Dr. Peter Beck was recruited from McGill University to replace
Dr. William Paul as chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1965.
Dr. Beck’s era was one where sub-specialization grew within the specialty of obstetrics & gynecology. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada did not formally recognize obstetrics & gynecology as a specialty until 1957, even though Dr. J. Ross Vant – who served as department chair from 1941 to 1962 – had been a member of the British Royal College for more than 20 years. Within a decade, the trend to sub-specialization had begun.
Dr. Beck was a pioneer in the area of urogynecology. He also had the reputation as an outstanding educator (and a tough examiner!).
Expansion of the department
Once there was formal RCPSC recognition of the specialty, more attention was paid to postgraduate training programs. With increasing demands for both undergraduate and postgraduate educational programs, there was increased demand for “geographic full time” (GFT) appointments. These GFT appointees would receive remuneration for time spent in “non-clinical” activities such as teaching and research.
As in almost all North American medical schools, GFT positions were used almost exclusively to recruit faculty members with extra sub-specialty training. In a uniquely Canadian fashion, these GFT funds became a replacement for “fee-for-service” income for sub-specialists who often were required to spend more time on complex problems than the fee schedule would recognize.
This meant that the funding intended for teaching and research actually was more commonly used to provide sub-specialist services. This dichotomy continues to exist and only in the last few years have governments and physicians come together to remedy this problem by establishment of “alternate funding plans” and other creative solutions.
Though the department had faculty members with “extra” training, such as Dr. Doug Ritchie in gynecological pathology and Dr. Leigh Brown in gynecological oncology, in the Beck era it was expected that the new GFT faculty members would have some formal sub-specialty credentials.
The department recruited experts into GFT positions in all sub-specialty areas – Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Perinatology (now known as Maternal-Fetal Medicine), and Gynecological Oncology.
These included:
- Dr. Don Dunlop (MFM) who had research interests in pre-eclampsia.
- Dr. Atef Moawad (MFM) who had research interests in fetal physiology.
- Dr. Joe Scott (REI) whose research interests were in regulation of pituitary prolactin secretion.
- Dr. David Cumming (REI) who investigated effects of lifestyle on regulation of the menstrual cycle.
- Dr. John J. Boyd (MFM) who became the local expert in Rh disease.
- A variety of others, including Keith Rawlinson (MFM), Keith Pearse (MFM), Bob Richards (MFM), and Michael Taylor (GOnc) who provided sub-specialty clinical services as well as contributing to the development and delivery of the department teaching programs.
A noteworthy event in this recruitment process was the appointment in 1976 of Dr. Bob Richards as the first GFT faculty member outside the University of Alberta Hospital. He was appointed director of the Perinatology Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and symbolized the partnership between the two hospitals for provision of sub-specialty care involving high-risk pregnancies.
Advent of perinatal care
An important event in the department’s history occurred in 1980. The provincial Department of Health agreed to fund a new program that would focus on specialized care for high-risk pregnancies and newborns. This program would provide salaries for perinatologists and neonatologists as well as specialized nursing units.
There was intense competition for the location of this unit between the University of Alberta Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital, which had the busiest obstetrical service. Amidst undoubted political lobbying and maneuvering, the decision was made to split this fledgling program between the two sites.
The introduction of GFT faculty positions was not without some difficulties. Job descriptions often were vague, remuneration low and there were strict limitations on ability to earn supplementary clinical income. As a result, many of the new recruits had short GFT careers and opted for “private practice” positions in Edmonton or elsewhere.