w. gordon brown, m.d., d.p.h
TRANSCRIPT
W. GORDON BROWN, M.D., D.P.H.Source: Canadian Journal of Public Health / Revue Canadienne de Sante'e Publique, Vol. 59, No.1 (JANUARY 1968), pp. 40-41Published by: Canadian Public Health AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41984153 .
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Canadian Journal of Public Health
JOURNAL COMMITTEE J. Ellis Moore, m.d., d.p.h., Associate Editor Ant. B. Valois, m.d., m.p.h., Associate Editor
Cynthia Robertson, b.a., Editorial Assistant
W. GORDON BROWN, M.D., D.P.H.
WE dened in the
by public the passing
health of field
our are
friend sad-
dened by the passing of our friend and colleague, Gordon Brown. Those of us who had the privilege of working closely with him will always remember his extreme fairness and the honest, up- right way he chose to deal with his fellow man.
Dr. William Gordon Brown was born and educated in Toronto, graduating in medicine in 1928. After internship in New York City he practised general medicine in Grey County, Ontario until 1934 at which time, envisioning his role as one of
broader service, he moved to Tientsin, China where he continued his practice of medicine. In 1936 he embarked upon a new career as Superintendent of a general hospital at l'Chang, a treaty port on the Yangtze River, serving at the same time in the capacity of Port Quarantine Officer and Regional Representative of the Inter- national Red Cross. In addition to his diverse administrative responsibilities for large numbers of sick, displaced and wounded Chinese, Dr. Brown was also per- sonally responsible for their medical care and supervision in the capacity of a physi-
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January 1968 EDITORIAL SECTION 41
cian and a surgeon. These varied respon- sibilities were compounded by the acute scarcity of medical and other supplies, and the shortage of trained staff in that over- populated war-torn area. During this five- year period, Dr. Brown's many and diverse experiences helped to mould his outlook on life, and this was later reflected in his many acts of kindness and tolerance under difficult and trying circumstances.
Following the Japanese occupation of that area, Dr. Brown returned to Canada and received his Diploma in Public Health from the School of Hygiene in 1942. He was then appointed Medical Officer of Health in the City of Fort William, and Provincial Medical Officer for North- western Ontario, thus commencing a new career in public health in the Province of Ontario. In 1944 he returned to Toronto to take over the difficult post of Director of the Provincial Venereal Disease Control Program at a time when this public health problem was assuming major pro- portions. His administrative skill in de- veloping a concerted and comprehensive attack on a significant public health prob- lem received not only recognition, but also support from public health workers across Canada.
His infinite capacity for work, and his interest in the broad spectrum of public health services resulted in his being ap- pointed Director of two additional services, Maternal and Child Health Division and Health Grants Administration, culminating in his appointment as Chief Medical Of- ficer of Health. In January, 1958, Dr. Brown succeeded Dr. J. T. Phair as Deputy Minister of Health, and served in that capacity until his retirement on December 31, 1965. As Deputy Minister and Chief Medical Officer of Health he continued to provide direction to the pro- vincial public health program, and in addi- tion played a prominent role in the further development of the provincial mental health program.
Dr. Brown was an enthusiastic supporter of the Canadian Public Health Association for many years. He served on a number of its committees, and in 1961 he was elected President. During his presidency he worked closely with the Executive Director and the honorary officers in directing the Asso- ciation, and he visited widely among the provincial affiliates, attending their annual meetings, and taking a keen interest in their progress and their problems. He was chairman of the committee which, in 1961, prepared the Association's Statement to the Royal Commission on Health Ser- vices; and later the Brief, which was pre- sented to the Commission in April, 1962.
In 1964 Dr. Brown became Chairman of the Journal Committee which under- took the publication of the Canadian Jour- nal of Public Health each month and in this capacity he initiated changes in the style and form of the Journal. The new format permitted publication of additional papers. He wished to bring to Canadian readers news of developments throughout the world, and thus he introduced the series of articles on public health experi- ence in other lands.
At the Association's annual meeting in 1966, Dr. Brown consented to become officially the Editor of the Journal. At the same time he was appointed Consultant to the Association, and he devoted himself to the tasks of directing the operations of the National Office and of the Journal until the time of his death.
Dr. Brown's many professional activities were not permitted to intrude upon his devotion to and interest in his family - a part of his life upon which he placed great importance. To Isobel Brown and the members of his immediate family, we of the Canadian Public Health Association wish to convey the high regard in which we hold the memory of our personal and professional associations with Gordon Brown, and to extend to them our sincere sympathy in the grievous loss which they have suffered.
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