U of S doctor honoured
Dr. Anne Doig didn’t have a lot of time to chat.
“I have a woman in labour, and hopefully I’ll have to head over to see her soon,” said the Saskatoon family physician.
Aside from her hospital duties and officiating a high-level swim meet on the weekend, Doig squeezed in another commitment.
She took to the stage during the University of Saskatchewan’s convocation ceremonies to receive an honourary doctor of laws degree.
“It’s an incredible honour. It’s not something you ever expect,” said Doig, whose 30year medical practice carried on the tradition of her physician father, Noel.
With her husband, six children and other relatives in the audience, Doig was presented by her nominator and former medical school dean Dr. David Popkin.
Doig’s list of accomplishments extends well beyond the estimated 2,500 babies she’s delivered in the province, her many teaching awards at the U of S College of Medicine and her recent term as president of the Canadian Medical Association, which represents the country’s 70,000 doctors.
She’s spent thousands of hours at poolside as a toplevel official and volunteer. She works with a provincial advocacy group to decrease rates of child obesity, part of her lifelong push to improve the root causes of ill health rather than just treating people in hospital. And Doig, a U of S grad, was instrumental in creating a cervical cancer screening program for women across Saskatchewan.
“She covers a large piece of ground,” said former medical school dean and Doig’s nominator, Dr. David Popkin.
With her husband, six children and other relatives in the audience, Doig was introduced by Popkin and granted her honour.
“She’s climbed all the way to the top, but she’s also done so many things for this community,” Popkin said.
The convocation ceremonies Saturday also included the installation of Blaine Favel, the university’s first First Nations chancellor.
Favel, a member of the Poundmaker Cree Nation and a former Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) chief, worked in the private sector for several years before accepting the post.
A total of 1,070 students received degrees, diplomas or certificates.