Major-General Jean Joseph Benoit (14 February 1932 – 18 January 2024) was the 31st Canadian Surgeon General.

Early life

Born in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, Benoit was educated at

Laval University Laval means ''The Valley'' in old French and is the name of: People * House of Laval, a French noble family originating from the town of Laval, Mayenne * Laval (surname) Places Belgium * Laval, a village in the municipality of Sainte-Ode, Luxemb ...

, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950, and a Medical Doctorate in 1958. He also completed post-graduate studies in

anesthesiology Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology, or anaesthesia is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine, ...

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 ...

between 1962 and 1964.

Career

Upon entering medical school in 1952, Benny, as Benoit was called by his colleagues, joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps (COTC). He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment, and then sent to Germany. In 1956, Benoit transferred from the Infantry to the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

(RCAF). His first posting in 1958 was to a Pine Tree Line radar station in Parent, Quebec, as the station physician. Benoit next was posted to RCAF Station Rockcliffe Hospital in 1959, "which was to become Canadian Forces Hospital Rockcliffe FH The staff of this hospital formed the nucleus of what was to become, n 1961,the new National Defence Medical Centre DMCin Ottawa." In 1962, Benoit was posted to CFH

Churchill, Manitoba Churchill is a town in northern Manitoba, Canada, on the west shore of Hudson Bay, roughly from the Manitoba–Nunavut border. It is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to the nickname ...

. Having completed his specialty training he was appointed chief of anesthesiology at Canadian Forces Hospital in

Oromocto, New Brunswick "Effort Brings Success" , image_skyline = , image_caption = , image_flag = Oromotco NB flag.png , image_shield = Oromocto NB coat of arms.jpg , image_map = , map_caption = , ...

. This hospital saw both civilian and military patients, and thus, the military physicians were also "members of the Oromocto General Hospital medical staff." Benoit was promoted to colonel and appointed commandant of the Canadian Forces Hospital Valcartier, in Quebec, well as the chief of anesthesiology in 1974. In 1976, Benoit was transferred to Ottawa as chief of the Department of Anesthesiology at the NDMC. In 1985, he was appointed commandant of NDMC and promoted brigadier-general. Four years later, he "assumed command of the newly formed Canadian Forces Hospital and Medical Supply System with headquarters in Ottawa". In 1990 was promoted to major-general and appointed surgeon general. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1992.

Death

Joseph died on 18 January 2024, at the age of 91.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benoit, Jean Joseph 1932 births 2024 deaths Surgeons General of Canada People from Rivière-du-Loup Université Laval alumni University of Toronto alumni Royal Canadian Air Force personnel Canadian anesthesiologists Royal 22nd Regiment officers