Dr. John Simon Fraser Richards, MD, FRCSC
For over four decades, Dr. John Simon Fraser Richards has been a steadfast, passionate, and ground breaking member of the ophthalmological field. Known for bringing his creativity, ingenuity, and decades of international experience to bear when developing new procedures to deal with major clinical issues, Dr. Richards remains a passionate advocate for improving the field of ophthalmology in Canada and around the world.
Born in December 1934 shortly after his father died, Dr. Richards became captivated with medicine from a young age. Graduating with a medical degree from the University of British Columbia in 1960, Dr. Richards continued his training at the Montreal General Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology in London, England. After attaining his residency at the UBC Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Richards went on to study corneal disorders at the leading institutions of the day – Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, UK with Sir Benjamin Rycroft; the Royal College of Surgeons in the United Kingdom; and studied for a Corneal Fellowship with Dr. Claes Dohlman at Harvard University the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, Massachusetts.
He returned to Vancouver where he joined the full-time faculty at the University of British Columbia – first as an assistant professor, then associate professor and currently is a professor emeritus.
Dr. Richards’ career in Vancouver began in 1971, where he was instrumental in developing the UBC Corneal Division, of which he was head for 30 years. Throughout his appointment at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Richards has been the head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Shaughnessy Hospital; head of the Department of Ophthalmology at University Hospital; head of Cornea & External Disease Division at the University of British Columbia; acting head, Ophthalmology Department at University of British Columbia; and medical director of the Eye Bank of British Columbia.
Dr. Richards has also taken on leadership roles locally, nationally, and internationally. He was president of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society as well as the British Columbia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Richards has been on the Executive Board and a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada Examination Committee; the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons surgical accreditation committee; a board member of the CNIB; and the E.A. Baker Secretariat.
Dr. Richards has regularly been published throughout his career, and has frequently been an invited as a visiting lecturer at local, national, and international scientific meetings.
Dr. Richards is currently practices and teaches at the Eye Care Centre, University of British Columbia, and consults to Work Safe BC.
Dr Richards’ four decades of service is more than deserving of a COS Lifetime Achievement Award.
Colleagues from across the country can attest to his commitment to excellence, his unique perspectives, his professionalism, and his notable sense of fun.