Gustave Gingras
Encyclopedia
Gustave Gingras, was a Canadian
physician and founder of the Montreal Institute of Rehabilitation in 1949.
Born in Montreal
, Quebec
, he studied medicine at the Université de Montréal
following the completion of his BA at College Bourget in Rigaud
, Quebec
. In 1942, he joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and served overseas during World War II
. There, he studied neurosurgery
as an intern at the Canadian Neurosurgical and Plastic Surgery Hospital in Basingstoke, England. Upon his return to Canada, he was inspired by Dr. Wilder Penfield
, a neurosurgeon in Montreal, to focus on helping paraplegic and quadriplegic veterans of the war. As an expert in rehabilitation of the disabled, he served as a consultant to the World Health Organization
, the United Nations
, the Canadian Red Cross
and the Canadian International Development Agency
. He was president of the Canadian Medical Association
from 1972 to 1973. He was Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island
from 1974 to 1982.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
physician and founder of the Montreal Institute of Rehabilitation in 1949.
Born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he studied medicine at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
following the completion of his BA at College Bourget in Rigaud
Rigaud
Rigaud can refer to following people:*André Rigaud , Haitian revolutionary*Hyacinthe Rigaud , French baroque portrait painter during the reign of Louis XIV*Jean Rigaud , French painter...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. In 1942, he joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and served overseas during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. There, he studied neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
as an intern at the Canadian Neurosurgical and Plastic Surgery Hospital in Basingstoke, England. Upon his return to Canada, he was inspired by Dr. Wilder Penfield
Wilder Penfield
Wilder Graves Penfield, OM, CC, CMG, FRS was an American born Canadian neurosurgeon. During his life he was called "the greatest living Canadian"...
, a neurosurgeon in Montreal, to focus on helping paraplegic and quadriplegic veterans of the war. As an expert in rehabilitation of the disabled, he served as a consultant to the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the Canadian Red Cross
Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross Society is a Canadian humanitarian charitable organization and one of 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies....
and the Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
. He was president of the Canadian Medical Association
Canadian Medical Association
The Canadian Medical Association , with more than 70,000 members, is the largest association of doctors in Canada and works to represent their interests nationally. It formed in 1867, three months after Confederation...
from 1972 to 1973. He was Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island
University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island is a public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales...
from 1974 to 1982.
Honours
- In 1967, he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. - In 1972, he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada.
- In 1998, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of FameCanadian Medical Hall of FameThe Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a Canadian charitable organization, founded in 1994, that honours Canadians who have contributed to the understanding of disease and improving the health of people. It has a museum in London, Ontario, and has an annual induction ceremony.-2012:*Terry Fox*John...
. - Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint JohnVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
External links
- Gustave Gingras at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...