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Although she's no longer practicing full-time, North Battleford-based doctor Mary McPhail (BA'42, MED'42) won't soon be forgotten. She's been nominated as the Canadian Family Physician of the Year, an honour to be formally announced in May.

Her nomination follows last fall's award presentation as the 1999 Family Physician of the Year presented by her colleagues at the Saskatchewan College of Family Physicians.

"I was totally surprised. I had no idea I was nominated for such a prestigious award. It's indeed an honour to be recognized by my peers." Dr. McPhail has been practicing medicine in North Battleford for nearly 40 years and was the first female physician in the region.

Practicing in one place for so many years is a rarity in medical circles today but Dr. McPhail says the decision to stay was easy. And her dedication goes well beyond medicine. She spent 24 years as a public school board trustee, six years as a Citizenship Judge and nine years serving on North Battleford city council. At the same time, she's been on the boards of the Saskatchewan Medical Association and College of Medicine and has held numerous other positions.

Her dedication to family medicine and leadership prompted Dr. Jim Johnson to nominate her for the award. "When it comes to helping her community, her heart is in the right place. She's perhaps, one of the strongest community-minded physicians I know."

Dr. McPhail says when her career began the public was slow to accept women doctors. But the last 40 years have been a period of change - in public attitudes and in medical science. Although these changes have been mostly for the better, she says, "it's no wonder Medicare is in trouble trying to keep pace with advancing technologies."

While she has hung up her stethoscope for the most part, Dr. McPhail stays busy by making the rounds at local senior's homes so as not to lose her edge.

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