Local family doctor honoured in BC rural health awards

By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle

As Canadians continue to grapple with the unrelenting health crisis many years in the making, a glimmer of brighter news has shone out of the South Okanagan with a local family doctor honoured for a lifetime of excellence in rural medicine.

Dr. Garnett Tarr, the Chief of Staff at the South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) in Oliver has been honoured with an Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine – Lifetime Achievement, for among other things, his leadership and mentorship of others, including young doctors.

Dr. Tarr’s award was part of the 2025 BC Rural Health Awards organized by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC Rural Coordination Centre (RCC) of BC, a network that works to improve the health of people and their communities in rural BC.

The RCC presents the awards each spring to recognize and honour “rural health heroes”. This year, the presentation ceremony took place on June 7, in Prince George.
“We don’t often have a chance to pause and show our gratitude to the people who make a difference in rural medicine,” said Dr Danette Dawkin, RCC’s physician lead for the awards program. “I am deeply grateful we can highlight the remarkable work of these five dedicated physicians as well as our innovative and inspiring community partners who elevate rural healthcare in BC. Congratulations to this year’s winners!”

The Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine, Lifetime Achievement, honours doctors for their exceptional contribution to the health of people in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across BC. Winners this year include Dr. Jeff Beselt, Dr. Karen Forgie, Dr. Bruce Hobson, and Dr. Garnett Tarr.

Dr Garnett Tarr at the awards ceremony.
Contributed photo

Recipients of the Rural BC Community Award are selected for developing innovative and collaborative solutions to local healthcare challenges.
In his Chief of Staff role at SOGH, Dr. Tarr ensures that professional standards of practice are upheld across the facility.

His leadership has significantly contributed to the creation of a healthy and efficient healthcare system, according to his nomination. Additionally, he plays an active role in collaborating with the Division of Family Practice, advocating for positive changes that benefit Osoyoos, where he has a practice, and the patients and providers in neighbouring communities.

He also actively takes on medical learners, providing them with enriching educational experiences. In his spare time, Dr. Tarr is also known for his love of animals, saving baby deer and spending his weekends bathing the chickens on his farm.

“Dr. Tarr’s influence extends beyond his own practice,” said Dr. Kirk Dixon in his nomination letter. “He is deeply committed to the growth and development of his colleagues in the rural communities of Oliver and Osoyoos.

“He provides invaluable mentorship, guidance, and support. He is very approachable and maintains an open mind for both his patients and colleagues. He exemplifies a patient-centred approach to care.”

Through his hard work, experience, and leadership, Dr. Tarr has made a lasting impact on primary healthcare in the rural communities, he supports according to the award backgrounder.

Commenting on the award Dr. Tarr said: “One of the most rewarding aspects of being in healthcare and being rural, as far as I’m concerned, is that every year UBC can send me anywhere upwards of, three to four Residents.

“But to say that I have mentored them on everything…. I think they might have mentored me on a few things. I always tell them I’ve learned as much from them as they might have learned from me. I think it’s a great experience. They keep you practicing young, they come with new ideas, new knowledge.”

He adds that typically at the end of every day there will be a 30-minute session where they rehash the day’s cases they’ve seen, and then “often life in general,” he adds. “They’ll sometimes tell you, I’ll go in a bit of a rant, but I think it’s most probably one of the things I’d encourage any physician once they’ve found their feet to do. It’s incredibly rewarding.”

On the future of rural medicine, Dr. Tarr said: “We need a broad breadth of knowledge. It’s hard to have a niche practice in a rural community.
“And I think I would like to see that aspect of medicine bolstered as trainers sniff out the students who might be interested in rural medicine. They could be paired with mentors and not necessarily full practicing mentors. Sometimes it might be people like myself who are coming up to that point of retirement, but still have the capacity to be a mentor to a young student. That can make an enormous difference.”