Tribute Paid To Retiring Dr. Cann

Outgoing Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann was recognised for his decades of public service to Bermuda at the Health Financing Summit at Rosewood Tucker’s Point yesterday [Nov.20].

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health Kevin Monkman delivered a heartfelt speech paying tribute to Dr. Cann, who retires at the end of 2011 following 30 years of service at the Ministry of Health in various capacities.

Mr. Monkman said, “With so many members of the medical profession all assembled in one room this seemed like an opportune time to pay homage to someone who has devoted much of his life to the Ministry of Health, and indeed the health of Bermuda’s population … Someone we will miss deeply when he leaves us in the New Year.

“That is, of course, our Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann — known affectionately as ‘JC’ to many of his staff at the Department of Health.

“When I was first asked to say a few words about Dr. Cann I canvassed some of those staff members, and those who have worked closely with him over the years, for some anecdotes and words to describe him. And the responses were those of admiration to say the least.

“When asked to describe Dr. Cann in one word, here were some of the responses: visionary, kind, intelligent, forward-thinking, inspirational, sensitive, knowledgeable, patriarch, fall-guy, hard-working, understated and quietly extraordinary. One colleague describes him as ‘having a brain the size of Canada, and an even bigger heart’.

“Dr. Cann’s passion for promoting public health, both globally and in the local community, is nothing short of extraordinary — a passion that miraculously never faded over his 30 year career with the Ministry of Health.”

Mr. Monkman continued on to say, “Throughout that time a lot has happened in our healthcare system. New diseases came along, technology evolved, and new modes of thinking were introduced. Dr. Cann has always been very supportive of change and has driven many new initiatives throughout his career – some of which I will mention shortly.

“He has sometimes been met with resistance along the way, but he has certainly never allowed that to stop him.

“Probably his greatest challenge has been to shift the Department of Health from a Medical Model of healthcare to a Public Health model. Many staff members had trained in the Medical Model so this was a new concept to embrace. In fact the focus on ‘preventative health’ rather than ‘curative care’ was nothing short of revolutionary for the times.

“One example — at the risk of ageing Dr. Cann! — is that the personal computer had not been invented when he first trained. So in order to create health information leaflets Dr. Cann and his staff literally had to crank the old Gestetner [printing] machine.

“In fact he has said in the past that one of the biggest skills challenges in his career has been to master the computer and that every time he masters it ‘They go ahead and change the operating system!’ He has always had far more time for people than technology.”

Growing up as the son of a doctor, Dr. Cann attended the Berkeley Institute from 1960 to 1963 and then Worcester Academy from 1963 to 1966.

He then went on to attend Lafayette College where he studied Biology from 1966 to 1970. After graduating from the Howard University College of Medicine in 1974 he filled various medical positions in the United States.

Dr. Cann returned to Bermuda in 1979 to begin his career in the civil service as a Medical Officer with the Ministry of Health. He was promoted to the post of Senior Medical Officer in 1980 and then became CMO in 1983.

He has served on a number of health-related boards and committees including  the Health Insurance Committee; the Bermuda Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; the Psycho-Educational Committee; the Bermuda Hospitals Board; Bermuda Cancer and Health Association; the Bermuda Medical Council; the Bermuda Medical Association; the Advisory Board on the Misuse of Drugs; the Pharmacy Council; the Hospital Insurance Commission; the Caribbean Health Research Council, the Bermuda Health Council, the American Public Health Association, the Canadian Public Health Association, the American College of Preventive Medicine and more.

Mr. Monkman said, “He also works closely with the Lady Cubbitt Compassionate association — a body which judges cases of individuals applying for assistance for overseas medical care.

“Many times his staff have seen him agonising over an LCCA case, as he always felt patients deserved a last chance. Even though their odds of recovery were sometimes poor and the cost was vast, he would somehow make the meagre funds stretch to assist them.

“His high ethical standards and deep respect for all individuals — be they the underprivileged, the poor, the sick, the AIDS victim or drug addict, colleagues and staff — is inspirational.

“Dr. Cann has always had a great faith in human beings and strongly believes that we can all rise to meet whatever challenges are presented. But I suspect that Dr. Cann would be unwilling to admit — or would wave aside  – any suggestion about the high regard in which he is held by his staff [past and present] and by his peers both in Bermuda and around the world.

“Dr. Cann, thank you for all that you have done for Bermuda, and I’m sure everyone here will join me in wishing you all the best for the future.”

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