Dr. David Dawson, an Associate Professor of Medicine at McGill University and a General Internal Medicine (GIM) specialist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), has been selected as recipient of the Canadian Society of Internal Medicine’s (CSIM) 2020 Osler Award. The award is presented annually to physicians who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the field of general internal medicine in clinical practice, research, medical education, specialty development or health promotion.
Dr. Dawson graduated from medical school at McGill in 1975 and worked briefly in the Democratic Republic of Congo before returning to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he completed his Internal Medicine training in 1981.
From the beginning of his GIM appointment at McGill, Dr. Dawson became engaged in Undergraduate and Post-graduate Medical Education, ultimately at every level. As an educator he directed or co-launched many courses such as Introduction to Clinical Sciences, Introduction to the Practice of Medicine, Communication Plus, Physicianship and Clinical Method. He thrived in motivating and multiplying teachers by recruiting and training armies of students, residents and faculty as tutors. Locally at McGill and also nationally he has received awards acknowledging his contributions to clinical teaching and patient care.
“Receiving the CSIM Osler Award has caused me to reflect gratefully and humbly on what I owe to a gallery of McGill Medicine mentors,” says Dr. Dawson. “By their words and by their example, they breathed life into my clinical training.”
Dr. Dawson has been married to Patricia for 39 years and together they have raised four children. For over 40 years, he has served in a teaching and pastoral role in his faith community.
Dr. Dawson is happiest at the bedside caring for patients, and happier still when a student is present to complete the triad of learners.
Congratulations Dr. Dawson!
October 27, 2020