Richard Finley
Richard J. Finley, former Head of the UBC Department of Surgery, received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) of the American College of Surgeons. The DSA is the highest honour bestowed by that organization.
Dr. Finley was honored for “his leadership as a driving force for change to better train future surgeons by electronic means and skills learning modules.” The Board of Regents further recognized his “integrity, vision, and services as a role model to surgeons everywhere to always do the right thing for patients.”
A general and thoracic surgeon, he came to UBC from the University of Western Ontario in 1989 as a Professor and Head of the department in 1989, and served in that role until 2001. He is now a Professor Emeritus.
Dr. Finley has served in numerous ACS leadership roles. He has been Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors, a member of the Board of Regents, and First Vice-President (2010). His contributions in health information technology include service as Chair of the ACS Web Portal Editorial Board, and Chair of the ACS Education Task Force on Practice-based Learning and Improvement. Dr. Finley has also been described as an enthusiastic and innovative teacher and mentor to the many residents and fellows he has trained. He has received several awards for teaching and scholarship, including the department’s Master Teaching Award, as well as the University of Western Ontario’s award for Best Teacher, Interns and Residents.
Dr. Finley has chaired multiple committees at the institutions where he has practiced and taught, including at UBC and the Vancouver General Hospital. He has also served as president of the International James IV Surgical Association, the British Columbia Surgical Association, and the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons, and as Vice-President of the American Surgical Association and Chair of the Canadian Association of Surgical Chairs. Dr. Finley has been a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Annals of Surgery, and Canadian Journal of Surgery.