Lifetime Achievement Award

2014 recipient: Raymond P. LeBlanc, CM, MD, FRCSC

A native of Moncton N.B., Dr. LeBlanc is a graduate of the University of Moncton (BSc) and the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine.

Internship and residency in Medicine at Grace Hospital in Detroit was followed by ophthalmology training at the Cleveland Clinic and a 2-year glaucoma fellowship in St. Louis, Missouri with Dr. Bernard Becker.

Ray’s clinician scientist career began at the Université de Sherbrooke. He then headed to McGill University and the Montreal General Hospital. Recruited back to Sherbrooke as department head, Ray laid the foundation there for an academic department before coming to Dalhousie University in 1979 as professor and department head. His 25-year leadership at Dalhousie has been notable for many accomplishments including key recruitments to establish an academic training and research program, the initiation of fellowship programs, and the development of Canada’s first consolidated eye care centre.

Stepping down from department head in 2004, Ray continued to practise as a glaucoma specialist until 2006 when he accepted the role of vice president Learning, Research and Innovation and a member of the senior management team at Capital Health until his retirement in December 2012.

Career highlights and awards

Developing an integrated vision care model for Nova Scotia was Dr. LeBlanc's passion, and it led to the patient-centred care model now being emulated in other provinces in Canada.

Dr. LeBlanc has been president of COS, a long-standing member of the CNIB Baker Foundation Scientific committee, a Royal College Council member, the founding president of the Canadian Glaucoma Society, and a member of the board of the American Glaucoma Society and the Glaucoma Research Society. He has won junior and senior AAO honour awards. He was promoted to honorary member of the Glaucoma Research Society in recognition of his long service. He also received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Ottawa Medical Faculty, an honorary degree from the Université de Moncton, and an Order of Canada.

Now retired from all official positions, Ray is working to introduce new models of care for the management of chronic disease. He lives in Martin’s River, Nova Scotia, looking out on the ocean – an inspiring sight all year round.