2024 Continuing Contribution Award

Considered the “Father of Agricultural Medicine in Canada,” Dr. Jim Dosman has been consistently persistent – in the best way – breaking new ground and turning research to knowledge translation and then to practice, programs and support for the safety and health of millions of farmers and agricultural workers worldwide. Jim grew up on a farm and attended school in Annaheim and St. Peter’s College, receiving his BA, MA and MD from USask. He worked as a family doctor in Saskatoon before specializing in Respiratory Medicine at McGill University and joining our College of Medicine. He was founding Head of the Division of Respiratory Medicine, founding Director of the Centre for Agricultural Medicine, founding Director of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, and the National Agricultural Industrial Hygiene Laboratory, all at USask. Jim chaired the Canadian Coalition for Agricultural Safety and Rural Health and was instrumental in the establishment of the Canadian Agriculture Safety Program. He established the Agricultural Health and Safety Network in Saskatchewan, a farm safety program involving 30,000 families. He worked with the International Labour Organization of the UN in establishing an International Code of Safe Practice in Agriculture, translated into numerous languages. In retirement, Jim continues an active medical practice in sleep medicine. With funding from CIHR, he is focussing on the health and safety of rural and Indigenous populations, addressing inequalities in house, home and mental health, and disparities in sleep and respiratory health. He is President and CEO of Agrivita Canada Inc., a not-for-profit company that has established the Canadian AgriSafety Applied Science Program. Congratulations, Jim!