OTTAWA, Aug. 1, 2013 /CNW/ - Dr. Léo-Paul Landry from Boucherville will receive the 2013 Canadian Medical Association's (CMA) Medal of Service in recognition of his outstanding and exceptional contribution to the advancement of health care in Canada.
"Over 13 years as secretary general of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Landry breathed new life into the organization and transformed it into a proud, influential and truly national voice for Canadian physicians," said Dr. Anna Reid, CMA president. "His exceptional contribution to the advancement of health care in Canada makes him deserving of the CMA Medal of Service."
"The day I was told I was the recipient of the CMA Medal of Service, I was pleasantly surprised," said Dr. Landry. "Every day at the CMA brought new challenges and opportunities to learn. This medal belongs to the dedicated and passionate CMA staff."
Dr. Landry did his undergraduate degree in arts and humanities at Université de Moncton (1960) and studied medicine at Université Laval (1967). He opted for residency in pediatrics and internal medicine. Early in his medical career he was offered a scholarship to study business administration at Laval and thus became one of the first Canadian physicians to hold the degrees of both MD and MBA (1972).
In 1977 he became full-time director of professional affairs at Montreal's Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. He co-founded the hospital foundation as well as the first health and social services teaching centre affiliated with the University of Montreal. He was also a member of the team that established the hospital's bone marrow transplant program. In 1981 he began working at Montreal General Hospital where he developed, implemented and managed an integrated budgeting strategy for the hospital. While a medical consultant for the Quebec government, his focus shifted to physician resources and the issues of recruitment and retention in isolated and remote areas. He authored a key report on the provision of medical services in these communities, which led to the creation of a government-funded program to attract and retain physicians in these areas.
In 1986 he accepted an invitation to become secretary general of the Canadian Medical Association, where he was tasked with creating a national organization respected by physicians and other health professionals. Dr. Landry said at the time that he believed the CMA's strength lay in its appeal to the population and to the physician community, its commitment to quality health and health care, and its role as a strong national and international voice for Canadian physicians. By the time he retired in 1999, Dr. Landry had transformed the organization and his vision had become reality.
Outside the CMA, his interests have included the World Medical Association in which he was active for 10 years, the Canada Pension Plan Advisory Board, the McMaster Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, the National Cancer Institute, the Public Policy Forum and the Montreal Economic Institute.
In 1999 the Quebec Medical Association presented Dr. Landry with the first QMA Prestige Award for his efforts to enhance the influence of medicine in Quebec, in Canada, and on the international scene. Both the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada, at their 1999 annual meetings, recognized his contributions to the development and support of their organizations.
Dr. Landry is the 43rd recipient of the CMA Medal of Service. The medal will be presented at a ceremony to be held on Aug. 21 at the Hyatt Regency Calgary Hotel as part of the CMA's 146th annual meeting.
SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association
Dominique Jolicoeur, Communications Officer
Tel.: 613-731-8610 or 800-663-7336 ext. 2038
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