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Dr. R. Rishi Gupta became the 23rd recipient of the Dr. G.W. Archibald Gold-Headed Cane Award on May 4, in a ceremony at Theatre A in Tupper medical building during the Canadian Association for Health Humanities’ Creating Space Conference.

Dr. Gupta, an ophthalmologist, is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and a surgical retina specialist at the Victoria General Hospital.

The role of the humanities has been central to his life, his medical practice, and his teaching career, Dr. Gupta said in accepting the award.

“When medicine has exhausted me, I have found energy and balance in playing music and reading classical literature and non-fiction. When medicine flipped the script and I have been a patient, articulating my lived experience through creative writing was cathartic,” he said.

“To establish trust and rapport with patients, nothing gets you there quicker than taking interest in and learning about their artistic endeavours and hobbies. And the right music in our OR can soothe the anxious patient as much as the medications flowing through the i.v.,” he added.

The awards’ committee singled out Dr. Gupta for his excellence in medical education, teaching, research, surgical videos, and patient care.

“I’m really delighted that Dr. R. Rishi Gupta has received this award,” Dr. Wendy Stewart, director of Dalhousie’s Medical Humanities program, told the audience at the ceremony.

As well as being a compassionate doctor, teacher, and researcher, “Dr. Gupta is a passionate advocate for the role of storytelling in medical education,” Dr. Stewart said.

The Gold-Headed Cane award, which includes a financial gift as well as a hand-carved gold-headed cane, recognizes faculty physicians for their scholarly attainments in the humanities, their humanism, integration of the humanities into their professional and personal life, and their service as a role model.

A generous endowment from the late Dr. Gerald (MD’55) and Gale Archibald finances the award, which continues a tradition begun by Dr. John Radcliffe, personal physician to King William and Queen Mary of England. Dr. Radcliffe carried a gold-headed cane, which on his death was passed on to four subsequent royal physicians. Doctors now consider the gold-headed cane a prestigious symbol of excellence in the practice of medicine.

Endowing the award had great meaning for the Archibalds, their daughter Carolyn Archibald said in an interview. Supporting the artists was her father’s great passion, after medicine, she added.

“He lived and breathed his art, particularly after he retired, and this award gave him an opportunity to give back to Dal, because he felt that he had benefitted so much from that experience and to encourage other young doctors to be more attuned to the humanities’ side of medicine, rather than just the book learning,” she said.

Dr. Archibald’s brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Reginald and Marilyn Archibald, attended the ceremony and were pleased to see the Archibalds’ legacy recognized alongside Dr. Gupta.

“Gerald’s passion was the personal development of all aspects of life, not just medical care – hence his interest in encouraging and confirming participation in the humanities and the resulting benefit to society in general and the treatment of patient,” Dr. Reg Archibald told those gathered for the ceremony.

“Their legacy of care and achievement lives on in the continuing Gold Cane Award program.”

Dr. Gupta thanked Dr. Reg Archibald for sharing his memories of his brother and sister-in-law and the reasons they donated their endowment.

“This most meaningful award is an incredible way to carry on their legacy of passion and energy for the humanities in medicine,” Dr. Gupta said.

In addition to research publications, Dr. Gupta is also the author of Reflections of a Pupil: What Your Med School and Ophthalmology Textbooks Can’t Teach You (But What Your Mentors, Colleagues, and Patients Will). He describes the book as a “bathroom reader” that uses humour and anecdotes to teach about the art of medicine, not just the science.

Dr. Gupta and his wife, Dr. Anuradha Mishra Gupta, have also written a children’s book, entitled Milk, Eggs, Butter, and Broccoli.

Although Dr. Mishra Gupta was not able to attend the ceremony, Dr. Gupta’s parents and in-laws were on hand to see him receive the award and attend the reception afterward.

Dr. Gupta thanked his parents for their sacrifice, their love, for immersing him in the arts from an early age, and for “teaching me that the world is a better place when we care about not just ourselves, but everyone else.”

Dr. Gupta also praised his father-in-law, another doctor, “for showing what undeniable dedication looks like,” and his mother-in-law “for taking care of everyone, all the time.”

He ended his remarks by quoting author Aldous Huxley on the secret of happiness being “loving what you do, even if you have to do it.”

“I think the secret to happiness is getting to do what you love to do,” Dr. Gupta said. “And for me, getting to live the arts and humanities daily through my role as physician is exactly that.”

Dr. Gupta and family with Dr. Archibald. Photo credit: Dr. Reginald Archibald

Endowing the award had great meaning for the Archibalds, their daughter Carolyn Archibald said in an interview. Supporting the artists was her father’s great passion, after medicine, she added.

“He lived and breathed his art, particularly after he retired, and this award gave him an opportunity to give back to Dal, because he felt that he had benefitted so much from that experience and to encourage other young doctors to be more attuned to the humanities’ side of medicine, rather than just the book learning,” she said.

Dr. Archibald’s brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Reginald and Marilyn Archibald, attended the ceremony and were pleased to see the Archibalds’ legacy recognized alongside Dr. Gupta.

“Gerald’s passion was the personal development of all aspects of life, not just medical care – hence his interest in encouraging and confirming participation in the humanities and the resulting benefit to society in general and the treatment of patient,” Dr. Reg Archibald told those gathered for the ceremony.

“Their legacy of care and achievement lives on in the continuing Gold Cane Award program.”

Dr. Gupta thanked Dr. Reg Archibald for sharing his memories of his brother and sister-in-law and the reasons they donated their endowment.

“This most meaningful award is an incredible way to carry on their legacy of passion and energy for the humanities in medicine,” Dr. Gupta said.

In addition to research publications, Dr. Gupta is also the author of Reflections of a Pupil: What Your Med School and Ophthalmology Textbooks Can’t Teach You (But What Your Mentors, Colleagues, and Patients Will). He describes the book as a “bathroom reader” that uses humour and anecdotes to teach about the art of medicine, not just the science.

Dr. Gupta and his wife, Dr. Anuradha Mishra Gupta, have also written a children’s book, entitled Milk, Eggs, Butter, and Broccoli.

Although Dr. Mishra Gupta was not able to attend the ceremony, Dr. Gupta’s parents and in-laws were on hand to see him receive the award and attend the reception afterward.

Dr. Gupta thanked his parents for their sacrifice, their love, for immersing him in the arts from an early age, and for “teaching me that the world is a better place when we care about not just ourselves, but everyone else.”

Dr. Gupta also praised his father-in-law, another doctor, “for showing what undeniable dedication looks like,” and his mother-in-law “for taking care of everyone, all the time.”

He ended his remarks by quoting author Aldous Huxley on the secret of happiness being “loving what you do, even if you have to do it.”

“I think the secret to happiness is getting to do what you love to do,” Dr. Gupta said. “And for me, getting to live the arts and humanities daily through my role as physician is exactly that.”