Major-General Donald Gordon Medd Nelson

CStJ The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British royal order of c ...

, CD, QHS, MD, DPH, FACPM (28 June 1914 – 22 February 1989) was the 23rd Canadian Surgeon General.

Early years

Born in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Donald G.M., was educated at the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

. He received a Medical Degree in 1939 and a Graduate Diploma in Public Health in 1948.

Career

In 1940, "he enrolled in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, and in November of that year, he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Canadian Air Force Medical Branch." From 1940 to 1945, Nelson worked "as a Medical Officer at various RCAF stations in Canada." Flight Lieutenant Nelson was "appointed President of the RCAF Medical Board in London, England" in 1945. The following year he was promoted to Squadron Leader, and "appointed as Senior Medical Officer at RCAF Station Hospital Rockcliffe, Ontario." He left his post for a brief period of time in 1947-1948, and upon returning was promoted to Wing Commander. In 1952, Nelson was promoted to Group Captain and "appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services for the RCAF on the staff of the Director General fMedical Services (Air) at Air Force Headquarters" in Ottawa, Ontario. He "assumed command of the RCAF Institute of Aviation Medicine in Toronto", Ontario in 1957, and four years later, was "posted to London, England and appointed Medical Liaison Officer at the Canadian Joint Staff." In 1964, Nelson was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore, and appointed "Deputy Surgeon General (Professional)." He served in that position for four years until 1968 when he was promoted to Major-General, and appointed Surgeon General. Nelson remained in the position until his retirement from the military in 1970.

Retirement

After retiring, Dr. Nelson joined the Medical Services Department at Guelph University, until his retirement in 1982. He also served as president of the Aerospace Medical Association in 1971.

Death

Major-General Nelson died 22 February 1989 at the age of 74.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Donald Gordon Medd 1914 births 1989 deaths Surgeons General of Canada Physicians from Toronto Military personnel from Toronto University of Toronto alumni Academic staff of the University of Guelph Royal Canadian Air Force personnel