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Arthur Maxwell House "Max," OC, physician, 10th lieutenant-governor of Newfoundland and Labrador (1997-2002) (born 10 August 1926 in Glovertown, NL; died 17 October 2013 in St. John’s, NL). House came to the position of lieutenant-governor after an outstanding medical career, imbued with a strong public service ethic. He is recognized as a pioneer of telemedicine, which utilizes electronic communication technology to provide health services to patients at a distance. (See also Telecommunications.)
Education and Career
Born into a family with a lumber business, Arthur Maxwell House was educated at Memorial University College (1943-47) and the Dalhousie University medical school (1947-52) (see Memorial University of Newfoundland). After practising as a family physician, he completed training at the Montreal Neurological Institute in 1959 and returned to St. John's in 1960 to become for some years the province's only neurologist (see Neuroscience). He was significantly involved in the establishment of the Memorial University medical school and spent time there as professor of neurology and a medical administrator from 1968 to 1993 and thereafter until 1997 as consultant, advisor and researcher.
In 1976 he founded the Telemedicine Centre at Memorial - which provides continuing medical education and health services to remote communities - and led it until 1996. The World Health Organization would later honour him as an "International Pioneer in Telemedicine" (2001). (See also Telecommunications.)
Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador
House was appointed the province's 10th lieutenant-governor on 5 February 1997. As Lieutenant-Governor, he drew attention to such issues as child poverty, literacy programs, the new economy and the provincial cultural industry. He likewise dedicated himself to operating his Office in an effective and cost-efficient manner. House concluded his term as Lieutenant-Governor in November 2002 and was succeeded by Edward Moxon Roberts.
After serving as lieutenant-governor, he was made an honorary research professor at Memorial University in 2002. He was appointed professor emeritus in 2003.
Select Honours and Awards
Arthur Maxwell House received a number of other awards during his life, including the Canadian Medical Association's Medal of Service (1997), awarded to a physician who has made "an exceptional and outstanding contribution to the advancement of health care in Canada." He has been named twice to the Order of Canada, in 1989 as Member and in 2004 as Officer.
