Thomas John (Jock) Murray, OC, MD, FRCP(C), MACP, LLD(HON), DSc(HON), FRCP(LON): a conversation with the editor

Thomas J. Murray, MD, and William C. Roberts, MD

Dr. Jock Murray was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada, on May 30, 1938. He attended St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish and Dalhousie University School of Medicine in Halifax, graduating with honors in 1963. After 2 years in general practice, Dr. Murray returned to Halifax to train in internal medicine and then in neurology in Halifax, London, and Toronto, before joining the Dalhousie medical faculty in 1970. He rose thereafter in rank to become professor of medicine (neurology), professor of medical humanities, and dean of medicine, with professional appointments also in the departments of family medicine, community health and epidemiology, and history at Dalhousie University. He founded and has been director of the Dalhousie Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit for the past 23 years.
Dr. Murray has over 200 publications. He is the author of a textbook of neurology, now in its fourth edition, and 2 books on the management of multiple sclerosis; he coauthored a book on medical quotations and a recent one on the quotations of Sir William Osler. He has contributed 37 chapters to other textbooks. He is or has been on the editorial board of 22 medical journals. He has served as governor, chairman of the board of governors, regent, and chairman of the board of regents for the American College of Physicians. He was the founder and first president of the Dalhousie Society for the History of Medicine and a past-president of the Canadian Society for the History of Medicine; he is currently book review coeditor for the Canadian Bulletin for the History of Medicine. He was a founder and currently is past-president of the Consortium of North American Multiple Sclerosis Centres and was chair of the Canadian Medical Forum. He has served as vice president of the American Academy of Neurology, as president of the Canadian Neurological Society, and as president of the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges.
Dr. Murray has received many awards and has delivered many distinguished lectureships. These honors include the Professor of the Year award from medical students at Dalhousie University (1973), Officer of the Order of Canada (1991), Canada 125th Anniversary Medal (1992), the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal (2003), the John B. Neilson Award of the Associated Medical Services and Hannah Institute for the History of Medicine (1995), a mastership in the American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine (1997), the Dr. A. B. Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Neurological Education from the Academy of Neurology (1997), the Labe Scheinberg Award for Lifetime Contributions to Multiple Sclerosis from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centres (2000), and the Mentor of the Year Award from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (2001), among others, as well as honorary degrees from St. Francis Xavier University and Acadia University.
Dr. Murray and his wife, Janet, have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. He and his wife have written a biography of Sir Charles Tupper, and Dr. Murray is just completing a book on the history of multiple sclerosis, as well as beginning a book with his wife on the history of Dalhousie Medical School.
During his visit to Baylor University Medical Center in March 2003, Dr. Murray gave 3 splendid presentations: 1) “Historical aspects of multiple sclerosis: looking back as we look forward,” 2) “Balancing your life in medicine,” and 3) “Art and medicine.” He also is a delightful guy and fun to be around.