September

The 50th anniversary of the BC Medical Plan, the first government-funded medical care program in British Columbia, was recognized on 1 September 2015. But long before any government was prepared to do so, the then-BCMA (now Doctors of BC) was at the forefront of establishing prepaid medical plans for the citizens of this province.

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To be effective leaders in health care we, as doctors, must ensure that we lead the profession in a time of change. In the years ahead our profession will face many issues—issues that are becoming more complex and that we need to anticipate and be ready to proactively address. To ensure we are able to effectively respond to members’ needs, maintain our strong position of influence among members and stakeholders, and continue to be relevant, the way in which we govern ourselves must evolve and change accordingly.

We mourn the passing of a fine medical leader and a true servant.

Dr Morris VanAndel was born in Arnhem, Netherlands, on 12 October 1943, the fifth of seven children. The family immigrated to Canada in 1954, settling in New Westminster.

Dr David Millar Norwell was born on 2 May 1919 in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and died on 23 May 2015 in McBride, BC. David was the second youngest of four boys and two girls. All the boys, graduates of Glasgow University, became family physicians.