Marilyn McHarg, is a humanitarian executive. She was President and CEO of
Dignitas International
Dignitas International is a medical and research organization, which is dedicated to improving access to lifesaving treatment and care for HIV, TB and related diseases in resource-limited settings. Dignitas was founded by James Orbinski and Jame ...
, as well as a founding member and General Director of the Canadian section of
Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF; pronounced ), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is a humanitarian medical non-governmental organisation (NGO) or charity of French origin known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases. M ...
(MSF) / Doctors Without Borders, the world's leading independent medical humanitarian organization.
Biography
With a Master's degree in Applied Sciences in Nursing (1984–1987) from
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...
in
Montréal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-p ...
, McHarg spent nine years in Africa from 1991 until 2000 working for MSF as a field nurse in
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
, a training consultant and a medical coordinator in
Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
, and a medical coordinator as well as Head of Mission in
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
and
Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...
.
Following nine years in the field identifying humanitarian needs, translating medical policy into project activities, supervising financial management and logistical support, and implementing project activities ranging from health education and basic health services to water and sanitation services, relief distributions, and famine response, McHarg was based in Europe as Operational Director for MSF in Holland and later as Director of Operations with MSF in Geneva from 2000 until 2006 with responsibility for missions in 20 countries.
Prior to her work with MSF, McHarg was a registered nurse at
Women's College Hospital
Women's College Hospital is a teaching hospital in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the north end of Hospital Row, a section of University Avenue where several major hospitals are located. It currently functions as an independe ...
and
Sunnybrook Medical Centre 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 ...
and a research assistant and laboratory technologist at
St. Joseph's Hospital in
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Hamilton has a population of 569,353, and its census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington and Grimsby, has a population of 785,184. The city is approximately southwest of T ...
and research assistant at
Queen's University Queen's or Queens University may refer to:
*Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada
*Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
**Queen's University of Belfast (UK Parliament constituency) (1918–1950)
**Queen's University of Belfast ...
in
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between Toro ...
.
In addition to her Master's degree, McHarg graduated with a Bachelor of Science:
Life Sciences
This list of life sciences comprises the branches of science that involve the scientific study of life – such as microorganisms, plants, and animals including human beings. This science is one of the two major branches of natural science, the ...
and
Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...
from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario (1978 – 1983) and holds certificates in
tropical medicine,
critical care, quality assurance and nursing audits. In 1996 she obtained a pilot’s license.
In acknowledgement of her humanitarian work, she was awarded the Golden Jubilee in 2002. She received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree and the Alumni Humanitarian award from Queen’s University, as well as an award of distinction from the Cenntenial Foundation in 2008. In 2011, McHarg was named as a Woman of the Year by Chatelaine magazine, and in 2012 she received an honorary diploma from Niagara College and the Successful Canadian Women award from Adsum in Nova Scotia. In 2015, she was made a member of the
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario () is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is adm ...
and in the
2021 Canadian Honours List, she was made a member of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the ...
.
References
External links
Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Bordershttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070207.TREXEC07/TPStory/specialTravel ''l'']
{{DEFAULTSORT:McHarg, Marilyn
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Canadian activists
Members of the Order of Ontario