By McGill Reporter Staff
The McGill Student Health Service is losing one of its beloved icons, as, following a more than 30-year career at the helm, Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier is stepping down from his position as Director of Student Health on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Ollivier Dyens announced today.
Although he is leaving the administrative post, Dr.Tellier will maintain his academic appointment at McGill, continuing his teaching and research activities, and will continue seeing students at the clinic until the end of the academic year.
Dr. Tellier, who is also a family physician and associate professor, has been involved with teaching at various levels, including undergraduate students in several health care fields, residents in different specialties, faculty development and professional development.
During his tenure as undergraduate education director for the Department of Family Medicine, he originated the family medicine component of Introduction to Medicine and clerkship. Dr. Tellier, known fondly as Dr. T on McGill student health websites, has also worked with Molson Medical Informatics to develop a range of patient-education websites as well as a case-based IT tool to teach medical students how to manage patients living with pain. His work has had wide ranging impact, including introducing the teaching of the gynecological examination using patient-teachers for the medical school, and collaborating with Eduardo Franco on several major studies which have helped establish McGill as a world leading institution in the study of the epidemiology of Human Papilloma virus.
Dr. Tellier’s most recent research interests include identity formation in family medicine academics, the evaluation of an e-learning tool for medical students on pain assessment and management, and the health-promotion needs of indigenous medical students
“Dr. Tellier has always had our students’ best interests in mind, especially those who belong to a minority and for whom the world is less compassionate and more complicated,” Prof. Dyens said. “He has made a true difference for those students who need to constantly fight for recognition. This is a great achievement, one that cannot be underestimated. Dr. Tellier has carved out spaces in which students feel safe, understood and protected, where students can grow and mature with support and understanding. Thanks to him, many students now lead more balanced and fruitful lives. He also initiated the Frosh Leader training program at McGill.”
As well, Dr. Tellier has spent more than 30 years volunteering twice a week at the Head & Hands community group in Montreal, to help the less fortunate who need an understanding ear and help with medical problems. For this outstanding work, he was rewarded in 2014 with a Centraide Solidaire citizen involvement award. He has also continued to work at the Jewish General Hospital’s Herzl Family Medicine Unit.
“We are very sorry to see Dr. Tellier leave the Directorship of our Student Health Clinic,” Prof. Dyens said. “He has made invaluable contributions to student life at this University and I am sure you join me in wishing him well in his future endeavours.”