Article

Robert George Ferguson

Published Online December 13, 2007

Last Edited December 9, 2013

Robert George Ferguson, physician (b at Joliette, ND 12 Sept 1883; d at Regina 1 Mar 1964). Ferguson studied arts, theology and medicine at the University of Manitoba and in 1917 became medical superintendent of the Saskatchewan Anti-tuberculosis League at Fort Qu'Appelle.

Ferguson, Robert George

Robert George Ferguson, physician (b at Joliette, ND 12 Sept 1883; d at Regina 1 Mar 1964). Ferguson studied arts, theology and medicine at the University of Manitoba and in 1917 became medical superintendent of the Saskatchewan Anti-tuberculosis League at Fort Qu'Appelle. His 31-year tenure achieved many "firsts": a school survey for TUBERCULOSIS (1921); province-wide free diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (1929) ; BCG vaccination of native infants (1930) and of student nurses (1938); and a province-wide radiographic survey for tuberculosis (1941-47). His book, Studies in Tuberculosis (1955), reported the striking drop in mortality from the disease. His honours included the King's Medallion (1934), the Order of the British Empire (1935), and an honorary LLD from the U of Sask (1946). An island in Montreal Lake and a professorship at U of Sask bear his name.