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About Dr. Vivian McAlister O.C.

Dr McAlister is a professor emeritus at Western and an adjunct professor in the department of history. His research interests currently include biography and Canada's participation in wars. He is president of the James IV Association of Surgeons (Canada). Formerly, he was a general surgeon with expertise in transplantation and military medicine. He has been president of the Canadian Society of Transplantation and the Canadian Organ Replacement Registry. Dr McAlister served on the council of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and was chair of its Region Advisory Committee for Ontario and Nunavut (RAC 3). He was co-editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Surgery from 2013 until 2019. He was a regular force member of the Royal Canadian Medical Service, Canadian Armed Forces until 2019 and has deployed overseas many times. He was the founding director of Western's Office of Military Academic Medicine. Awards received include The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medal (2012), the Angus McLachlin chair of surgery (2014); the Canadian Medical Association John McCrae Memorial Medal (2019) and the Canadian Society of Transplantation lifetime achievement award (2019). Dr McAlister was made an officer in the Order of Canada in the 2021 Honours List.

Positions

2022 - Present Adjunct Professor, Western University Department of History
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2022 - Present Emeritus Professor, Western University
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2001 - 2023 Professor, Western University Department of Surgery
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2013 - 2019 Editor, Canadian Journal of Surgery
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2008 - 2019 Medical Officer (specialist), Canadian Armed Forces ‐ Royal Canadian Medical Service
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1995 - 2012 Associate professor, Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine ‐ Department of Pathology
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1992 - 1995 Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University
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Curriculum Vitae


Disciplines


Research Interests


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Professional Service and Affiliations

2020 - Present President, Canada, James IV Association of Surgeons
2011 - 2017 Councillor, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
2001 - 2006 Councillor, Canadian Council for Donation and Transplantation
2005 President, Harvey Club of London
2001 - 2004 Chairman, Canadian Institute of Health Information: Canadian Organ Replacement Register
1998 - 2003 Chairman, Research Committee, Canadian Association of General Surgeons
2000 President, Canadian Society of Transplantation
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Honors and Awards

  • 2019 John McCrae Memorial Medal, Canadian Medical Association
  • 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Society of Transplantation
  • 2014 Joint Operations Command Commendation: Canadian Armed Forces
  • 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal: Canada
  • 1998 Tenure, Dalhousie University
  • 2020 Officer, Order of Canada
  • 2023 Honorary Fellowship, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Education

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1990 FRCSC, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
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1988 FRCSI, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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1985 CCFP, The College of Family Physicians of Canada
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1981 Dip Child Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ‐ Paediatrics
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1973 - 1979 Trinity MA, MB, BCh, BAO, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
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