-chair on the board of directors that helped create the initial funding for the Friedman Award for Scholars in Health.

Alexander was predeceased by his wife, Rhoda, and his granddaughter, Sarah. He is survived by his three children, Margaret (Bruce), Trevor (Virginia), and Sandi (Steve); six grandchildren, Fraser, Spencer, Alex, Lauren, Bryce, and Claire; and three great-grandchildren, Sienna, Grant, and Ethan.

If you would like to honor Dr Boggie’s legacy, please make a donation to the Rhoda and Al Boggie MD Entrance Bursary at this link: https://give.ubc.ca/memorial/alexander-boggie [10].
—Boggie Family

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