Duncan Archibald Graham

Who was Duncan Archibald Graham?

Duncan Archibald Graham, CC CBE FRSC was a Canadian physician and academic who held the first position in the British Empire of chair of clinical medicine, established by John Craig Eaton at the University of Toronto in 1919. He held this position and was Chair of the Department of Medicine and Physician-in-Chief at the Toronto General Hospital, until 1947.

Born on a farm near Ivan, Ontario, he received a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1905. He was an assistant bacteriologist with the Ontario Board of Health before starting his residency in pathology at the Toronto General Hospital. He was also a pathologist with the Tuberculosis League of Pittsburg. From 1909 to 1911, he did post-graduate studies in Europe. He was appointed a lecturer in bacteriology at the University of Toronto before serving in World War I with the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital.

In 1919, he was appointed to the Sir John and Lady Eaton chair in medicine at the University of Toronto. He was also the physician-in-chief of the Toronto General Hospital. From 1933 to 1935, he was the president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. From 1940 to 1941, he was the president of the Canadian Medical Association. From 1942 to 1946, he was a member of the National Research Council.